Rating: 
Summary: Where Have We Seen This Before?
Review: This book is OK, but I think it is merely a rerun of William Bennett's "Book of Virtues", sans William Bennett. And maybe it's just me, but I think the most important and fascinating book to have come along in a long time, if not ever, and is not even included in this book's list, is Norman Thomas Remick's rising star, "West Point: Character Leadership Education, A Book Developed from The Readings And Writings Of Thomas Jefferson".
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent resource for teachers
Review: This excellent resource for teachers is intended to introduce the reader to books that help children from age four through high school grow in virtue. Its focus is on the moral dimensions of reading. In their introductory chapters, the authors state that reading is important for four reasons: 1) stories create an emotional attachment to goodness, 2) stories provide a wealth of good examples on how to live, 3) stories familiarize students with the codes of conduct they need to know, and 4) stories help them make sense of life. Presented are chapters on the major categories of books: fables and fairy tales; myths, legends and folktales; sacred texts; historical fiction; contemporary fiction; biography; etc. Each chapter is divided into general age levels (4-8; 8-12; and 12 and up). Approximately 200 pages of excellent, annotated books follow
Rating:
Summary: Families That Build Character
Review: We read to our teenage sons almost every night of the year, alternating books: my wife reads a book aloud, then it is my turn to read to our sons. Our last few books we've read have been chosen with Kilpatrick's and Wolfe's booklist in hand. The first section of this excellent parenting resource offers brief essays about the place of imagination, example, vision, meaning in reading and the importance of "selecting and sharing good books". Then comes the book list. What makes this booklist work so well are the brief descriptions and the overarching principle of "character-building" through reading. I highly recommend this book for parents who believe the home is like a garden where character is grown. For another book on character growth and spiritual life in the family, look into "The Family Cloister: Benedictine Wisdom for the Home", by David Robinson (New York: Crossroad, 2000, 192pp).
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