veryone Knows
Young people can be a lot like the little mouse that got trapped in an empty bottle of cheese spread. The innocent mouse had no idea of the trouble he would get into if the bottle tipped upright with him inside-likewise there are similar dangers for unsuspecting young people. And, when our kids get stuck "in a bottle" they are often lectured about personal responsibility or belittled because they should have read the warning label. The common question asked is, "What were you thinking?" And the common reply is, "I don't know." But, once they're stuck in the bottle, it's too late for label reading. This book takes the approach that forewarned is forearmed. In other words, more often than not, our young people aren't properly taught how to read and heed "warning labels." Therefore, those who get trapped in a proverbial bottle sometimes suffer serious consequences that may change their life forever. Teaching them to read the warning labels of life in a loving, kind and creative manner is no light or easy task. For youth leaders, parents and opinion leaders, it takes careful preparation, skill and dedication to get the message across in a manner that will accepted (internalized) as well as not easily forgotten.
The stories in this book are true. They are experiences from kids and adults who have had some pretty close calls in situations that could have been disastrous. The stories provide thought provoking experiences that young people can easily understand and judge for themselves how things might have been done differently. These stories promote self-esteem, Christian moral thinking and emotional intelligence without being grim, dogmatic and sectarian. Mostly, they're funny, humorous and uplifting--but with a point that is hard to forget. These stories have a stick-to-the-ribs kind of quality that brings kids back years after they heard them to say how much these story/lessons meant to them. The same positive experience is available to anyone who presents these story/lessons using the methods described.

Our Present Circumstances
"From the day your child is born you must teach him to do things. Children today love luxury too much. They have detestable manners, flout authority, and have no respect for their elders. They no longer rise when their parents and teachers enter the room. What kind of awful creatures will they be when they grow up? -Socrates, 399 B.C.
What can we add to the lament of Socrates? Young people have always acted just like young people-even 400 years before Christ! When we fast forward to modern times we do note that our young people have smaller and less stable families than their parents or grandparents. The single parented absent father household is not unusual. In these days of mostly urban and suburban living, an apartment or home offers fewer tasks for children other than the laundry and dishes, the trash and a few other light chores. Long gone are the learning experiences of growing up rural America. Mostly gone is the discipline of work-related chores and with it young people have difficulty with personal responsibility. Unfortunately, today's media overdosed kids live in the self-focused, pleasure-dominated world of low morality, drugs, and affluence. This is evident in what is called the coarsening of America. As a storyteller, sometimes you can only guess the vulgarity, coarse behavior and bad habits that some of your young listeners are accustomed to thinking is normal. Therefore, with that grim picture painted, the purpose of these stories is to assist storytellers in helping young people to appreciate moral thinking followed by moral action-and to do it joyfully.

How to Use These Stories
As you'll see, the stories are divided into seven categories. After choosing a story, and as you read through it, notice that it ends with thoughts and suggestions for further discussion. It's vitally important that you plan to have a feedback discussion with your group. Allow the young people to tell what they think the point of the story is and how things could have and should have been done differently. Please refrain from the temptation to moralize. Instead encourage the young people to find the main point for themselves. Using this method, your story telling will be a success and the kids will feel a part of an important discussion.
It would also be useful to remember that these stories are dealing with universal themes that have been a long running challenge to the human family all the way back through recorded history. While some of the stories deal with drugs, alcohol, television and the Internet, most do not. However, like the Bible stories of David and Goliath, Daniel in the Lion's Den, and the faithful little maid of 2 Kings 5:2, a good story transcends time and place, especially when the storyteller plans ahead to emphasize what present day life lesson can be learned from the presentation.
And one final note of introduction, you'll notice that many of these stories often feature a character named Nathan. This is because many of these stories were published in a weekly newspaper column entitled Nathan's Neighborhood prior to this book. His neighborhood included a diverse collection of young people from around the nation and the world. It would be in the spirit of Nathan's Neighborhood if people using these stories made it a special point to change the stories to personalize them by including their own local aspects of gender, race, culture and religion in their presentations.Trustworthiness

Caring (15 examples)
#3 The Dog That Laughed All the Way Home (benefits of a good education)
#24 Boxer's Fracture (manage anger, forgive others)
#33 Bird - Man's Best Friend (express gratitude)
#40 Erin, Stop! (caring about obedience)
#44 Your Soft Spots (we all have similar weaknesses)
#56 Seeing with Your Ears (be aware of what's going on around you)
#64 Stealing Gasoline (forgive and forget)
#66 Nicked Potatoes (forgive the undeserving)
#82 The Orphans Romeo and Little Joe (treat all creatures equally)
#88 The Unselfish Boy Shares His Fish Dinner (caring about others)
#96 The Aunt Jemima Pancake Box (caring about the feelings of others)
#99 They Flap! (caring for other's needs)

