The Children's Book of Virtues
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | October 1995 |
| Founder | William Bennett |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Children's book anthology |
| Parent | Simon & Schuster |
The Children's Book of Virtues is a 1995 collection curated by conservative commentator and politician William Bennett, with illustrations by Michael Hague. This volume gathers 31 excerpts from the 1993 original, The Book of Virtues, reorganizing them into four distinct sections inspired by the initial list of virtues. Bennett created this adaptation to better suit younger audiences, collaborating with Hague following a suggestion from his wife.
Released in October 1995 by Simon & Schuster, the book enjoyed robust sales despite receiving mixed to unfavorable critiques. It was followed by two companion volumes and served as the basis for the 1996 PBS animated series Adventures from the Book of Virtues. Michael Hague continued to provide artwork for related print editions until 2002. In a trademark dispute, an unrelated publisher withdrew a planned book bearing the same title in favor of Bennett's official publication.
Overview
As a derivative work of the 1993 The Book of Virtues, The Children's Book of Virtues presents 31 selections originally featured in its predecessor. The anthology includes stories from sources such as Aesop's Fables, Robert Frost, Frank Crane, along with African and Native American folklore. The well-known tale of George Washington and his cherry tree—attributed to Mason Locke Weems—also appears. These narratives are arranged into four categories reflecting the virtues emphasized in the parent book, which Bennett identifies as essential elements of strong character: courage and perseverance; responsibility, work, and self-discipline; compassion and faith; and honesty, loyalty, and friendship.
Development
William Bennett conceived The Children's Book of Virtues to adapt the original work for a younger demographic. Parental feedback highlighted children's desire for illustrated content, prompting Bennett’s wife Elayne to recommend renowned children’s book artist Michael Hague for the project.
Release
Among three sequels released in 1995 following the original Book of Virtues, The Children's Book of Virtues was published by Simon & Schuster in October with an initial print run of 500,000 copies. This figure increased to over one million within a month after four additional printings. The book entered the USA Today Best-Selling Books list at position 20. Concurrently, an Audio Treasury version was issued, running approximately 60 minutes on tape and 70 minutes on CD.
Initially categorized as nonfiction by outlets such as USA Today, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, subsequent adjustments saw both USA Today and The New York Times reclassify it as fiction according to its copyright statement. Meanwhile, The Washington Post maintained its nonfiction classification, aligning with bookstore shelving practices similar to those for the 1993 edition. This blending of categories was viewed positively by Carolyn K. Reidy, president of Simon & Schuster’s trade division.
Reception
The reaction to The Children's Book of Virtues ranged from lukewarm to unfavorable. Kathy Canavan from Wilmington, Delaware's The News Journal highlighted its nostalgic charm and praised Hague's "retro-style illustrations" as complementary to the traditional stories. In contrast, Jennifer L. Stevenson of the St. Petersburg Times criticized the collection for its limited resonance with contemporary readers, suggesting it felt more suited to 1899 than 1995. She characterized the book as dull and uninspiring for adults, and described it as an overly sweet and didactic "abomination" for children, unlikely to captivate preschoolers.
Sarah Nordgren of the Associated Press raised doubts about the relevance and inclusivity of the tales for children in the 1990s, implying that youngsters had "more pressing concerns." Laura Shapiro from Newsweek found the book unwieldy, remarking that "Virtue has never seemed less appealing." On the other hand, Shareem Amry of Malaysia's New Straits Times endorsed it for parents, emphasizing Hague's illustrations as "the true highlight" of the work.
Legal issues
In August 1995, Simon & Schuster initiated legal action against Dove Entertainment, accusing them of trademark infringement due to Dove’s use of the Virtues name in their audiobook and forthcoming book projects. Amid this dispute, Dove pulled the titles from distribution. The court sided with Simon & Schuster under the provisions of the Lanham Act, preventing Dove from employing the Virtues trademark. By October, Dove was mandated to surrender all profits earned from the unauthorized audiobooks to Simon & Schuster and Bennett, as well as cover specified legal expenses.
Legacy
Following the 1995 child-oriented Virtues adaptations, the PBS animated series Adventures from the Book of Virtues premiered in 1996. Hague continued his collaboration with Bennett by illustrating five additional volumes in the series: The Children's Book of Heroes (1997), The Children's Book of America (1998), The Children's Book of Faith (2000), The Children's Treasury of Virtues (2000), and The Children's Book of Home and Family (2002).