Bibliography of Children's
Buddhist Literature

I collect first editions of children's Buddhist books. The ones I own are marked above with ""
The publishers and dates of publication listed apply to the first printings of these books. Many of them were reprinted--sometimes in revised form--again in later years, sometimes by different publishers.
Please feel free to email me suggested additions, or corrections to the list. Thanks.

Adams, Edward B. Death of Echadon: How Buddhism Came to Silla. Boston: Charles E. Tuttle Company, Inc., 1986.: 28 pp. No ISBN number available.; One of the legends of early Korean history. Ages K-3
Aspinwall, Marguerite. Jataka tales out of old India. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1927.: These tales, retold more simply for children, were taken from the collection of Jataka stories, selected and edited by H.T. Francis and E.J. Thomas.
Barker, Carol. Ananda in Sri Lanka: a story of Buddhism. London: H. Hamilton, 1985.: ISBN: 0241112664; Describes the everyday life, family, and religious beliefs of a young Buddhist living in a small village in Sri Lanka.
Chodzin, Sherab and Alexandra Kohn. The Wisdom of the Crows and Other Buddhist Tales Berkeley: Tricycle Press, 1998.: ISBN 1883672686; Color illustrations by Marie Cameron; American printing of The Barefoot Book of Buddhist Tales, published in England, 1997.; 80pp. Ranging from short Zen parables to longer folktales with dragons, goddesses, and talking animals, these tales explore Buddhist themes of compassion, humor, enlightenment, and life after death. Includes bibliographical references. Ages 4-8.
Coatsworth, Elizabeth Jane. The Cat Who Went to Heaven. New York : Macmillan, 1930.: Winner, Newberry Award, 1931; A little cat comes to the home of a poor Japanese artist and, by humility and devotion, brings him good fortune, and illustrates the mercy and compassion of Buddhism. Ages 9-12. Far and away one of my favorites.
Demi. Buddha Stories. New York: Henry Holt and Co., 1997.: ISBN: 0805048863; unpaged : color illustrations ; 26 cm.; Stories, 1 page each, from the Jataka
Demi. Buddha. New York: Henry Hold and Co., 1996.: ISBN: 0805042032 (alk. paper); unpaged : color illustrations ; 26 cm.; Story of how Siddhartha became the Buddha. Ages 9-12.
Demi. The Dalai Lama : A Biography of the Tibetan Spiritual and Political Leader. New York: Henry Hold and Co., 1996.: ISBN: 080505443X; 32 pages : color illustrations; In simple language and glorious art, Demi pays tribute to the 14th Dalai Lama's remarkable life, cpaturing the beauty of Tibetan culture, as well as the charm, talent, and vision of one of the world's best-known spiritual figures. Full color. Ages 4-8.(synopsis from Amazon.com)
Edmonds, I.G. Buddhism. New York: Franklin Watts, 1978.: series: "A First Book"; ISBN 0531013499; B&W photographs; 65 pp. A fairly in-depth introduction to the history, principles, and philosophy of Buddhism. Brief mention of the role/history of women in Buddhism. Discusses the 5 precepts, as well as additional precepts that apply only to monks and nuns. Discusses difference between branches of Buddhism, including Mahayana, Theravada, Pure Land, Zen, the Yellow Sect, and Tantrism. Also a short discussion of Communism and Buddhism. Includes bibliography, glossary, and index.
Ernst, Judith. The Golden Goose King: A Tale Told by the Buddah Chapel Hill: Parvardigar Press, 1995.: ISBN 0964436205; 32 pp. Color illustrations by the author.; Winner of a 1996 Skipping Stones Book Award.; Two geese captured by a hunter who seeks a golden goose for the king and queen save themselves when their loyalty and concern impress the royal couple. The illustrations are quite nice and are based on the author's study of the Ajanta cave paintings in India. Ages 7-12.
Erricker, Clive and Jane. Buddhist Festivals. Crystal Lake, IL : Heinemann Library, 1997.: from the quot;Celebratequot; series.; ISBN 0431069654 (lib. bdg.); 48 pp. Color illustrations, color maps
Ganeri, Anita. Buddhist. New York : Children's Press, 1997.: from the "Beliefs and Cultures" series; ISBN 0516080865; Color photographs.; 32pp, including glossary and index. Introduces the religion of Buddhism, describing its origins and traditions. Includes related crafts and activities.
Ganeri, Anita. What Do We Know About Buddhism?. New York: Peter Bedrick Books, 1997.: ISBN: 0872263894; Non-fiction. Covers many aspects of Buddhism, including brief life of Siddhartha, history, main tenets, festivals, and texts. Also has a 1-page glossary. Useful for adults who are just starting to learn about Buddhism as well as for children. 45 pp. Ages 4-8.
