Little Sid: The Tiny Prince Who Became Buddha
Written by Ian Lendler; Illustrated by Xanthe Bouma

The illustrations and fanciful use of text make this a fun book for kids. It’s short and can be read in one sitting. Calling Siddhartha “Sid” makes him perhaps a little more relatable. It also gives the authors liberty to write a story that is not really about Gautama Buddha, though there are similarities. Sid is portrayed as a disgruntled young lord, tired of being spoiled. It does a great job of showing how tiresome being spoiled can be and how exhausting it is to try to fill every moment with external satisfactions.There is no mention of the four signs or the four sights (sickness, old age, death, asceticism), Sid goes straight out the door on his search for happiness. The turning point of the story has him running from a tiger and falling from a cliff. Dangling from a vine he notices a strawberry which he tastes and finds to be extra delicious, with the help of a mouse who is observing his predicament. This moment of being present seems to be a placeholder for his enlightenment, which is a little troubling. The external satisfaction of a strawberry while nearly dying seems to have made him a total renunciant. He’s learned to live in the moment. “Be Here Now,” are his final words. Still, it’s a fun book with truly wonderful illustrations. There is nothing sensitive to be aware of and no mention of enlightenment.

Suggested activity: We asked our students what being spoiled means and they had wonderful answers.

Pick up a copy from the publisher: First Second Books