Monthly Special
World Religions: Buddhism and Hinduism

Picture Books | Fiction | Folklore | Nonfiction 

The books recommended below were published within the last several years and received a 3 rating or better in the Horn Book Guide. Grade levels are only suggestions; the individual child is the real criterion.

Picture Books
Suggested grade level listed with each entry

Sky Sweeper written by Phillis Gershator, illustrated by Holly Meade (Kroupa/Farrar)
Takeboki lives his life content to be the monks’ “Flower Keeper,” reaping the rewards of meaningful work in this book that celebrates the artistry of Japanese gardens. Grade level: K–3. 40 pages.

Zen Shorts written and illustrated by Jon J Muth (Scholastic)
Three Zen stories are woven into a contemporary frame when Stillwater, a talking panda, meets three young children and narrates stories to fit each child’s mood. Grade level: K–3. 40 pages.

Fiction
Suggested grade level listed with each entry

Looking for Bapu by Anjali Banerjee (Lamb/Random)
Indian American Anu deals with the loss of his beloved grandfather, who showered him with traditional food, stories of gods, and lots of love on his visits from India. Grade level: 4–6. 167 pages.

Rebel: A Tibetan Odyssey by Cheryl Aylward Whitesel (HarperCollins)
Set in Tibet roughly a century ago, this enticing adventure story revolves around the coming of age of a boy banished from his village to live with his uncle in a Buddhist monastery. Grade level: 4–6. 193 pages.

Buddha Stories written and illustrated by Demi (Holt)
The book, its design modeled on an ancient Buddhist printed scroll, retells eleven Jataka tales, or stories of the many incarnations of the Buddha. Grade level: K–3. 26 pages.

The Broken Tusk: Stories of the Hindu God Ganesha retold by Uma Krishnaswami, illustrated by Maniam Selven (Linnet)
These seventeen stories about Ganesha, the Hindu god with an elephant head, include a variety of gently moralistic tales ranging from a creation myth to several humorous pieces. Grade level: 4–6. 101 pages.

The Monkey Bridge written by Rafe Martin, illustrated by Fahimeh Amiri (Knopf)
This Buddhist Jataka tale concerns the monkeys who feast on the Treasure Tree fruit and the human king who seeks to kill the monkeys and steal the fruit but ultimately learns a lesson in leadership and altruism. Grade level: K–3. 32 pages.

Elephant Prince: The Story of Ganesh retold by Amy Novesky, illustrated by Belgin K. Wedman (Mandala)
This sumptuous retelling of one of the stories about the benevolent Hindu god illuminates one of the less familiar tales of how Ganesh came to have an elephant’s head. Grade level: K–3. 32 pages.

Savitri: A Tale of Ancient India written by Aaron Shepard, illustrated by Vera Rosenberry (Whitman)
A retelling of a tale from the Mahabharata describes a young woman’s clever attempt to save her beloved husband from the god of death. Grade level: K–3. 40 pages.

Rama and Sita: A Tale from Ancient Java written and illustrated by David Weitzman (Godine)
This theatrical retelling captures the majesty and heroism in the Hindu story of the unjustly exiled Prince Rama and his lovely wife Sita, who is kidnapped by an evil giant. Grade level: K–3. 32 pages.

Nonfiction
Suggested grade level listed with each entry

Far beyond the Garden Gate: Alexandra David-Neel’s Journey to Lhasa written and illustrated by Don Brown (Houghton)
The intrepid traveler spends a year learning Tibetan with a mountain-dwelling hermit and another three years translating old texts before taking on the most audacious of her ventures: Lhasa, the Forbidden City. Grade level: K–3. 32 pages.

Buddha written and illustrated by Demi (Holt)
This highly readable account of the Buddha’s life serves as both an engaging story and a thoughtful introduction to Buddhist teachings. Grade level: K–3. 40 pages.

Becoming Buddha: The Story of Siddhartha written by Whitney Stewart, illustrated by Sally Rippin (Heian)
The story of how Siddhartha left his palace, studied meditation, and gained enlightenment is told in rich illustrations and simple language, one episode per page. Grade level: 4–6. 32 pages.

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