Interested in teaching philosophy and ethics to elementary school children? We’ve got over 200 discussion guides designed to help you introduce philosophy and ethics using popular children’s picture books. Each discussion guide will introduce educators to the key philosophical or ethical issues in the picture book. The guides also provide questions to help initiate a philosophical discussion with young children.
Do you have a book in mind that you do not see on our site? We are creating new guides all the time, and would appreciate your suggestions. Fill out a request form here to suggest a book. Or maybe you’d like to develop your own module for a book. You can submit your own original book module here.
Discussion Guides
A Bad Case of the Stripes by David Shannon Discussion Guide, Jo Fletcher
Abuela by Arthur Dorros Discussion Guide, Daniel Quintero and Emma Goidel
Abuela (En Español) by Arthur Dorros Discussion Guide, Daniel Quintero, Emma Goidel, and María Van Eyk
A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni Discussion Guide, Jenna Lenz and Matthew Rudy
Across the Blue Mountains by Emma Chichester Clark Discussion Guide, Peter Wartenberg
A Gift from Papá Diego by Benjamin Alire Sáenz Discussion Guide, Nancy Soudant and Gareth Matthews
Albert's Impossible Toothache by Barbara Williams Discussion Guide, Gareth B. Matthews
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Vorst Discussion Guide, Marina Lawson
A Little Bit Brave by Nicola Kinnear Discussion Guide, Haley Thompson
"Alone" from Days with Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel Discussion Guide, Mary Cowhey and Tom Wartenberg
Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish Discussion Guide, Henry Liedl and Natalie Bulger
Am I Small? by Philipp B. Winterberg Discussion Guide, Sarah Kochanek and Anna Shao
Am I Small? (En Español) by Philipp B. Winterberg Discussion Guide, Sarah Kochanek and Anna Shao
Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock by Eric A. Kimmel Discussion Guide, Prindle Institute
Anansi the Spider by Gerald McDermott Discussion Guide, Ysanne Bethel and Olivia Vicioso
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell Discussion Guide, Chelsea C. Jenkins
Another by Christian Robinson Discussion Guide, Haley Thompson
A Promise is a Promise by Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak Discussion Guide, Michelle Truong
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip and Erin Stead Discussion Guide, Ian Mercer
A Squash and a Squeeze by Julia Donaldson Discussion Guide, Elizabeth Zhu and Abby Walker
A Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel Discussion Guide, Olive Henry, Vishakha Sohil Tiwari, and Tiana Tran
Awi Usdi, the Little Deer by Joseph Bruchac Discussion Guide, Prindle Institute
Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss Discussion Guide, Marek Buchanan
"Beans" from Monster Stew by Mitra Modarressi Discussion Guide, Cassandra Burns
Beauty and the Beast by Teddy Slater Discussion Guide, Samuel Diaz de Leon and Angel Villa
Be Nice to Spiders by Margaret Bloy Graham Discussion Guide, Christian Purnell and Leah Meltzer
Benjamin's Dreadful Dream by Alan Baker Discussion Guide, Somera Khan and Taryn Hargrove
Big is Big (And Little, Little) by J. Patrick Lewis Discussion Guide, Prindle Institute
Big Kicks by Bob Kolar Discussion Guide, Alyssa Nelson
Billy's Booger by William Joyce Discussion Guide, Alexa Hourdas
Bird by Zetta Elliott Discussion Guide, Nicole Hylton
BumbleArdy by Maurice Sendak Discussion Guide, Alarissa Haak
Ch’at To’ Yini’lo’, Frog Brings Rain by Peter A. Thomas and Patricia Hruby Powell Discussion Guide, Prindle Institute
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes Discussion Guide, Lydia Varon
Clifford is a Star by Norman Bridwell Discussion Guide, Chuwa Joseph
Clifford the Champion by Norman Bridwell Discussion Guide, Edward Manolii
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett Discussion Guide, Kennyo Aouad and Noah Someck
"Cookies" from Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel Discussion Guide, Jayme Johnson
Corduroy by Don Freeman Discussion Guide, Kristi Grahn
Cornelius by Leo Lionni Discussion Guide, Sanaa Sayani
Curious George Rides a Bike by Margret and H.A. Rey Discussion Guide, Alexander Spencer, Jessica Mejía, and Emily Knuth
Disney's Coco by RH Disney Discussion Guide, Jillian Meyer, Jessica Mejía, and Emily Knuth
Disney's Inside Out by RH Disney Discussion Guide, Jillian Meyer
Doctor De Soto by William Steig Discussion Guide, Ezra Frankel and Kharmen Bharucha
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems Discussion Guide, Teddy Willard and Soren Schlassa