Citizenship (18 examples)
#5 Snoopy, Honey and Ole Blue (respect authority)
#9 Angels Watching Over Us (obey the law, don't follow the crowd)
#11 Breaking Mom's Knife (respect parental authority)
#13 Eating Dates in the Dark (obey rules)
#15 Land Mines (for your own good, respect authority)
#16 Nathan's Kite (follow the rules and soar higher)
#38 The Train Wreck (avoid a tragedy, respect authority)
#42 Don't Go Against Your Conscience (obey the rules for your own good)
#59 The Circle of Caterpillars (stay informed)
#61 Nathan, the Owl and Litterbug (obey the laws and save a life)
#62 It's Better to Stick Together (cooperate and win battles)
#69 Shooting Out the Railroad Lights (for life long happiness)
#74 The Toy Gun That Wasn't (gun safety)
#76 Glass Slippers (avoid pain, respect authority)
#82 The Orphans Romeo and Little Joe

Fairness (9 examples)
#26 Cowbirds (don't take advantage)
#37 Pigs and People are Selfish (take turns, share)
#43 The Giblet Pot (you never know what might turn up)
#51 Betty in the Well (don't take advantage of younger kids)
#55 Bernie the Squirrel (don't take advantage)
#57 Friends and Parasites (take turns and share)
#68 Hummingbird in a Web (faith in prayer)
#98 The Chicken and the Rock (treating people fairly)
#97 Happy Jack and Brutus (what goes around comes around)

Respect (13 examples)
#11 Television (how to be a better television viewer)
#22 The Energized Mockingbird (be considerate of others)
#45 Old Mr. No Shoulders (respect all things bright and beautiful, big and small)
#48 Raking Hay (self-discipline)
#50 Skunk in the Box (be considerate of others)
#79 Mrs. Olds (respect your elders)
#90 Pineapple Pete (don't look on the outside only)

Responsibility. (19 examples)
#2 Beaver or Raccoon (global warming and the environment)
#25 Puzzled Chickens? (the responsibility to stay in school and learn all you can)
#30 The Pastry Shop (exercise self-control)
#35 The Woodpile (provide for others you'll never meet)
#34 Grandpa's Gourds (deferred gratification, persevere)
#41 Killer in a Cage (be careful of strangers)
#47 The Great Swimming Pool Explosion (ask for instructions first)
#53 He Killed the Old Red Rooster (self-control)
#54 Pheromones, Ant Poison (don't follow the crowd)
#63 Ink Up (be accountable)
#71 Free Cheese (Be accountable for your actions)
#75 Todd and the Shotgun Blast (gun safety)
#83 The Hornet's Nest (self-control)
#85 The Flying Wheel (we all have a responsibility)
#87 The Little Maid (An obligation to speak up)
#100 Baby Bears Up A Tree (trust and obey)

Spirituality (38 examples)
#1 Ariel and Cassia Pray for the Baby Birds (faith in prayer)
#6 Doom in the Dark (trust God)
#7 Dog in the Bag (false hope, trust God)
#8 Stay By the Post (resist temptation)
#10 Pillar Saints (living in a tree house.)
#14 Esther on a Pillow (have faith in prayer)
#19 The Father of Rain Drops (have faith in Jesus)
#20 Melissa and the Train (develop good spiritual habits)
#23 In Hot Water (resist temptation)
#28 Frog Pond in Your Heart (faith in Jesus)
#29 Ground Hog in a Tree (trust God)
#32 The Sticky Tree (resist temptation)
#36 Acorns and Night Noises (faith in Jesus)
#40 Erinn, Stop! (trusting others)
#46 Jack and the Bean Bush (express gratitude to God for the increase)
#49 Pitcher Plants (beware of the snares of Satan)
#58 Do Fish Have Red Ears? (sometimes doubt is good)
#65 Suitcases (God will provide)
#67 Look-a-likes (be true to God)
#68 Hummingbird in a Spider web (faith in prayer)
#70 Rocks in the Head (how your conscience works)
#71 The Devil's Free Cheese (temptation)
#72 Nathan's Dangerous Backyard (A Christmas story.
#77 Flying by Faith (trust God)
#78 Farmer Mouse (faith in Jesus)
#80 The Flag Flying Over Your Heart (Jesus is the pilot of your ship)
#81 Saved by an Angel! (trust in God)
#84 Manure Pit (Jesus is Savior)
#86 The Christmas Berry Tree (stand up for the right)
#89 Cheese Boy (being true to God, regardless of the cost)
#91 The Angler Fish (things aren't always as they seem)
#93 The Crocodile Grabbed the Teacher! (prayer is all we have)
#95 The Witch Doctor's Threat (have faith in God)

