Staff Picks
Religious Diversity: Youth Titles That Highlight Buddhism
- Ashley S.
- Friday, April 07, 2023
Collection
Check out these youth titles that highlight Buddhism.
All the Way to Lhasa
A Tale from Tibet
Published in 2002
A boy and his yak persevere along the difficult way to the holy city of Lhasa and succeed where others fail.
Running on the Roof of the World
Published in 2018
After her parents are arrested by Chinese soldiers because of their religious beliefs, twelve-year-old Tash and her best friend Sam travel from their home in Tibet across the Himalayas to India in order to seek the help of the Dalai Lama.
Buddha and the Rose
Published in 2022
Sujata, a milkmaid, observes the Buddha smiling at a single rose, and, closing her eyes, begins to truly perceive the world around her, and her connection to all of the universe.
Kindness
A Treasury of Buddhist Wisdom for Children and Parents
Published in 2010
Collection of traditional Buddhist tales following the Buddha through his various prior births.
The Dalai Lama
Peacemaker from Tibet
Published in 2003
A biography of the current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, discussing the spiritual and political life of this Buddhist leader.
Everything is Connected
Published in 2019
Highlights the many ways we are all linked to the world around us.
Under the Bodhi Tree
A Story of the Buddha
Published in 2018
The story of how the prince Siddhartha eventually became the Buddha.
Ashoka the Fierce
How an Angry Prince Became India's Emperor of Peace
Published in 2021
"A children's story (ages 6-10) about Ashoka, the famed Indian emperor (c. 268 to 232 BCE), who began his rule with incredible violence and cruelty but later had a great transformation and became an important propagator of Buddhism. This telling will highlight the potential for transformation upon seeing the suffering caused by following one's own desires and discovering the joy in harnessing one's power and energy to benefit others"-- Provided by publisher.
Kuan Yin
The Princess Who Became the Goddess of Compassion
Published in 2021
"Kuan Yin, whose name means "one who hears the cries of the world," is perhaps the most widely revered Buddhist saint in the world. Known as Avalokiteshvara in Sanskrit, Kannon in Japanese, and Chenrezig in Tibetan, this compassionate bodhisattva is at the heart of all Mahayana Buddhist traditions. Sometimes depicted as male and other times as female, Kuan Yin took the vow to free all sentient beings from their suffering. The legend of Princess Miao-Shan is the origin story of how she became the bodhisattva known as Kuan Yin. Princess Miao-Shan lived in a country called Raised Forest around 700 B.C.E. Instead of marrying a prince according to her father's wishes, she followed her own path of spiritual practice and left the royal life behind. This was unheard of in her Confucian culture, where traditional family roles were viewed as the foundation of society. This story follows Ling, Miao-Shan's younger sister, who witnesses her sister's trials, perseverance, and ultimate enlightenment. Ling must overcome doubts, fears, and loneliness in order to realize what her sister tells her all along: that love, which is ultimately compassion for others, is the greatest power in the universe"-- Provided by publisher.
Addy's Cup of Sugar
Based on the Buddhist Story "The Mustard Seed"
Published in 2020
In this reworking of the Buddhist parable, Stillwater, a giant panda, teaches Addy that the grief she feels for the loss of her kitten, is part of life and is shared by everybody.
Thich Nhat Hanh
Buddhism in Action
Published in 2004
A biography of Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh which emphasizes the spiritual beliefs that guided him in trying to prevent war in Vietnam and in striving to make the world a better place. Includes activities and a note for parents and teachers.
Becoming Buddha
The Story of Siddhartha
Published in 2005
An illustrated biography on the life of Gautama Buddha.