The Adventures of Mali & Keela: A Virtues Book for Children
What’s inside...
Mom's Choice Award Gold Recipient, Category: Juvenile 1--Self help Thirteen adventure stories introduce children to the concept of virtue and demonstrate how virtuous behavior can make the world a better place. Each tale is built around four of the 52 virtues that have been identified by The Virtues Project™, a global grassroots initiative that inspires the practice of virtues in everyday life. The collected stories bring the virtues to life in lively, entertaining adventure tales designed to be read aloud to young listeners. Each tale is followed by clear, age-appropriate definitions of the virtues for the adult reader and the young audience to explore. Discussion questions are also provided to draw the children into a conversation about each story. These interactive tools foster a more profound understanding of the virtues, help children put each virtue into context within their own experiences, and provide a rich environment for learning--while young and old enjoy the thrill of a well-told yarn.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-7
Length
144 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What virtues do Mali and Keela show in their adventures, and which one do you admire the most?
How do Mali and Keela handle challenges and what can we learn from them?
Can you think of a time when you used one of the virtues like Mali or Keela?
What would you have done differently if you were in Mali or Keela's place in any of their adventures?
How do you think practicing virtues like Mali and Keela can help you in school or with friends?
Tip: Role play these questions
While discussing the book, relate the virtues demonstrated by Mali and Keela to real-life situations your child might find themselves in, enhancing the connection.
Praise your child for any personal examples they share that demonstrate virtues, reinforcing positive behavior.
Encourage your child to draw or write a short story about an adventure where they or their friends use virtues like Mali and Keela.
Ask your child to think about which virtue they would like to work on and discuss small, practical steps they could take to practice that virtue daily.
Make it a dynamic conversation by sharing how you, as an adult, also strive to practice these virtues in everyday life.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: In the story, Mali and Keela learn to understand and share the feelings of others through their adventures, promoting empathy.
Real-World Application: Children can use this lesson to better relate to their peers' emotions, improving their social interactions and friendships.
Example Lesson: Courage
Explanation: The characters face challenges that require bravery, effectively illustrating the virtue of courage.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to face their fears, whether it's trying out for a school play or standing up for a friend.
Example Lesson: Respect
Explanation: Through interactions with diverse characters, Mali and Keela showcase the importance of treating everyone with respect.
Real-World Application: Kids learn to value differences and treat others with dignity, an essential skill in diverse classroom settings.
Example Lesson: Honesty
Explanation: Truth-telling is a central theme as Mali and Keela navigate their quests, highlighting the benefits of honesty.
Real-World Application: This imparts the importance of honesty in building trust and credibility among friends and educators.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: The characters encounter obstacles that they overcome by not giving up, teaching the value of perseverance.
Real-World Application: Children learn the significance of persistence in achieving goals, such as mastering a new skill or completing a difficult school project.