Trustworthiness (15 examples)
#4 Herbie is a Chicken (cigarette smoking )
#17 Jason and the Rifle (be reliable)
#18 Your Smoke Will Find You Out (don't try to deceive)
#21 Robin and the Giant Egg Yolk (your sins will find you out)
#27 Bad Language (Potty Mouth) (develop good habits)
#31 Stealing the Little Purse (stealing)
#39 The Seeds Came Up! (perils of deception)
#52 Sweet and Sour Bear (overpowering desire)
#60 Lesson in a Pear Tree (stealing)
#73 The Talking Horse (deception)
#92 The Bull and Chain (bad habits)

Stories that might need explanation to younger kids.
(Children up to the ages of seven or eight have trouble understanding abstractions. You may want to give special consideration to the stories on this list and plan how accordingly to simplify them.)

#4 Herbie is a Chicken
#10 Pillar Saints
#15 Land Mines
#16 Nathan's Kite
#17 Jason and the Rifle
#22 The Energized Mockingbird
#25 Puzzled Chickens
#30 The Pastry Shop
#32 The Sticky Tree
#41 Killer in a Cage
#42 Don't Go Against Conscience
#43 The Giblet Pot
#44 Your Soft Spots
#46 Jack and the Bean Bush
#48 Raking Hay
#52 The Sweet and Sour Bear
#64 Stealing Gasoline
#66 Nicked Potatoes
#72 Nathan's Dangerous Neigh…
#73 The Talking Horse
#75 Todd and the Shotgun Blast
#80 Savannah
#84 Manure Pit

1. Ariel and Cassia Pray for the Baby Birds
2. Beaver or Raccoon
3. The Dog that Laughed
4. Herbie is a Chicken!
5. Snoopy, Honey and Ole Blue
6. Doom in the Dark
7. Dog in the Bag
8. Stay by the Post
9. Angels Watching Over Us
10. Pillar Saints
11. Breaking Mom's Knife
12. Better TV watching
13. Eating Dates in the Dark
14. Esther on a Pillow
15. Land Mines
16. Nathan's Kite
17. Jason and the Rifle
18. Your Smoke Will Find You Out
19. The Father of Rain Drops
20. Melissa and the Train
21. Robin and the Giant Egg Yolk
22. The Energized Mockingbird

23. In Hot Water
24. Boxer's Fracture
25. Puzzled Chickens
26. Cowbirds
27. Bad Language
28. Frog Pond of the Heart
29. Ground Hog in a Tree
30. The Pastry Shop
31. Stealing the Little Purse
32. The Sticky Tree
33. Bird: Man's Best Friend
34. Grandpa's Gourds
35. The Woodpile
36. Acorns and Night Noises
37. Pigs and People are Selfish
38. The Train Wreck
39. The Seeds Came Up
40. Erin, Stop!
41. Killer in a Cage
42. Don't Go Against Your Conscience
43. Giblet Pot
44. Your Soft Spots
45. Old Mr. No Shoulders
46. Jack and the Bean Bush
47. Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
48. Raking Hay
49. Pitcher Plants
50. Skunk in the Box
51. Betty in the Well
52. The Sweet and Sour Bear
53. He Killed the Red Rooster
54. Ant Poison
55. Bernie the Squirrel
56. Seeing With Your Ears
57. Friends and Parasites
58. Do Fish Have Red Ears?
59. The Circle of Caterpillars
60. Lesson in a Pear Tree
61. Nathan, the Owl and Litterbug
62. It's Better to Stick Together
63. Ink Up and Down
64. Stealing Gasoline
65. Suitcases
66. Nicked Potatoes
67. Look-A-Likes
68. Hummingbird in a Spider Web
69. Shooting out the Railroad Lights
70. Rocks in the Head
71. The Devil's Free Cheese
72. Nathan's Dangerous Backyard
73. The Talking Horse
74. The Toy Gun That Wasn't
75. Todd and the Shotgun Blast
76. Glass Slippers
77. Flying by Faith
78. Farmer Mouse
79. The Sad Story of Mrs. Olds
80. The Flag Flying Over Your Heart
81. Manly Angels
82. The Orphans Romeo and Little Joe
83. The Hornet's Nest
84. Manure Pit
85. The Flying Wheel
86. The Christmas Berry Tree
87. The Little Maid
88. The Unselfish Boy's Fish Dinner
89. Cheese Boy
90. Pineapple Pete
91. The Angler Fish
92. The Bull and Chain
93. The Crocodile Ate the Teacher!
94. The Baboon and the Dachshund
95. The Witch Doctor's Threat
96. The Aunt Jemima Pancake Box
97. Brutus and Happy Jack
98. The Chicken and the Rock
99. They Flap!
100. Baby Bears Up A Tree