See the book review below from Choice Reviews Online that convinced me to order this book for our collection at CML...
Wartenberg, Thomas E. Big ideas for little kids: teaching philosophy through children's literature. Rowman & Littlefield, 2009. 150p
Wartenberg (philosophy, Mount Holyoke) presents a one-volume introduction to doing philosophy for pre-college students. He draws on the methods Gareth Matthews pioneered in such works as Philosophy and the Young Child (1980) and his own work with elementary and middle school students, giving readers an explanation of why one ought to do philosophy with children as well as how to do so. The first two parts of the book will be quite informative for those new to the movement, but little new ground is covered for those who have traveled this path themselves. The real star of the book is the eight chapters of part 3 that display how to use picture books (and one chapter book) to engage in real philosophical discussions on topics from concept formation (Bernard Wiseman's Morris the Moose, 1991) to justice (Leo Lionni's Frederick, 1967). Those unfamiliar with philosophy will love the brief introduction to the disciplines of philosophy; philosophers will find the use of children's literature a refreshing starting point. While intended for educators new to pre-college philosophy, this book nicely encapsulates for philosophers one method of doing such work. Far preferable to Marietta McCarty's Little Big Minds (2006). Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels. -- R. E. Kraft, York College of Pennsylvania
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