Where’s Buddha?
Author and Illustrator: Marisa Aragón Ware
Publisher: Bala Kids

How do you teach a child about buddhanature? Where’s Buddha by Marisa Aragón Ware is a good place to start. In 30 pages, Ware invites children to see the Buddha wherever they look — up high, down low, in a cozy house, in the open air. 

The book’s beautiful, vibrant illustrations are also by Ware, who works as an illustrator and tattoo artist in Boulder, Colorado. The illustrations are inspired by a childhood exploring nature in the Rocky Mountains, which comes through in the book. The depictions of animals, landscapes, biplanes, and buddhas in Where’s Buddha will capture the imagination of children and adults alike. Meanwhile, the short-yet-whimsical text encouraged children to see Buddhahood wherever they go. It’s a reminder that any time, any place, and in any situation, you can uncover the qualities of the Buddha: calm, mindful, joyful, and aware. 

We keep this book in our lunch room reading nook so children can browse through the images at will. There is something very lighthearted and sweet about the illustrations and I feel it leaves a nice imprint on the children without going into any moralistic or in-depth storyline. Sometimes that’s even more powerful. –Noa Jones, Middle Way School

You can purchase Where’s Buddha through Shambhala Publications.