These literature lesson plans are geared toward elementary school age students, some more particularly for younger elementary school students and some for older students. All of these books can also be used with middle and high school students, with adaptations of the questions.

The lesson plans all suggest questions to consider when reading the stories listed here. These questions are not meant to be inclusive—they are possibilities for questions that can inspire philosophical exchanges, based on questions that have come from students when discussing these books. The lists of possible discussion questions are meant to provide some ideas for teachers preparing to use these books to help generate classroom philosophical conversations, but should not replace asking the students what questions the stories raise for them and ensuring that the discussions emerge from the students’ questions.

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

A


Amazing Graceby: Mary Hoffman
Amos & Borisby: William Steig
An Angel for Solomon Singerby: Cynthia Rylant
The Art Lessonby: Tomie de Paola

B

A Bad Case of Stripesby: David Shannon
A Bargain for Frances by: Russel Hoban
The Bear that Wasn'tby: Frank Tashlin
The Big Boxby: Toni Morrison

The Big Orange Splotby: Daniel Manus Pinkwater
Birdby: Zetta Elliott
Boodil My Dogby: Pija Lindenbaum

C

Charlotte’s Webby: E.B. White
Chrysanthemumby: Kevin Henkes
The Coatby: Julie Hunt and Ron Brooks
A Color of His Ownby: Leo Lionni
The Conductorby: Laetitia Devernay

D

Double Troubleby: Philip Cam
Dreamsby: Hughes, Langston
Duck, Death and the Tulipby: Wolf Erlbruch

E

Emmaby: Wendy Kesselman
Emma’s Rugby: Allen Say
An Extraordinary Eggby: Leo Lionni

F

First Grade Takes a Testby: Miriam Cohen
Fish On A Walkby: Eva Muggenthaler
The Flat Rabbitby: Bardur Oskarsson
Flowers from Marikoby: Rick Noguchi and Deneen Jenks
For Every Childby: Caroline Castle

Four Feet, Two Sandalsby: Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed
Franklin Fibsby: Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark
Frederickby: Leo Lionni
Freedom Summerby: Deborah Diesen


G

Gastonby: Kelly DiPucchio
The Giving Treeby: Shel Silverstein
Green Eggs and Hamby: Dr. Seuss

H

Happiness Is a Warm Puppyby: Charles M. Shulz
Happyby: Mies Van Hout
Harold and the Purple Crayonby: Crockett Johnson
Hello, Red Foxby: Eric Carle

The Hermit Crabby: Carter Goodrich
The Holeby: Oyvind Torseter
Horton Hears a Whoby: Dr. Seuss
The Hundred Dressesby: Eleanor Estes

I

If I Were in Charge of the Worldby: Judith Viorst’s
If You Give a Mouse a Cookieby: Laura Joffe Numeroff
Inch by Inchby: Leo Lionni

Ishby: Peter Reynolds

K

Knuffle Bunnyby: Mo Willems

L

Let’s Do Nothing!by: Tony Fucile
Little Brute Familyby: Russel Hoban
The Little Match Girl by: Hans Christian Andersen
The Loraxby: Dr. Seuss

M

Magicby: Philip Cam
Matthew’s Dreamby: Leo Lionni
Morris the Mooseby: B. Wiseman

My Father’s Dragonby: Ruth Gannett
My Friend the Monsterby: Clyde Robert Bulla

O

The Obstinate Penby: Frank Dormer
On The Day You Were Bornby: Debra Frasier
On the Verandahby: Philip Cam
The Other Sideby: Jacqueline Woodson
The Other Way to Listen by: Byrd Baylor and Peter Parnall

P

Paperbag Princessby: Robert Munsch
Peach & Blueby: Sarah S. Kilborne
A Penguin Storyby: Antoinette Portis
The Pout-Pout Fishby: Deborah Diesen
Press Hereby: Herve Tullet

R

The Rainbox Fishby: Marcus Pfister
The Real Thiefby: William Steig
The Runaway Bunnyby: Margaret Wise Brown

S

A Shelter in Our Carby: Monica Gunning
Squareby: Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
Standing Up to Mr. Oby: Claudia Mills
Stellalunaby: Janell Cannon

Swimmyby: Leo Lionni

T

The Tale of Peter Rabbitby: Beatrix Potter
Little Red Henby: Paul Galdone
The Three Questionsby: Jon J Muth
Tuck Everlastingby: Natalie Babbit

U

The Ugly Ducklingby: Hans Christian Andersen

V

The Velveteen Rabbitby: Margery Williams

W

We Forgot Brockby: Carter Goodrich

Where the Wild Things Areby: Maurice Sendak
Who is the Beast?by: Keith Baker
Who Wants to be a Prairie Dog?by: Ann Clark and Van Tsihnahjinnie
Why?by: Lindsay Camp and Tony Ross

Worm Loves Wormby: J. J. Austrian
A Wrinkle in Timeby: Madeleine L’Engle

Y

Yellow and Pinkby: William Steig
You Are Stardustby: Elin Kelsey