Books

We want to set children up for success when introducing them to meditation practices so playfulness is on order. The Monster Parade: A Book about Feeling All Your Feelings and Then Watching Them Go by Wendy O'Leary with illustrations by Noémie Gionet Landry (Bala Kids 2022) is a wonderful and playful way to approach the idea that feelings and thoughts are fleeting.

A self-published book available in print or eBook about the inspiring story of Prajapati, Buddha's aunt and guardian written and illustrated by Alicja Zmigrodzka.

Sit with Me is our go-to book during the first weeks of school. Carolyn Kanjuro's delightful rhyming verses invite children of all ages to learn the seven points of posture. The character Justa Bug describes posture–from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet–with a spine straight like coins stacked on a plate and shoulders back like a vulture in flight.

Where’s Buddha? is a wonderfully illustrated picture book for younger children with rhyming text that is accessible and very age-appropriate.

The Life of the Buddha by Heather Sanche is poetic, clear, and concise, with magical illustrations by Tara di Gesu. The story is focused on his path to enlightenment, and told in a non-sectarian way that honors all Buddhist traditions. 

The Day the Buddha Woke Up was written with very young children in mind, and tells the story of the Buddha’s life and path from birth to enlightenment in clear, simple prose.

Buddhanet is a website dedicated to making the Buddha's teachings freely available to all. This is a valuable collection of freely downloadable children's ebooks in pdf format.

This books takes us on a colorful adventure with Bodhi and her mother to Bangkok, Thailand, where they explore themes of language, culture, routine, ritual, kindness, compassion and bodhicitta. Recommended for children ages 3 – 7.

A beautifully illustrated and well-written chapter book detailing the life of Siddhartha and his awakening as the Buddha. Highly recommended for age 5 and up.