Maybe Yes, Maybe No: A Guide for Young Skeptics
Dan Barker

Maybe Yes, Maybe No: A Guide for Young Skeptics

Recommended Ages

K–5th grades (ages 5–10)

Helping kids think critically without becoming dismissive is a delicate balance. “Maybe Yes, Maybe No” invites children to ask good questions about claims they hear, weighing evidence and considering multiple explanations before deciding what they believe. Written by Dan Barker, the book uses simple scenarios and friendly illustrations to model skepticism as curiosity rather than cynicism. We love how it gives kids concrete language—“What’s the evidence?” “How do we know?”—in an age-appropriate way. It’s best suited for roughly ages 7–11 and works well in secular or pluralistic families who value open inquiry. Families seeking explicitly religious framing may disagree with some examples, but many still find the underlying critical thinking skills valuable. Pro tip: read one short section at a time and immediately invite your child to come up with their own “maybe yes, maybe no” questions about everyday ads, rumors, or social media posts.

Best for curious kids around ages 8–12 who ask lots of “how do we know?” questions and families who want to explicitly nurture scientific thinking, logic, and healthy doubt.

Pros

Short, story‑style introduction to skepticism that encourages kids to ask for evidence, think critically about extraordinary claims, and distinguish between wishful thinking and reality; praised by secular organizations and reviewers as a gentle way to empower children to question what they hear in media, advertising, and everyday life. 

Cons

Originally published in 1990, so some illustrations and examples feel dated; it explicitly reflects a secular/humanist worldview, which may not align with religious families; physically a thin paperback that some buyers feel is pricey for the page count.

Because it’s a secular, values‑neutral picture book that supports science and media‑literacy standards, many charters and ESAs will approve it under language arts, science, or social‑emotional learning; verify with your specific program before purchasing with funds.

$42.99 on Amazon

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Maybe Yes, Maybe No: A Guide for Young Skeptics
$43.00 USD

Skills

What kids will learn
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Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking
Philosophy
Philosophy

Maybe Yes, Maybe No: A Guide for Young Skeptics Mission

Maybe Yes, Maybe No introduces children to healthy skepticism by showing them how to ask questions, look for evidence, and think for themselves when they encounter extraordinary claims. Through a story about a curious girl named Andrea, it encourages kids to balance open‑mindedness with critical thinking rather than simply believing everything they hear.

Maybe Yes, Maybe No: A Guide for Young Skeptics Story

After leaving the ministry and becoming a leading voice in the freethought movement, Dan Barker noticed that many kids were exposed to supernatural stories long before they were taught how to evaluate them critically. He wrote Maybe Yes, Maybe No as part of his “Maybe” series to give children ages roughly 8–12 a gentle, story‑driven introduction to evidence‑based reasoning. The book is published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation and is frequently used by secular families and educators to spark conversations about how we know what’s true.

About Modular Learning

FAQ: Additional Details about Maybe Yes, Maybe No: A Guide for Young Skeptics

You might curl up on the couch with your 7‑year‑old, turning pages filled with cartoon illustrations while they shout out answers—“That sounds made up!” or “We’d need more proof!”—and you both end up laughing at some of the sillier examples before shifting into a surprisingly thoughtful conversation about when it’s okay to say, “I don’t know yet.”

This slim picture‑book introduces elementary‑age kids to critical thinking by following a child who learns to ask, “How do you know that’s true?” and to look for evidence before believing a claim. In a homeschool setting, families usually use it as a read‑aloud once or twice a year, pausing on each scenario to invite kids to sort examples into “maybe yes,” “maybe no,” or “not sure yet,” then connecting the ideas to real‑life situations like advertising, playground rumors, or internet claims. It’s a gentle, story‑based way to launch later lessons in science, media literacy, and logic. 

Adult involvement is essential: the power of the book lies in the discussion, so parents or caregivers should read aloud, model curiosity rather than cynicism, and reassure kids that being a skeptic means asking good questions, not being rude.

Ideal for roughly ages 5–10 who can sit through a short read‑aloud and are developmentally ready to talk about truth, make‑believe, and the idea that adults can sometimes be mistaken.

This book encourages kids to examine claims critically, which can empower autistic, ADHD, and gifted children who already ask many questions. Its gentle, affirming tone helps anxious or literal‑minded kids differentiate between healthy skepticism and cynicism, and can be paired with media literacy resources.

Refunds and returns are managed by the bookseller you choose; most online retailers offer a simple return process if the book arrives damaged or isn’t a good fit.

Not a good match for families seeking faith‑based materials or for very young children who may not yet grasp the abstract ideas; it’s also not a full critical‑thinking curriculum, so it may disappoint parents expecting extensive activities or worksheets.

Pair it with logic puzzle books, science‑experiment collections, or resources from organizations like the Skeptics Society; for older readers, titles like “The Demon‑Haunted World” (with parental preview) or media‑literacy curricula can extend its themes. 

First published in the early 1990s by Prometheus Books, the text itself has changed little; it’s periodically reprinted and continues to be carried by secular bookstores and critical‑thinking organizations because its core message about evidence‑based belief remains relevant. 

After reading, play a weekly “skeptic detective” game where your child picks an ad, miracle claim, or news story and practices asking, “What’s the evidence?” and “How else could we explain this?”

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Meet Dan

Dan Barker is an American author, musician, and activist who spent 19 years as an evangelical Christian preacher and composer before publicly becoming an atheist in the 1980s. He now serves as co‑president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation and co‑founded The Clergy Project, and has written numerous books for adults and children—including Maybe Yes, Maybe No—promoting critical thinking, secular ethics, and church‑state separation.