Many school districts have implemented "packaged" programs designed to teach character education. Millions of dollars have been spent on these programs, yet society continues to produce more "characters" than students "with character." This article describes a shift from the "programmatic" mindset to a solution that is not packaged or purchased. The use of children's literature to teach skills throughout the curriculum is a widely accepted practice. Through the years, fairy tales have strengthened the attitudes of readers toward life, toward human relationships, and toward moral standards. The author proposes that these beloved tales could be used as a method of teaching character education.