Who Are You?
How valuable am I? This philosophy story helps children ask whether a person's worth depends on appearance, talent, possessions, or something deeper.
Character, Social Skills & Leadership
Kant Kids Philosophy Stories
A humanities-based philosophy story series covering self-worth, life and death, happiness, the individual and society, and harmonious living across 55 books. Philosophical questions develop judgment and thinking skills.
Ages 5-10
55 books
5 sample previews
Step 3
Book List
Review the books in this series and open available sample previews.
You Are More Beautiful Than a Chrysanthemum
Could the whole universe be moving to help a single chrysanthemum bloom? If I am more beautiful than a chrysanthemum, how precious am I?
I Am Just Me
A seemingly useless stone, the fairy-tale character White Cloud, and every one of us each has a unique self. This story helps children value themselves as they are.
The Half Moon That Wanted to Be a Full Moon
Have you ever felt disappointed because the person you want to be is different from who you are now? This story encourages children to keep growing, like a moon polishing itself until it can light Earth's darkness.
I Like Myself Best
Who is the most wonderful person in the world? Perhaps it is someone who loves being themselves. This story invites children to value their own personality and strengths.
The Rice Cooker That Became a Dandelion Flower Shop
A rice cooker that feels useless becomes a dandelion flower shop, inviting children to think about how everyone can become valuable and needed.
The Hollow Walnut
A walnut tree must endure harsh weather and drought before it can bear full, healthy walnuts. Only after such hardship can it produce a rich harvest.
The Allegory of the Cave
What would you do if you were trapped inside a cave? Could you step outside and see the true form of the world?
Can Any Bird Fly Without Wounds?
Only birds that die at birth have no wounds, and the higher a bird flies, the more wounds it carries. This story invites children to think about hardship and growth.
What Is Most Precious to You?
Nohilbudeuk helps a lost woman and realizes that family is what matters most to him. What is most precious to you?
What Do People Live By?
What is inside the human heart? What is not granted to people? What do people truly live by?
Gyges the Shepherd and the Magic Ring
What if you found a magic ring? Children are invited to imagine how the good people they know would act if they had one.
A Picnic on Planet Earth
This philosophical story asks how we should live so that, when our picnic on Planet Earth comes to an end, we can say it was beautiful. It also offers a gentle reflection on parting with loved ones without regret.
The Happy Prince
The prince finds happiness by helping others, even at a cost to himself. How should we live to find true happiness?
A New Bond
Does everything end or disappear when we die? Because love exists, death is not only an end but also a new beginning.
The Weight of Life
The value of life is the same for a small mountain bird and for a person. What would the world become if we did not cherish life?
Who Would You Choose to Live With?
Three elders come to a home asking to be invited in. Their names are Money, Success, and Love. Who should the family invite?
I Am Happy Because You Are Here
What happened afterward to the ant and the grasshopper from Aesop's fable? Must everyone do the same kind of work to be happy?
Try Seeing It from the Other Side!
The boy receives plenty of praise from the villagers for being kind, but from the insects' point of view, the situation looks different. Can we try seeing it from another perspective?
God's Mistake
The inchworm wants protective colors to hide well, rather than sharp horns or claws that could hurt others. What does it mean to live together?
Everyone Is Precious
Who helped the boy obtain milk from the lioness? Hands, feet, eyes, and heart each claim the credit and begin to argue. What will the tongue say?
I Did It Because I Was Bored
The owl wants to play with the other forest friends, but they leave the owl out for being different. What should the owl do?
A Slap Returned
What should we do when we are treated unfairly? Through Arimo's clever protest against an unjust judgment, children think about discrimination, courage, and wisdom.
Different from Me, Precious to Me
Girls and boys differ in many ways, physically and emotionally. How can children build good friendships with peers who are different from them?
What Is Outside the Well?
Frogs living in a well go out to see the world at different times. What do they see? What matters is the ability to see the whole, not only a part.
What Kind of Friend Will You Choose?
The friendship between Pythias and Damon did not waver even in the face of death. What kind of friend am I, and what is true friendship?
Who Should Bell the Cat?
