Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories

These stories for children are wholesome, exciting, adventures for children with a moral theme, and with a godly, Christian influence, that shows that Jesus loves children and wants to make a difference in their lives. Bible stories are sometimes incorporated. These book series teach values, being truthful, being honest, being fair, obeying, being compassonate, saving money, helping others, working hard, ect. One person on this review list who said he had read these series is mistaken. These stories are NOT graphic, or violent and are NOT horrorfying. He is remembering the story WRONG. The story he is mentioning, where the women ran in the house to save her baby from the burning flames, had rescued her baby and both were saved, and they did not die, like he said they did. The mother's hands were burned, but were considered to be beautiful, by her now older daughter, who had been the baby that she had saved from the burning flames, as now the child realizes her mother saved her life with her precious hands. This is paralled with the nail scarred hands of Jesus, who died for our sins, but rose again, and how His hands are beautiful, as He rescued us with them. Every child and parent should read these stories. My mother read these to me when I was a child, and then I read them to my children. These hold timeless, special memories, and are true stories that Uncle Arthur had collected.

Tired of wasting that important bedtime story time reading stories devoid of moral values, life lessons, or reality? The you need these books. They are a refreshing breath of fresh air in an area where the mass media teaches parents to be freinds instead of parents. Backbone values like telling the truth, kindness, hard work, obedience to parents, turning the other cheek, timeliness, respect for authority, faith in God, and kindness to animals, humility, responsibility and honor are taught through real life stories. My kids still beg to be read these stories. I didn't think they had that much effect until I overheard them planning to do a "secret package company" (do a good deed for somebody in need anonymously) and to react to a nasty kid at school by "heaping coals of fire onto him". (being sincerely nice to him anyway) Boy was I proud... Two caveats: These were written in the thirties. The politically "correct" may not like some of the generalizations that were the norm in the day these were written. (Didn't bother me - I explained this to the kids) Second, these are real stories, not "superheros" or purple dinosaurs. The stories are of everday life. They reflect reality. Some modern parents try to protect thier kids from learning about reality. (People lose jobs, some are hungry, pets and people die, some people are uncaring, that sort of thing) Again, I think it's important for kids to learn about reality. More parents should read Uncle Arthur books to thier kids.

If you are Christian, this set of books is a wonderful way of providing an excellent example of good, moral behavior. My 3 year old son listens to them most nights before bed. It is amazing what he takes away from them - not least of which is a deep abiding faith. One day, while playing baseball, he lost his ball. I was in the garden and had no idea where it went. He looked and looked and couldn't find it. I was amazed to see him then get on his knees and pray - "God, please help me find my baseball". Unbelievable as it may be, within seconds, he found his ball. One mightthink that is a small, silly thing BUT it is one of many things that has had a profound, positive impact on my son's belief in God. My only negative comment is that if the stories are read to the very young, such as my son, the reader needs to carefully select as some of the stories illustrate rather graphically, severe consequences. My final comment is that one of the previous reviewer's complained about the Christian doctrine in the book. True. It is Christian. I too get upset by the harsh tone of some of the doctrine - however - the book is intended for bedtime as is stated in the title. Since I don't know of too many public schools where children sleep, I am not overly concerned. I believe the positive values of honesty, self-reliance, obedience and earnestness far outweigh the occasional lapses into harsh Christian doctrine.

If you have ever doubted that God takes a hand directly in the lives of children, or that he tramples out the grapes of wrath among them, or that punishment for greed and vanity is swift, sure, inevitable and irrevocable, or that compassion is like a great, warm mother, read Uncle Arthur. His stories have the power to rivet children to the spot. They know he is talking about them. Each story is a moral or Biblical lesson entire. For example, Johann is driven out of the house into the snow on Christmas Eve by "an angry and brutal stepfather." Turned away from fine, large houses, where do you think he finds unquestioning and loving mercy? The cottage of a poor old woman. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My chldren..."