philosophy

A Knot is Not a Tangle

Sophie Rosen , ,

Nayeri, Daniel. A Knot is Not a Tangle. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2025.
Is it possible to be perfect? Is it wise to try? Why are old worn-out possessions sometimes treasured? In this colourful picture book illustrated with watercolours by Vesper Stamper, a young Iranian boy makes a rug with his grandmother and learns the value of imperfection. Accompanied by an author’s note explaining the materials, colours, and designs of rugs in Iran, this book is highly recommended for curious and thoughtful readers five years old and up. 

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In Praise of Mystery

Sophie Rosen , ,

Limón, Ada. In Praise of Mystery. New York: Norton Young Readers, 2024.
A poem, presented as a picture book. At the end, it is written on one page – seven stanzas of three lines each. But before the end, 27 pages of illustrations by the illustrious Peter Sís slow readers down so the poem can slowly unfold, leaving time to ponder and reflect on the wonders of creation and the mysteries of life. Highly recommended as a read-aloud for kids seven to nine years old, but even more recommended as an introduction to a philosophical discussion with students twelve years old and up. 
P.S. The poem is engraved – in the author’s handwriting – on the Europa Clipper spacecraft sent to Jupiter in 2024.

Books about philosophy

Stories written in verse

Poetry Analysis Outline

What’s the Point of Philosophy?

Sophie Rosen

Atkinson, Sam and others. What’s the Point of Philosophy? New York: DK Publishing, 2022.
What is real? What do I know for certain? How can I tell right from wrong? Should we make things fair? Can a machine think? What makes a good argument? These questions and forty more are presented in this compendium published by a company known for its outstanding nonfiction books for kids. Each question is addressed in small segments across two to four illustrated pages. Supplemented by a timeline of philosophers, a glossary, and an index, this 127-page overview is recommended for readers 11 years old and up. A wonderful resource for thoughtful readers and for teachers who enjoy discussing philosophical topics with their students.
Idea for teachers: let each of your students choose one question, prepare a presentation using the information in the book, and then lead a class discussion.

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A Stone Sat Still

Sophie Rosen , ,

Wenzel, Brendan. A Stone Sat Still. San Francisco, California : Chronicle Books LLC, 2019.
A stone is a pebble to a moose and mountain to a snail. A wild place to some but a home for others. A dark rock in the night until the moonlight shines upon it. In this beautiful picture book, a stone is depicted from many different perspectives while all the while remaining steadily the same. A lovely book – in rhyming verse – to share with preschoolers, it is perhaps even more valuable as a way to start a conversation about life. Most highly recommended for all ages.

“Not enough people in this world, I think, carry a cosmic perspective with them. It could be life-changing.” – Neil deGrasse Tyson 

“I believe everyone should have a broad picture of how the universe operates and our place in it. It is a basic human desire. And it also puts our worries in perspective.” – Stephen Hawking

“It’s useful to go out of this world and see it from the perspective of another one.” – Terry Pratchett

“To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world.” – Dr. Seuss

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This little light of mine…

Sophie Rosen , , , , ,

McDonnell, Patrick. Shine! New York: Megan Tingley Books/Little, Brown and Company, 2017.
“I wish I were…” Somewhere else. Someone else. Something else. Little Hoshi wishes and wishes she were not a humble little sea star in the ocean. Until she learns, of course, that happiness is to be found right where we are and possibilities always surround us. This delightful picture book – illustrated by Naoko Stoop – is another heart-warming and inspiring story by the creator of the Mutts comic strips. Highly recommended as a read-aloud – for listeners 4 years old and up – and for anyone who needs a humorous reminder that we all can shine.

More stories about individuality HERE.

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“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.”

– Omar Khayyam, Persian mathematician & poet

 

The House of Wisdom

Sophie Rosen , ,

“We should not be ashamed to acknowledge truth from whatever source it comes to us, even if it is brought to us by former generations and foreign peoples. For him who seeks the truth there is nothing of higher value than truth itself.” – al-Kindi, 9th century philosopher “

Heide, Florence Parry and Judith Heide Gilliland. The House of Wisdom. New York: DK Ink, 1999.

Long ago, during the Dark Ages in Europe, knowledge flourished in the Arabic-speaking world. Baghdad became the centre of a great civilization that made lasting discoveries in cartography, geography, mathematics, chemistry, medicine, and philosophy. Scholars gathered to study together and translate foreign documents in what was the largest library in the world.

Ishaq, the main character in this picture book biography, travels to far-away lands and returns with thousands of books and manuscripts  He later goes on to translate all the works of Aristotle into Arabic. Later still, those Arabic translations would help inspire the European Renaissance.

Softly coloured illustrations by Mary GrandPré, additional historical information, a timeline, and a map enhance this quietly adventurous biography for readers 9 years old and up.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” – Aristotle, ancient Greek philosopher