Presented at the CiRCE Fall Regional Conference 2024.

David Hicks lauds the value of the classic myths of Gilgamesh, The Iliad, and the like because of their “allegiance to a pattern of truth” (Norms, 2024, p. 10) which laid before readers exemplary human traits. Yet, such ancient tales are not the only places one can discover embodiments of such ideals. Many fairy tales and fantastical stories of classic children’s literature join in this effort to paint for their readers a picture of virtuous humanity. The examples are numerous; however, in this talk, we will focus on the works of The Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, George MacDonald, and Kenneth Graham. Through discussion of these few works, we will examine how to reclaim those earliest years as the perfect time to begin down the path of a virtuous life.