American society tends to stereotype children based on developmental preconceptions. These societal norms create a disadvantage for children, according to which they are not perceived as independent thinkers. Mohr Lone presents the prospect of children's capacity for metacognition in this must-read volume for practitioners and scholars in the field of child development. Based on 25 years of research, Mohr Lone records conversations with elementary-school children between the ages of 5 and 12. Topics range from the meaning of emotions to friendship, political issues, and even death, as the book effectively illustrates and compares thought from philosophy, sociology, psychology, and educational theory. Each chapter opens with a thoughtful quote from a notable children's author, scholar, or proverb. Throughout, Mohr Lone explores the possibility of children as valuable contributors to society and calls for an appreciation of children's perceptions to advocate for the "best possible educational structures and environments" (p. 23). This book profoundly declares how reciprocal respect can exist between adults and children, enabling each group to learn from the other. Highly recommended. General readers through faculty; professionals.
— Choice Reviews
A beautiful book about the ways that children think and speak of important matters such as friendship, justice, happiness, childhood, and death. Their words illuminate a text that parents and teachers will treasure all the more in this time of loss and grieving.... A stirring and important book, which should be widely read.
— Jonathan Kozol, National Book Award winner and author of Savage Inequalities, Amazing Grace and many other books on public education
Seen and Not Heard is a wonderful book because philosopher Jana Mohr Lone listens carefully to children as they discuss some of life's most important experiences---the meaning of friendship, trust, and being oneself or an outsider---that reveal not only themes of timeless importance but often wisdom from their youthful perspectives.
— Charles Johnson, National Book Award winner and author of Middle Passage and The Way of the Writer
Seen and Not Heard is profound, rich, and provocative. It demonstrates that, as much as adults and often more so, children are subtle, complex, and diverse philosophical thinkers. It opens a window to a wide field of children’s ideas about being, imagination, friendship, justice, ethics, gender, happiness, death, and much else. A better argument is hard to imagine for the importance of listening to children, for children’s own sakes as well as for doing better philosophy.
— John Wall, Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Rutgers University
No one has ever listened more intently to the voices of children than Jana Mohr Lone. Seen and Not Heard will convince anyone who has ever doubted that children are capable of sophisticated and profound thinking, and that all of us have much to learn from listening to them.
— Claudia Mills, University of Colorado, Boulder
Not since Gareth Matthews has a philosopher provided so direct and lucid an account of children’s philosophical thinking on topics so central to human experience—and of why their thinking should matter to the rest of us.
— Maughn Gregory, Professor of Educational Foundations, Philosophy for Children Program, Montclair University
You will want to listen to the children in your life once you read Seen and Not Heard. Conversant in the latest philosophical, psychological, and sociological research on childhood, Jana Mohr Lone has written a book that is inviting, intimate, and readable. She weaves an impressionistic account of children’s thoughts on friendship, happiness, fairness and death with considerations of these philosophical topics in literature, history, and culture.
— Megan Laverty, Associate Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University
Seen and Not Heard is a wonderful exploration of how conversations with children can be philosophical, thoughtful and thought-provoking and an opportunity for genuine dialogue. Jana Mohr Lone convincingly demonstrates that young voices are worth attending to, by drawing upon works of literature, philosophical texts, and real conversations she has had with young thinkers. Beautifully written and lucidly argued, this book will be enjoyed by all.
— Laura D’Olimpio, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy of Education at the University of Birmingham, England