Liberty oriented children's book

[lobb40118]

WOW. I think I am tasting bile after looking at that socialist in-doc book sight. It's just talking points with no story line. My book concept is a story with characters and a story with a message. I have had 3 people read and help edit it so far. I have had my wife (biased I know), her socialist boss (made her think and asked if I could spread it out into a series), my teenage son (he hit me up on basic English skills...lol and it sparked some good conversation). I am trying to make it where the kids will like it and where it will spark thought in the parents who are reading it. So far the topics in the story are hidden in the life of the main character. They include; immigration and crossing arbitrary lines in the dirt, government id's, business licenses, fiat currency, bureaucrats, civil disobedience, value backed currency, agarism, left-right paradigm, and voting. In a couple weeks I think I might be ready for an illustrator.

[fatcat]

2-4 year old are not capable of digesting or understanding the complex philosophical reasons for and against libertarianism.

Agarism? Voting? Fiat currency? Seriously?

Vague messages of skepticism or individualism = good

Specific indoctrination for complex political beliefs = bad.

If you can't have a (two way) conversation about the ideas, if they're not capable of challenging the ideas, then you have no place trying to spoonfeed the ideas.

No matter how good the idea, it doesn't justify indoctrination.

Or maybe indoctrination is only bad when the statists do it.

[Rillion]

In lobb's defense, he didn't say he intended his book for young children.

Still, I agree with much of what fatcat said-- it's better to stick with principles and why they're useful rather than addressing specific issues. Not just because indoctrinating kids is not a good thing, but because kids need a foundation for thinking about politics and won't be able to infer why any particular stance on an issue is wrong or right without it.  Which would mean that the only thing you can do  is indoctrinate them. 

The Dan Barker book "Maybe Right, Maybe Wrong" is good in that way because it contrasts principles with rules and talks about why principles are better, and how they're used.   That kind of grounding is important before they even begin to think about politics.

[fatcat]

In lobb's defense, he didn't say he intended his book for young children.

Thats not how i read it.

I have 4 kids and 2 are young and I will finish the book and publish it for them at the minimum.

Although seemingly I read "4 kids and 2 of them are young" as "two kids aged 2 and 4", so maybe they're not actually that young.

I think below 6 at least is chancing it with the indoctrination stakes, and I'm not too keen on books designed to convince people of an idea rather than to explain an idea.

I think its okay to talk about these ideas if they're asking about it, but its way too ethically dicey to sit them down with a book designed to come to the beliefs you want when they may or may not be intelligent enough to process them and not just mindlessly swallow them.

It would seem to me much more important to raise a kid to think for themselves and not just believe what they're told, rather than to have them libertarian but mindless.

[lobb40118]

When I say agarism and fiat currency: The story has the main character who is a candy maker refuse to sell his candy for numbered pieces of paper with the Kings name on the bottom, but in turn trades the candy for other tangible items Which includes items like milk, eggs, and things like that. I think Kids can understand the basics, plus how many times do you see kids trade toys or snacks? I do not go into fractional reserve banking or anything.  I do not think i do it in an indoctrination style either, more in a fable sort of way. Aesop and other moral stories are not really brainwashing, just a tool to show morality and spark thought. When I stated all the things the story covers I listed them for the adults on the board. In the actual story the ideas are veiled in the story line. Thanks though for the feedback, I will definitely take all comments into consideration with how the ideas are presented. I think the basic premise of the story the younger kids could enjoy, they will not understand the underling messages very well. Whoever is reading it to them will understand the messages though. Older kids could also enjoy the story , my 16 year old liked parts. I have 4 kids and will try it on the younger two soon (3 and 5) and see if they like it (might be tough to keep attention without pictures for that age).

[Harry Tuttle]

(might be tough to keep attention without pictures for that age).

Children enjoy using their imagination. You don't necessarily need many pictures to stimulate the visual part. My child has enjoyed the old Winnie the Pooh stories since age 4. These are some of the lessons I like to focus on at this young age - lessons that I hope will lead to a level-headed young adult:

- Every individual has worth
- Nobody owes you anything
- The world doesn't always give you what you want
- You can choose your attitude
- You Can't force others to behave as you wish

[Rillion]

These are some of the lessons I like to focus on at this young age - lessons that I hope will lead to a level-headed young adult:

- Every individual has worth
- Nobody owes you anything
- The world doesn't always give you what you want
- You can choose your attitude
- You Can't force others to behave as you wish

I like those.  Also:

- Time, energy, and material resources are valuable, and the people and/or things you spend them on on shows what you value.   That might be a little abstract for young kids, but I think it could be illustrated by showing that people don't like to share things with people who don't respect their property, and don't want to spend time with people who are mean to them.  

[libertylover]

Get an old copy of, "The Little Red Hen."  It is a great book about individual responsibility.   Some socialist have messed with the original so be careful to get an old school copy.  I saw one version where the Red Hen caved in and shared the bread she made with the layabouts in the story.  And other good one is, "The Ant and the Grasshopper".

If I can ever find a copy I heard the book called, "The Dog That Owned Itself," is a great kids Libertarian book.  I haven't searched for it lately.   

[ForumTroll]

Howabout just teaching your kids not to initiate force instead of letting a book do it?

[Harry Tuttle]

Howabout just teaching your kids not to initiate force instead of letting a book do it?

I read to my child every day. I would prefer to read stories with a good message over books with a crap message. I recognize the limits in my own ability to make up good material daily. Besides, part of the idea is to help a child "discover" the enjoyment of opening a book to take in ideas.

[lobb40118]

Well it took me a bit over two years but I finally did it. http://www.libertania.com/

[lobb40118]

Ok, this is out now and in production, you can purchase on http://www.libertania.com or on Amazon. Make sure if you purchase on Amazon to go through the free talk live shop portal. The Kindle version will also be out in a couple weeks. This is a great story that you and your kids can read together and discuss various liberty related subjects. There are several full page color illustrations to keep their attention as well. Even if you do not have children you will love the story. This also makes great gifts for any young person or family you would like to help spread the liberty message to. You could also purchase a few and donate to your local library or school to spread the message as well. Thank you in advance.

[davidfordhere]

Here are a lot of things I collected about children's libertarian books in order to pick out books for my children and young adults.

Whatever Happened to Penny Candy?
https://mises.org/store/Product2.aspx?ProductId=303&CategoryId=0

Suggested Readings from the Libertarian Party, U.S.A.(1994) (see sub-list near the bottom)
http://www.chaospark.com/politics/reid53.htm

Amazon list
http://www.amazon.com/Libertarian-Kids-Books/lm/R2T8OQM999IE87

http://liberty4kids.blogspot.com/2009/12/some-gift-suggestions-for-libertarian.html

http://www.arsgratialibertatis.com/book-list

Jonathan Gullible
http://www.jonathangullible.com/translations/UK_Comnt040222.pdf

Economics In One Lesson
By HENRY HAZLITT (for older children)
http://www.fee.org/library/books/economics-in-one-lesson/

This site has links to video's, MP3 audio, and other things that may be helpful.
http://libertysonics.com/

[Crotale]

The Adventures of Jonathon Gullible is a great example of a liberty-orientated childrens book.