Elle the Humanist - by Elle Harris & Douglas Harris (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Elle the Humanist is a beautifully illustrated book by nine-year-old Elle Harris, presenting humanist ideas and ethics in a way that's warm, welcoming, and accessible for young readers. It features a foreword by renowned philosopher and author Daniel Dennett. Elle had a small problem. Growing up in a secular household, but in a community dominated by one religion, Elle was one of the few kids in her third-grade class who wasn't religious. When she talked to friends and classmates, she found that many of them had a hard time imagining someone who didn't go to church or pray. Some others wondered how Elle could know right from wrong without religious leaders or sacred books to tell her. The conversations Elle found herself having weren't judgmental or contentious, but the result of honest curiosity. After school, Elle would ask her dad to help her explain what she believed and how she felt in a way that would make sense to the other kids at school. From those talks came ideas that eventually became Elle the Humanist a warm, clearly expressed introduction to humanism for young readers.

Review Quotes

Humanism has inspired plenty of complex philosophy and discourse, but at its core is a way of living that's beautifully simple and effective. Elle the Humanist captures the heart of humanism in language so clear and appealing that other kids will easily recognize the humanist in themselves. --Dale McGowan, author of Parenting Beyond Belief and Raising Freethinkers

Humanism is our planet s best hope for increasing justice, fairness, and ethical living. Elle's clear, accessible introduction to humanism is perfect for budding freethinkers or any young person who wants to understand how to live well beyond the confines of religious dogma. --Phil Zuckerman, Ph.D., author of What It Means to be Moral, Living the Secular Life, and Society without God

Elle the Humanist is a wonderful addition to a growing number of children's books on humanism. It delightfully focuses on a fundamental value for humanity and humanists, empathy. The Platinum Rule is a new twist on the Golden Rule that will teach children tolerance and understanding of each other's differences, something greatly needed in today's society. --Kristin Wintermute, Director of Education at American Humanist Association