The mice gather to decide who should put a bell on the cat, and the decision is made by majority vote. The story invites children to ask whether majority rule always leads to a fair decision.
The Hedgehog and the Rabbit
A hedgehog and a rabbit have a race. How does the hedgehog beat the rabbit, and can that method be called fair?
You Are Not Always Right
A troublemaker tries to drive two close friends apart. What makes the friends fight? Children are invited to consider whether they have ever insisted that only they were right.
Once Upon a Very Long Time Ago
How much do thoughts influence actions? This story follows three children who begin tending peach trees using their own talents.
The Prince and the Flower Seed
The king says he will pass the throne to the prince who takes good care of a flower seed. Why does he make this choice? What qualities should a leader have?
A Shameful Victory
A singing contest is held among the birds in the forest. Who wins first place, and by what method? Which matters more: the result or the process?
The Golden-Horned Deer King
When the king hunts deer without restraint, the deer king with golden horns steps forward. What does the deer king do to protect the herd?
A King Worthy of the Name
The lion wants to become a king worthy of the name. But what does that really mean? This story invites children to think about true selfhood.
Who Should Become Chief?
To become the new chief of the village, one must bring back the most precious thing in the world. What do the three young people each bring?
Who Is the Richest?
Among the people aboard a large and splendid ship, who is the richest? This story invites children to consider what is most valuable to them.
The Begging Bowl That Would Not Fill
A greedy king encounters a begging bowl that never fills. As the bowl's true identity is revealed, the story explores how greed can be healed.
Why the Mandarin Became a Bitter Orange
In ancient China, there was a short, plain-looking minister named Yanzi who outwitted the king of Chu. This story explores Yanzi's wisdom.
The Land Pahom Claimed
Whenever Pahom had money, he bought land, yet he still wanted more. What happened to Pahom? This story opens a conversation about greed, desire, and ownership.
Just One More Time
A fox hatches a scheme to catch and eat a skylark. The story invites children to think about temptation and how to resist it.
The Secret of the Broken Teacup
The king wants a broken teacup restored exactly as it was. At his order, the officials visit a skilled potter. What choice will the potter make?
The Spark of Hatred
A great quarrel breaks out between Ivan's family and Gavrilo's family. How does a small spark of hatred spread, and what are some ways to resolve conflict?
The Man Trapped in a Shadow
Mr. Kicker deceives the islanders to sell his goods. What is trust? If I were one of the islanders, how would I treat Mr. Kicker?
Genghis Khan's Regret
One day, Genghis Khan, the ruler of Mongolia, makes a mistake that cannot be undone. What should we do to make decisions without regret?
The Feather and the Three Sieves
Lula is always spreading strange rumors, so friends keep their distance. But things are different now. What happened?
The Last Five Minutes
Have you ever thought about the meaning and value of time? Discover the story of Dostoevsky's last five minutes before he was spared from execution.
Kamal, the Boastful Camel
Kamal the camel boasts that he is ten times stronger than anyone else. What happens to him in the end? Meet Kamal as he learns the power of honesty through hardship.
Why Did Gandhi Throw Away His Other Shoe?
While getting on a train, Gandhi loses one of his shoes. What would I do in that moment? This story invites children to think about considerate action.
The Three Questions
When is the most important time? Who is the most important person, and what is the most important thing to do? Search for answers about life with the emperor.
The Frog in the Milk Pail
Three frogs fall into a pail of milk. Their struggle invites children to think about perseverance, optimism, and not giving up.
The Greatest Gift
The birds complain every day that their wings are heavy, but the wings are actually their greatest gift. What hidden potential might each of us have?
True Kindness
With an older man's help, a poor boy is able to study and earn money. When the man falls on hard times, what does the boy do? This story explores the meaning of truly good deeds.
The Best Medicine in the World
Three students set out to find the best medicine in the world. What does each one bring back? What cure-all medicine was their teacher hoping for?
Friendship Carved in Stone
Jose and Rahal write a friend's wrongdoing in the sand, but carve the friend's help into stone. Why do they do that? This story asks what true forgiveness means.
The Baby Elephant and Me
What do people do to protect a baby elephant? The story explores proper protection and how people can live in harmony with nature.