A fresh take on literature.

• Author: Carter, E.G.
• Position: BY THE BOOK - Essay

LATELY, IT SEEMS that we communicate on the computer or via text, losing some of the nuances of an actual verbal and physical interaction. Social media has absorbed family time: a simple quiet dinner with the family now competes with texting, Internet surfing, and YouTube. One of the mobile phone carriers has a commercial with family members sitting around the dinner table all texting each other and their friends. Does all of this sound vaguely familiar? Life has become fast-paced and technology driven. Some school systems actually are thinking of phasing out cursive writing, claiming it is a lost art, unneeded in today's society.

Competitive sports such as football, basketball, and baseball--which teach youngsters about winning, losing, team play, and friendship--are changing. All participants receive a trophy or ribbon so that each player feels like he or she is a winner. While that is a nice concept, as adults, we know that is not how life actually works. As a father, I always have sought to instill in my sons the sense that nothing is impossible, as long as you work hard and set your mind on an objective. Character, as well as friendships and relationships, count. It is about the people in our lives that matter, not the money and fame. While it may seem old fashioned at times, I want my children to know the value and importance of honor and loyalty. I was taught these concepts by loving parents, great teachers, and good friends.

Yet, there was another source where I could learn this, where my mind could free itself from the stresses of the day, and I could be anyone or anything I wanted to be. The books I read as a child-and young adult--helped me in ways that a computer game, Smartphone, twitter, or Facebook never could.

The shelves are full of books that teach numbers, letters, foreign languages, history, vocabulary, even how to use available technology and gadgets. I am more interested in social and moral lessons--books about sharing, good manners, the importance of putting others before yourself, friendship, choices, winning and losing. I found the selection for these types of teachings rather lean; the stories often tailed to hold readers' attention. I found plenty of books that provide educational instruction, books from my childhood, and, of course, all of the old classics, but very few new offerings that taught social and moral values in an interesting way.

As time went on, however, and my children grew, things started to...