"Dragons and Giants" from Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel Discussion Guide, Gareth B. Matthews
Earl the Squirrel by Don Freeman Discussion Guide, Yanking Li
El camaleón camaleónico by Eric Carle Discussion Guide, Ellen Duthie
Elmer by David McKee Discussion Guide, Jack Noble and Rinya Kamber
Elvira by Margaret Shannon Discussion Guide, Heather Slutz
Emily's Art by Peter Catalanotto Discussion Guide, Kate Vigour and Lindsay Kurahara
Emmanuel’s Dream by Laurie Ann Thompson & Sean Qualls Discussion Guide, Rina Tanaka and Zachary Touqan
Enemy Pie by Derek Munson Discussion Guide, Haley Thompson
Este no es mi bombín by Jon Klassen Discussion Guide, Caroline von Klemperer, Andy Rodgers, and María Van Eyk
Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi Discussion Guide, Ezra Frankel and Kharmen Bharucha
Exclamation Mark by Amy Krouse Rosenthal Discussion Guide, Madeleine Lifsey
Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen Discussion Guide, Chan Jamin
Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl Discussion Guide, Jayme Johnson
Ferdinand and the Bullies by Disney Discussion Guide, Tiana Shea and Tyrel Musil
Fire Race, A Karuk Coyote Tale by Jonathan London Discussion Guide, Prindle Institute
Fish is Fish by Leo Lionni Discussion Guide, Amani Talwar
Franklin Goes to the Hospital by Paulette Bourgeois Discussion Guide, Ally Lightfoot
Frederick by Leo Lionni Discussion Guide, Nicole Giambalvo
Frederick (En Español) by Leo Lionni Discussion Guide, Nicole Giambalvo, Ellen Duthie, and Mariana Zárate
Frog on a Log by Jim Field and Yes Gray Discussion Guide, Emily Crocco and Catrice Zhao
"Galletas", de Sapo y Sepo, Inseparables by Arnold Lobel Discussion Guide, Ellen Duthie and Mariana Zárate
Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio Discussion Guide, Elizabeth Zhu and Abby Walker
Giraffes Can't Dance by Guy Parker-Rees and Giles Andreae Discussion Guide, Jessica Mejía and Emily Knuth
Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Candice Ransom Discussion Guide, Joseph LaCoste and Mikala Smith
Gotta Go! Gotta Go! by Sam Swope Discussion Guide, Katherine Krueger
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss Discussion Guide, Taiba Akhtar
Gus is a Tree by Claire Babin Discussion Guide, Andrea Abudayeh
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy by Lynley Dodd Discussion Guide, Prindle Institute
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson Discussion Guide, Claire Bartholome
Harold y el lápiz morado by Crockett Johnson Discussion Guide, Claire Bartholome and Ellen Duthie
Harry the Dirty Dog by Margaret Bloy Graham and Gene Zion Discussion Guide, Kelsey Brower
Hay un oso en el cuarto oscuro by Helen Cooper Discussion Guide, Ellen Duthie
Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon by Debbie Harter and Jules Bass Discussion Guide, Narisa Bandali
Here Comes the Cat! by Vladimir Vagin Discussion Guide, Hannah Esrick
Hey, Little Ant by Philip and Hannah Hoose Discussion Guide, Lauren Flinner
Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss Discussion Guide, Marisa Cooke
Huggly's Trip to the Beach by Tedd Arnold Discussion Guide, Prindle Institute
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff Discussion Guide, Nicki Polyakov and Dylan Zeng
I Know a Lady by Charlotte Zolotow Discussion Guide, Gareth Matthews and Jayme Johnson
I Know the Moon by Stephen Axel Anderson Discussion Guide, Paula A. Carpentier
I'm Not a Baby by Jill McElmurry Discussion Guide, Prindle Institute
Indigo and the Whale by Joyce Dunbar Discussion Guide, Jordan McMaster, Vanessa Short, and Michael Kareores
I Never Knew Your Name by Sherry Garland Discussion Guide, Jameson Rust
Infinity and Me by Kate Hosford Discussion Guide, Samira Saad, Ashley Lee, and Grace Hollander
Ish by Peter H. Reynolds Discussion Guide, Karen Grossi
It Could Always Be Worse by Margot Zemach Discussion Guide, Elena Betts and Jayme Johnson
I Want a Hug by John A. Rowe Discussion Guide, Nick MacLeod
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen Discussion Guide, Meredith Marshall and Yuwei Zheng
I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child Discussion Guide, Sandy Hsu
Jack and the Beanstalk by Carol Ottolenghi Discussion Guide, Angel Villa and Samuel Diaz de Leon
Just My Friend and Me by Mercer Mayer Discussion Guide, Seanna Strong
Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems Discussion Guide, Ariel Sykes
Knuffle Bunny Too by Mo Willems Discussion Guide, Sadia Khatri
Kumak's Fish by Michael Bania Discussion Guide, Joey Lucius and Serena Retson
La gran caja by Toni Morrison Discussion Guide, Mary Cowhey, Thomas Wartenberg, and Mariana Zárate
