Tale Virtues

Made for the quiet hour.

A parent and a child sit together, look at one card, and talk. Maybe about the story. Maybe about something else the story made the child remember. That's the whole idea. There is no quiz, no streak to defend, no notification asking for more attention than the moment deserves. One virtue a day, if you'd like one, and only if you'd like one.

Tale Virtues is a small project of seven decks, one for each way of being good: Courage, Kindness, Honesty, Loyalty, Humility, Patience, and Wisdom. Inside each deck, a handful of fairy tales chosen for the way they hold up a quiet truth about character.

The tales are old and still told. They come from the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen, Aesop, George MacDonald, and a few others. Children have been listening to them for a long time, in many languages, for the same reason: they are good company on the long, slow business of growing up.

Each card is the work of small hands. The summaries are written in language a four-year-old can follow and a nine-year-old will not feel patronized by. The grown-up can fill in as much or as little as feels right. The illustrations are made one at a time, in a single style, so the decks feel like a single book rather than a scattering of pictures. The discussion prompts are meant to start a conversation, not to test what was understood.

We don't track you. No accounts, no ads, no analytics. The app collects no data of its own, and works without an internet connection once it's installed. We made this choice because it felt right for an app you'll use with your child. It also means we depend a little on you. If something breaks, or a card seems wrong, please write to us. That's how the app gets better.

There is one optional in-app purchase that unlocks the remaining decks. That's the entire business model. No subscriptions, no upsells inside the cards.

Inside Tale Virtues

Seven decks, one for each way of being good: Courage, Kindness, Honesty, Loyalty, Humility, Patience, and Wisdom. Inside each deck, dozens of cards. Inside each card, an old fairy tale gently retold.

There's no one way to use it. Here are a few that have worked for us.

The deck at a glance

Open a deck and you'll see every card listed: "Courage to face the unknown," "Courage to stand up for a friend," "Courage to act brave when most scared," and more. You can scan for what fits the moment: the question they ask out of nowhere, the curious quietness on the ride home from school, the precious five minutes before dinner.

The virtue, and the tale behind it

Choose a card, and tap to go deeper into the virtue. The fairy tale is gently retold, in language a four-year-old can follow and a nine-year-old won't feel patronized by.

A deeper conversation, if you want one

Each card opens into three short questions, meant to start a conversation rather than test what was understood. Some nights one question is enough. Some nights one question is one too many. Whichever fits the moment.

A daily moment, if you'd like one

If you'd like a daily ritual with your child, the app can offer one virtue a day at a time of your choosing.

Used a little, Tale Virtues can become a small ritual. Used now and then, it's a quiet companion for moments that would otherwise pass by.

If you have a thought, a correction, a tale we should know about, or a child who said something that surprised you — we'd love to hear from you. Write to us at fairy@talevirtues.com.