The Goody-Naughty Book

In Short

Sarah Cory Rippey’s The Goody-Naughty Book is a 1913 collection of sixteen moral parables for young children, structured around a novel physical gimmick: one half of the volume, "The Goody Side," presents stories of polite, obedient boys and girls, while flipping the book over reveals "The Naughty Side," detailing the misdeeds of sulky or disobedient children. Through simple domestic scenarios—ranging from shared toys to forgotten chores—the book contrasts helpful behavior with its disruptive counterpart. It persists as a charming visual artifact of early twentieth-century American children's literature, reflecting the period's firm commitment to moral education through domestic storytelling.

The Story

The book opens on "The Goody Side" with Honor Bright, a little boy named for his steadfast refusal to break a promise. Moving to the country, Honor promises his father "Honor bright" that he will feed the farm animals every morning. True to his word, he feeds the geese, chickens, rabbits, and cat so faithfully that the animals hold a meeting and vote to elect him their president. In subsequent tales, children find creative ways to demonstrate kindness and generosity. Rose-Red responds to a friend's slapped face by leaving thornless roses in their shared mailbox, prompting an apology and a renewed friendship. Two children recovering from the measles shift from playing "pine trees" to acting as "banana trees" when they give their snack money and fruits to a passing organ grinder and his monkey. Billy Boy uses his "magic key"—a cheerful, sunny smile—to melt the heart of a reputedly cross neighbor while delivering a cake, earning a warm greeting and a nickel for candy instead of a scolding.

The virtuous section concludes with stories of practical helpfulness and empathy. When Polly sulks on a rainy April Fool's Day, her sister Helen secretly tidies her messy bureau drawer, turning a bad mood into a playful "April Fool" surprise that teaches Polly to handle frustration with good humor. In another household, Ned Brown fulfills all three goals of the "Three B's Club"—to be Busy, Bright, and Brave—by cheerfully chopping firewood before running off to play baseball with his new catching glove. Young Teddy learns the value of charity when he earns money shoveling snow for neighbors to buy warm, wool-lined gloves for the local washerwoman’s bare-handed son. Finally, little Betty bakes a Saturday surprise cake for her mother to free up time for household mending, earning the affectionate title of her mother's "Sunshine."

Flipping the book to "The Naughty Side" introduces children struggling with flawed attitudes. "Willie Won't" flatly refuses to run an errand for the family cook, hides in the yard, and dreams that neighboring sunflowers are taunting his stubbornness, prompting him to change his ways. Mollie throws a temper tantrum when she cannot play outside; in a vivid sequence, her bedroom furniture, toys, and wall decor literally walk out on her because they refuse to stay with a sulky child. Young Hughie attempts to shoot a bird with his new bow and arrow, causing his mother to strip him of his "Chief" title and brand him a cowardly "Squaw" until he learns empathy.

In the book's final movements, poor choices yield direct personal consequences. Little Jean forgets to feed her pet canary, Goldie, leading to the bird's tragic death from starvation—an event that inspires her to redeem herself by feeding the neighborhood wild birds every morning. Sammy refuses to get up when called, leading to a surreal nightmare in the "Land of the Wide-Awakes" where miniature men paddle him and douse him in cold water, mirroring his father's stern bucket-and-towel remedy at the bathtub. Bobby Brant continuously postpones his chores by claiming he is "going to" do them, until a friend refuses to help him fix his broken kite until he learns his lesson. P'rapsy goes barefoot in muddy cold water despite her mother's warnings, resulting in a bad cold and a forced dose of thick castor oil. Lastly, Jimmie learns a painful lesson about cruelty after tying a tin can to his dog Waggles's tail; after seeing the frightened animal collapse, Jimmie's father threatens to give the pet away, relenting only when the dog visibly forgives his remorseful young owner.

How It Unfolds

The virtue of keeping faith — Honor Bright promises to tend to his new farm geese, maintaining his daily duties so reliably that the local domestic animals name him their honorary president.

Forgiveness through thoughtful gifts — Rose-Red refrains from striking back after a squabble, instead leaving thornless flowers in a post-office box to win back her friend's affection.

Turning selfish play into charity — Sick children playing a game of pretend trees choose to give away their savings and snacks to a visiting organ grinder and his monkey.

The power of a cheerful disposition — Billy Boy uses his pleasant demeanor to navigate an errand to an intimidating neighbor, turning a dreaded chore into a pleasant encounter.

