Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Pint-Sized Reads for Pint-sized Philosophers

by Kris Kahrs

I started this week writing a post about Intentionality and Process which eventually made my brain hurt and was such a theoretical morass that even firing Jeff Zucker wouldn’t have saved it. So, I decided to post about a new line of kidlit that introduces basic Philosophy concepts to children.

The series of books is called, Deep Thoughts for Big Thinkers and is published by the Wee Think Big imprint of Bob’s Books, a division of Random Publishing which is a subsidiary of McDonalds.

JP’s Bad, Horrible, No-Good Day: In this riveting PB, 6 year old Jean-Paul Sartre knocks his mother’s vase off the table and is grounded for the week. JP weeps, mopes and throws tantrums until his strict, authoritarian grandfather announces, “You did it to yourself, boy!” At which point, JP retreats to his room and commences his life’s work, “Being and Nothingness”. Illustrations by H.P. Lovecraft.

Can You Believe Your Eyes?: Uh, oh, Rene Descartes is in trouble with the Schoolmaster again. He won’t use the red crayon because he can’t prove that it is really, really the color red. The Schoolmaster says that Rene must stay after school until he learns his colors. Will Rene stop doubting his eyes and rejecting the Crayola 64 color box?

Click, Clack, Choo!: Mr. Kant wants to take the train to Stuttgart to buy some strudel, but needs to know what time it will leave the station. The Stationmaster assures him that the train leaves Konigsberg at precisely 9 a.m. daily. Mr. Kant says, “No, no, no, it is only 9 a.m from your point of view. What time would it be from my perspective?” While the Stationmaster has a lie-down, Immanuel Kant attempts to work out the time for himself. Will he reach Stuttgart before the bakery closes?

14 comments:

  1. Fabulous!! I want to own all of these books.

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  2. I've read Ronald McDonald is publishing a gritty YA novel called "I Was a Closet Vegan."
    Sincerly,
    French Fried

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  3. Pen and Ink, I had to come over here and find out who you are. At first I thought you were one person with a personality disorder. Happy to find out there really are 4 of you. Your Bios are all very interesting and extremely funny!

    Can anyone post here, or do I have to be a talented writer or actor?

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  4. Dear Lee Rae,
    Pen & Ink encourages any and all comments. By choosing to read our blog, you have demonstrated your good taste and astute judgment.
    Sincerely,
    The Management

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  5. Ronald McDonald in the same league with Descartes, Kant and Sartre? Perhaps you have a point. Regardless, the Crayola 64 color box may be among the greatest of humanity's inventions.

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  6. These are great. I love to start my day this way.

    Cheryl

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  7. Yes, but how can anyone know that the red crayon is really, really red?

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  8. Janet Ann, Megan Frances and Leerae Lynne--O.k., how come no one told me there was a sale at the double-first name store? (grumble) I see Cheryl missed the sale as well.

    Thank you all for the lovely, lovely comments. We love that you all stop by for a laugh and a cuppa.

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  9. I bought my name at the dollar store. There was a ‘Half Off’ sale, plus a 40% mark down for Christmas and I had a 10% discount coupon. Names were a dime a dozen that day.

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  10. I know I should do research and go way back to 2009 or so to find out how you guys all met up and decided to start this blog. But I am extremely lazy and I actually think the story started before then anyway. I wonder if you might, in a quick synopsis, tell me how you all met and why you all share this blog, especially one with Lupe, the Cookie Monster.

    Please do not feel obligated, I am just curious and as I said, lazy. I could go back and figure some of it out on my own, maybe, if I absolutely have to.

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  11. Dear Ms. Lee Rae,
    "...tell me how you all met..."
    It was a dark and stormy night...
    Sincerely,
    The Management

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  12. Kant and I had similar methods for messing with grown ups, especially in public places ;-) I've grown out of that phase of my life... depending on who you ask.

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  13. Hi Christopher--

    Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Mr. Kant would be honored.

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