The Important Book

by Margaret Wise Brown

Questions for Philosophical Discussion
by Tom Wartenberg
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A good way to begin discussing this book is to ask the children to make a chart with you on large paper or a blackboard. There should be three columns: Object, Most Important Thing, Other Things. Then go through some (or all, depending on time) of the objects that the books discusses and fill out the chart, listing the object, what the book says the most important things about the object are, what the book says other things that are true of the object are. Make sure to include one created thing like a spoon, one natural thing like an apple, and “you.” Once you’ve done this – or, perhaps, as you are filling out the chart – ask the children if they agree with what the book says. The idea is to get them to think about two things: First, is the book right in its classification of the most important thing about an object? Generally, they will see that they don’t agree with what the book said. Second, is there actually a “most important thing” about the object in question? Here, they probably will at least disagree about what is most important about the things we are discussing. You might ask them the following:


The book says that the most important thing about a spoon is that you eat with it.

  1. Have you ever seen a spoon that is not a spoon that you eat with?
  2. What are some other things about spoons that are important?
  3. Is there one “most important” thing about a spoon? If so, what is it and why? If not, why not?





The book says that the most important thing about an apple is that it is round.

  1. What are some other important things about apples?
  2. Is being round the most important thing about an apple?
  3. Could something be an apple and have some other shape?
  4. Is there one most important thing about being an apple?





The book says that the most important thing about you is that you are you.

  1. Tell us one very important thing about you.
  2. Could you still be you and not possess that very important thing?
  3. What makes you you?

 

 

 

 

 

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