Printing services have temporarily changed.
Printing services have temporarily changed.
Click here for current printing instructions Click here for current printing instructions
Click here for current printing instructions Click here for current printing instructions

My Account

Loading...

LtownLibrary

What is critical thinking?

To begin, it is not synonymous with “thinking,” though these two are not unrelated. To think critically is to think in a certain kind of manner, one in which evaluation and values come into play. Critical thinking is not about finding the most efficient or creative means to an end, but putting into question the end itself.

Children have an innate sense of how to think critically; one may say that children are “born philosophers.” They tend to ask a simple question that is at once adorably innocent yet potentially destructive: “why?” Instead of providing children with seemingly satisfactory answers to this one-word inquiry, the following book recommendations encourage them to keep asking.

This list was inspired by a patron who was looking for books that would help their child learn critical thinking.


Philosophy books

Children’s Book of Philosophy by Sarah Tomley



Raising Critical Thinkers: A Parent’s Guide to Growing Wise Kids in the Digital Age by Julie Bogart

Big Ideas for Curious Minds: An Introduction to Philosophy by The School of Life

a1g tvdgkkl. sl1500


Logic and puzzle books

Logic Games: Train Your Brain! by Alex Howe



Look! What Do You See? By Xu Bing



Picture books

Why? by Adam Rex


The Liebrary by Amanda Pearlstein


What Do You Do With An Idea? by Kobi Yamada


What to Do With A Box by Jane Yolen



They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel



Turtle in a Tree by Neesha Hudson



A Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel



Imagine by Raul Colon



I Hear a Pickle by Rachel Isadora



Elephant in the Dark by Mina Javaherbin



Hello Hello by Brendan Wenzel



Inside Cat by Brendan Wenzel



What Can You Do With a Rock? by Pat Zietlow Miller



I Have an Idea! By Hervé Tullet



It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles Green Shaw



What Do You See When You Look at a Tree? by Emma Carlisle



Middle-grade novels

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin



The Tattooed Potato and Other Clues by Ellen Raskin



The Mysterious Disappearance of Leon (I Mean Noel) by Ellen Raskin



Lost in Lexicon by Pendred Noyce

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein

Opinions and Opossums by Ann Braden

The Mysterious Benedict Society series by Trenton Lee Stewart

The Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch

All the Wrong Questions/A Series of Unfortunate Events series by Lemony Snicket

~Abby Henkel, Library Assistant

Take Home Craft with cartoon image of hedgehog
Take & Make Craft: Autumn Hedgehog
Celebrate Fall with a Take & Make Hedgehog Craft!  Stop by the Youth Services Desk starting on Monday October 9th to pick one up while supplies last. Here...
Read More
Movie of the Month: ASTEROID CITY
Movie of the Month: ASTEROID CITY
This month, enjoy Wes Anderson’s ASTEROID CTY on the big screen in our program room! Screenings will be Tuesday, October 10 at 6:30 PM, and Thursday, October...
Read More
white creative doodle brainstorming presentation
Books for Young Critical Thinkers
What is critical thinking? To begin, it is not synonymous with “thinking,” though these two are not unrelated. To think critically is to think in a certain kind...
Read More
l town radio banner
Karen Trachtenberg of the West Essex Tribune on "L-Town Radio"
This month on L-Town Radio – The Livingston Library Podcast, Joe chats with Karen Trachtenberg of the West Essex Tribune about growing up as the daughter...
Read More
dyslexia awareness month
October is National Dyslexia Awareness Month
October is National Dyslexia Awareness Month. Dyslexia is a very common learning disability with no known cure. It can be found across the world, in different...
Read More
frights and fiendish delights
Frights and Fiendish Delights for October: Nonfiction Reads
The slight chill in the air signals the arrival of fall and of course, Halloween, and so now is the perfect time to engage in a spooky read or two. Here are some...
Read More
amy intro graphic
Message from the Director: Fall Into Early Literacy Bingo
Livingston Library Community, At the Livingston Public Library, we believe it’s never too early to encourage reading and educational family play time! The Youth...
Read More
non-fiction notables of the youth services collection. Line art of a lightbulb, art palette, globe, text box, bike, and book surrounding the text.
Non-fiction Notables of the Youth Services Collection
What we call non-fiction in most public libraries is actually just everything that isn’t a novel, graphic novel, picture book, or similar fiction material. Non-fiction...
Read More
More Than Just Books Blog Graphic 1024x576
September Programming Wrap Up
We enjoyed a successful start to fall with some wonderful programs this September. Here is a recap of what programs our community members enjoyed this past month.  Participants...
Read More
celebrate national hispanic heritage month with these titles
National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15th to October 15th is National Hispanic Heritage Month. Check out these titles about the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic Americans...
Read More
a24 movies
A24 Films Now Streaming on Kanopy
Over the last ten years, the independent film studio known as A24 has earned a reputation for producing and distributing some of the most groundbreaking, thought-provoking,...
Read More
1 2 3 146 147

Subscribe

Stay in the loop and never miss out! Our weekly newsletter is the best way to stay informed on all things Library!
What are you waiting for?
Subscribe
04 October 2023
Celebrate Fall with a Take & Make Hedgehog Craft!  Stop by the Youth Services Desk starting...
Read More
04 October 2023
This month, enjoy Wes Anderson’s ASTEROID CTY on the big screen in our program room! Screenings...
Read More
03 October 2023
What is critical thinking? To begin, it is not synonymous with “thinking,” though these two are not...
Read More
03 October 2023
This month on L-Town Radio – The Livingston Library Podcast, Joe chats with Karen Trachtenberg...
Read More
02 October 2023
October is National Dyslexia Awareness Month. Dyslexia is a very common learning disability with no...
Read More
02 October 2023
The slight chill in the air signals the arrival of fall and of course, Halloween, and so now is the perfect...
Read More
01 October 2023
Livingston Library Community, At the Livingston Public Library, we believe it’s never too early to...
Read More
30 September 2023
What we call non-fiction in most public libraries is actually just everything that isn’t a novel, graphic...
Read More
29 September 2023
We enjoyed a successful start to fall with some wonderful programs this September. Here is a recap of...
Read More