A Sneetch is a Sneetch and Other Philosophical Discoveries

Taking Picture Books Seriously: What can we learn about philosophy through children's books? This warm and charming volume casts a spell on adult readers as it unveils the surprisingly profound philosophical wisdom contained in children's picture books, from Dr Seuss's Sneetches to William Steig's Shrek!. With a light touch and good humor, Wartenberg discusses the philosophical ideas in these classic stories, and provides parents with a practical starting point for discussing philosophical issues with their children. Accessible and multi-layered, it answers questions like, Is it okay for adults to deceive kids? What's the difference between saying the Mona Lisa is a great painting and vanilla is your favorite flavor? Each chapter includes illustrations commissioned especially for this book.

Taking Picture Books Seriously: What can we learn aboutphilosophy through children's books?This warm and charming volume casts a spell on adult readers asit unveils the surprisingly profound philosophical wisdom containedin children's picture books, from Dr Seuss's Sneetches toWilliam Steig's Shrek!. With a light touch and good humorWartenberg discusses the philosophical ideas in these classicstories, and provides parents with a practical starting point fordiscussing philosophical issues with their children. Accessible andmulti-layered, it answers questions like, Is it okay for adults todeceive kids? What's the difference between saying the Mona Lisa isa great painting and vanilla is your favorite flavor? Each chapterincludes illustrations commissioned especially for this book.

Acknowledgments ix''Why? Why? Why?'': Children, Philosophy, and Picture Books 11 Harold and the Purple Crayon: Can You Get Wet Swimming in an Imaginary Ocean? 72 The Important Book: Is a Leopard without Its Spots Still a Leopard? 163 Shrek!: Could a Dead Skunk Smell Good? 244 Let's Do Nothing!: Can You Just Do Nothing at All? 335 Knuffle Bunny: How Do You Know I'm Angry If I Don't Say So? 426 Many Moons: Do Experts Really Know More? 487 Yellow and Pink: Could Human Life Have Arisen Purely by Chance? 558 Morris the Moose: How Do You Know When You've Made a Mistake? 639 Emily's Art: What's the Difference between Saying the Mona Lisa Is a Great Painting and Vanilla Is Your Favorite Flavor? 7110 Miss Nelson Is Missing!: Is It Okay for Adults to Deceive Kids? 8111 The Giving Tree: How Can It Be Wrong to Give Someone What They Want? 9012 ''Cookies'': What Good Is Having Will-Power If You Don't Have Any More Cookies? 10013 Frederick: Can You Enjoy Doing Something Even If It's Work? 10914 The Sneetches: Isn't It All Right to Discriminate in Choosing Your Friends? 11615 The Paper Bag Princess: What's Wrong with ''Living Happily Ever After''? 12516 The Big Orange Splot: Is There Anything Wrong with Conformity? 132Taking Picture Books Seriously 142Who's Who: Thumbnail Biographies of the Philosophers 145What's What: Key Philosophical Terms 156Next Steps: Additional Philosophical Picture Books 160More Next Steps: Digging Deeper into Philosophy 163