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In our culture of high-speed Internet, cut-away video and rapid sound bites, it's not easy to get kids to sit still for more than a few minutes. But pull out a storybook and even the biggest kid will curl up next to you on the sofa.

Stories are a powerful way to connect with kids. They're used to pass down a family's faith from one generation to the next. They're used to teach morals and values. And sometimes, they're just plain fun.

William Bennett knows the power of a story. The former United States Secretary of Education, Bennett recently released The Child's Book of Faith (Random House), a collection of his favorite inspirational stories. The book is a mix of Bible stories, fables, and historical tales, all with one common theme: building a child's faith. The author of The Book of Virtues and The Moral Compass (both from Simon & Schuster), Bennett knows the importance of strong faith. His books have played a major role in bringing about the current interest in instilling character in children. He currently serves as co-director of Empower America, an organization devoted in part to rebuilding the moral and educational foundation of this country. We recently sat down with Bennett in his Washington, D.C. office to talk about the value of storytelling.

CPT: Why are you drawn to stories as a teaching tool?

Bennett: Believe it or not, the story is really a very theological tool. God created us as very imaginative creatures. When we read the Bible we read a story. The Incarnation is a story: the Word made flesh. The story of Christ is the greatest story ever told. It's not a matter of coincidence that stories work for us.

A story is life made palpable. We talk about words coming to life, but what really happens is that words give life to life. We can better understand and deal with life when we see it in story form. We live in space and time, and our lives are narratives. And what's the most important part of that narrative? It's that climactic moment in our lives when we come to recognize our Creator.

As a dad, I also know that there's magic to the phrase "Once upon a time." If you can then follow up with something that will keep a child's attention and teach them something valuable along the way, you have a successful story.

Jesus told stories to get his point across. Our ancestors told stories to pass on a family's history. Filmmakers use stories to entertain and enlighten. Storytelling still works today.

How did you determine which stories you'd share in this book?

These stories are a real mixture of the familiar and the unfamiliar. I used stories that have encouraged me, inspired me, touched me. I tried to find things I remember from my own childhood and stories I remember telling my sons, stories that resonated with them and changed their lives. Most importantly, I included stories that echo Christian faith and beliefs and morals, stories that teach truths that we can pass on to future generations.

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