A Sneetch is a Sneetch and Other Philosophical Discoveries (eBook)

Thomas E. Wartenberg is Professor of Philosophy at Mount Holyoke College, USA. He founded the Teaching Children Philosophy program, which won the 2011 APA/PDC Prize for Excellence and Innovation in Philosophy Programs. Its website, www.teachingchildrenphilosophy.org, receives tens of thousands of visits monthly. Professor Wartenberg's 13 books as author or editor include Big Ideas for Little Kids: Teaching Philosophy through Children's Literature (2009), Existentialism: A Beginner's Guide (2008), and The Philosophy of Film: Introductory Text and Readings (Wiley-Blackwell, 2005), which he co-edited with Angela Curran. He has been awarded Senior Fulbright Fellowships to Germany and New Zealand, as well as a National Endowment for the Humanities Research Fellowship. He has also directed two National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Seminars for School Teachers.

Acknowledgments ix

''Why? Why? Why?'': Children, Philosophy, and Picture Books 1

1 Harold and the Purple Crayon: Can You Get Wet Swimming in an Imaginary Ocean? 7

2 The Important Book: Is a Leopard without Its Spots Still a Leopard? 16

3 Shrek!: Could a Dead Skunk Smell Good? 24

4 Let's Do Nothing!: Can You Just Do Nothing at All? 33

5 Knuffle Bunny: How Do You Know I'm Angry If I Don't Say So? 42

6 Many Moons: Do Experts Really Know More? 48

7 Yellow and Pink: Could Human Life Have Arisen Purely by Chance? 55

8 Morris the Moose: How Do You Know When You've Made a Mistake? 63

9 Emily's Art: What's the Difference between Saying the Mona Lisa Is a Great Painting and Vanilla Is Your Favorite Flavor? 71

10 Miss Nelson Is Missing!: Is It Okay for Adults to Deceive Kids? 81

11 The Giving Tree: How Can It Be Wrong to Give Someone What They Want? 90

12 ''Cookies'': What Good Is Having Will-Power If You Don't Have Any More Cookies? 100

13 Frederick: Can You Enjoy Doing Something Even If It's Work? 109

14 The Sneetches: Isn't It All Right to Discriminate in Choosing Your Friends? 116

15 The Paper Bag Princess: What's Wrong with ''Living Happily Ever After''? 125

16 The Big Orange Splot: Is There Anything Wrong with Conformity? 132

Taking Picture Books Seriously 142

Who's Who: Thumbnail Biographies of the Philosophers 145

What's What: Key Philosophical Terms 156

Next Steps: Additional Philosophical Picture Books 160

More Next Steps: Digging Deeper into Philosophy 163

"This is a great resource for those interested in
pre-college philosophy and in elementary education, and for parents
generally. It also will be useful to upper-level philosophy
and education students looking for novel approaches within their
disciplines. Summing Up: Highly recommended.
Lower-level undergraduates and above; general readers."
(Choice, 1 November 2013)

"Filled with humor and keen insights, A Sneetch is a Sneetch
and other Philosophical Discoveries is essential reading for
anyone with an interest in philosophy or children's literature -
and by anyone, I mean anyone - from the mom or dad looking for
something interesting to read to their toddler, to writers of every
ilk, and yes, even full fledge, academically inclined philosophers.
Happy pondering!!." (History in Review, 3 June
2013)

"This is a wonderful book. Written with humor and clarity,
it's a primer/refresher on philosophy and ethics. Wartenberg uses
children's books to tackle the kinds of profound questions kids
ask: is it possible to do nothing? What makes a leopard a leopard
and not a dog? How can it be wrong to give someone what they want?
The book shows the way to discussions in the realm of ideas with
your kids, using their favorite picture books. Good picture books
provoke good questions, and then the fun of thinking and talking
about all the possible answers."

--Mordicai Gerstein, Caldecott winning author of The Man
Who Walked Between the Towers

"Wartenberg simultaneously shows the philosophical seriousness
of children's literature and the childlike wonder of philosophy.
Completely convincing and utterly charming."

--Claudia Mills, Philosophy Department, University of
Colorado at Boulder, and award-winning children's book author