Transforming sulks into sunshine — Helen turns a rainy April Fool's Day into an act of sisterly service, inspiring her grumbling sister to adopt a neater, happier attitude.

The battle against stubbornness — Willie hides in the grass to avoid running a household errand, only to dream that the yard's plants are mocking his lazy refusal.

The consequences of neglect — Jean forgets her daily responsibility to feed her caged canary, resulting in the bird's death and prompting her commitment to feeding wild birds.

A wake-up call for lazy mornings — Sammy's repeated refusal to get out of bed triggers a bizarre dream of standing trial in the "Land of the Wide-Awakes," followed by a cold-water reality check.

Learning empathy toward animals — Jimmie ties a noise-making tin can to his dog's tail out of irritation, facing the temporary loss of his pet until he truly regrets his cruelty.

The People

• Honor Bright wants to keep live geese on his family's farm. His obstacle is the daily effort required to care for them, but his unwavering reliability makes him beloved by all the farm animals, transforming him into a model of steadfast responsibility.
• Rose-Red wants to restore peace with her friend Ruthie after a quarrel. Her inclination to retaliate is suppressed by her gentle nature, leading her to clear thornless roses as a peace offering and establishing herself as a forgiving friend.
• Polly wants a pleasant start to her rainy April Fool's Day, but her quick temper and messiness cause her to sulk over minor pranks. After discovering her sister's kind organizational trick, she abandons her sour attitude and chooses to be neat and polite.
• Willie wants to avoid running a routine baking-powder errand for the cook. His stubborn refusal forces him into hiding, but his guilty conscience projects mocking voices from the garden, driving him to change his attitude from "Willie Won't" to "Willie Will."
• Jean wants the joy of owning a singing canary, but her habit of forgetfulness stands in the way. After her negligence causes the bird to starve, she absorbs the painful lesson and converts her remorse into a daily commitment to care for wild birds.
• Sammy wants to stay asleep in bed despite repeated morning calls. His chronic sluggishness leads to a harsh awakening involving cold water and discipline, forcing him to transform into a prompt, wide-awake boy.
• Jimmie wants to vent his bad mood, which leads him to torment his loyal dog, Waggles. His cruelty threatens to strip him of his pet's companionship, but witnessing the dog's unmerited forgiveness teaches him deep remorse and gentle care.

In Its Own Voice

"When he promised 'Honor bright,' he always kept his word. And he said 'Honor bright' so many times a day that finally Honor Bright became his name." Honor's reputation for honesty earns him a humorous title among the farmyard creatures.

"The Pouts took to their heels. 'Tee-hee--' Mollie stopped laughing and looked around in amazement. Everything in the room was just as it ought to be, except that she and Dear Doll Dainty were both on the floor." Mollie snaps out of her dark mood only after imagining her bedroom furnishings packing up to leave her behind.

"As for the naughty imp 'I Forgot,' he is fast turning into the lovely fairy 'I Remember.'" Jean replaces her habitual carelessness with acts of daily service after a tragedy in her household.

What It's Really About

The collection functions as an extended exploration of child agency, self-control, and social responsibility. At its core, the text argues that childhood behaviors are not fixed traits, but active choices that shape a child's character and immediate environment. The stories repeatedly contrast isolation—caused by sulking, cruelty, or laziness—with community connection, which is earned through empathy, promptness, and honesty. By employing personified animals, walking furniture, and inner "imps," the narrative externalizes psychological struggles, presenting moral growth as a series of small, daily decisions. Ultimately, the book asserts that consideration for others forms the basis of personal happiness.

Why Read It Today

The Goody-Naughty Book offers modern readers an intriguing glimpse into early twentieth-century American moral education and child-rearing philosophy. Its dual-sided visual structure renders it a novel historical artifact for collectors, educators, and historians of children's literature. The stories themselves move briskly, relying on clear narrative arcs, gentle humor, and simple language that remains easily accessible to young readers today.

While the tales are engaging, modern readers should be prepared for the overt didacticism typical of 1913 children's publications. The moral framing can occasionally feel severe to contemporary sensibilities; for instance, the tragic death of Jean's pet canary or Hughie's mother calling him a "squaw" as a shaming tactic reflect period attitudes and outdated terminology that require historical context. Additionally, remedies like cold-water dousings for oversleeping highlight older discipline styles. Despite these period artifacts, the collection retains its gentle charm, offering a sweet, clear-eyed look at how society once taught children the value of kindness, honesty, and self-discipline.