Ho, Minfong and Saphan Ros. The Two Brothers. New York: Lothrop, Lee, & Shepard, 1994.: ISBN 688125506; illustrations by Jean and Mou-sien Tseng.; 32pp. Brought up in a Buddhist monastery, two brothers go out into the world to very different fates, armed with the advice of a wise abbot.
Hodges, Margaret (retold by). Hidden in Sand. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1994.: ISBN 0684195593; illustrations by Paul Birling.; Story #2 from the Jataka. A boy's keen eyes and persistent nature save a caravan in need of water while crossing a desert.
James, Greta. The Bodhi Tree. London: G. Chapman, 1971.: ISBN: 0225658275; 94 pp. Illustrations by Joanna Troughton.
Landaw, Jonathan. The story of Buddha. New Delhi: Hemkunt Press, 1978: ISBN: 0861710169; note: this edition was expanded for a 1996 edition published by Wisdom Publications. More in-depth coverage of Siddhartha's pre-Enlightened life. Ages 9-12
Littledale, Freya. The magic plum tree : based on a tale from the Jataka. New York: Crown Publishers, 1981.: ISBN 0517541661; 32 p. : color illustrations ; 22 cm.; illustrations by Enrico Arno.; Story #248 from the Jataka. Three princes see everything the same, until their father shows them the plum tree....
Martin, Rafe. One Hand Clapping: Zen Stories for All Ages. New York: Rizzoli International Pub. : Distributed by St. Martin's Press, 1995.: ISBN: 0847818535; illustrations by Junko Morimoto.; 47 pp.
Mastrangelo, Giovanni. Little Buddha: the story of Prince Siddhartha. Bath: Barefoot Books, 1994.: ISBN: 1898000166
Miller, Luree. The Black Hat Dances : two Buddhist boys in the Himalayas New York : Dodd, Mead, 1987.: 86 pages. Photographs by Marilyn Silverstone.; Describes the influence of their religious beliefs on the lives of two Buddhist boys, one learning to be a farmer, the other studying to be a monk, in the Himalayan country of Sikkim. Includes information on the history and basic principles of Buddhism.
Morgan, Peggy. Being a Buddhist. Batsford, 1989.: ISBN 0713460156 (pbk); 64 pp. Illustrations.; Ages 7-10.
Okada, Amina. The Prince Who Became a Beggar. London: Moonlight, 1995.: ISBN 1851032088; Illustrations by Dominique Thibault. Translated from the French by Gwen Marsh
Osuchowska, Isia. The Gift : a magical story about caring for the earth. Boston: Wisdom Publications, 1996.: ISBN 861711165; color illustrations.; When the king asks how the wise man Ananda and his followers will use the money the queen has given them, the wise man explains the gift's far-reaching impact.
Pandell, Karen and Barry Bryant. Learning from the Dalai Lama : Secrets of the Wheel of Time. New York: Dutton Childrens Books, 1995.: ISBN 0525450637; color photographs by John Taylor.; "A portion of the authors' proceeds from this book have been donated to His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama and also to the Samaya Foundation and the Tibet Fund"; 40 pp. a simple and creative introduction to the Buddhist way of life and to the teachings of the Dalai Lama. Text and photos explain the beautiful and intricate Kalachakra ceremony and initiation, and the meaning of the sand mandala and its symbols. Features a foreword by Richard Gere. Ages 9-12
Raimondo, Lois. The little Lama of Tibet. New York : Scholastic Inc., 1994.: ISBN: 0590461672; An illustrated biography of 6 year-old Ling Rinpoche, the young Buddhist monk who will be the next leader of the Tibetan people. A beautiful book with marvelous photographs. Includes english pronunciation of Tibetan words, and a map & brief modern history of Tibet. Ages 5-9.
Rawding, F. W. The Buddha. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1975.: ISBN: 0521203686
Roth, Susan L. Buddha. New York: Delacorte Press, 1994: ISBN 0385310722; unpaged : color illustrations. ; 29 cm.; The story of how Siddhartha became the Buddha. A note summarizes the Buddha's later life. Colorful illustrations by the author using collage techniques. Ages 4-10
Rouse, W. H. D. (William Henry Denham). The Giant crab, and other tales from old India. London: Minerva Press, 1973.: ISBN: 0856360104; A tale from the Jataka
Rowe, William Woodin. The Buddha's Question Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications, 1994.: ISBN 1559390204; illustrated by Pamlyn Grider.; 23pp. Paperback.; In The Buddha's Question, Queen Videhi of Rajagaha asks the Buddha to teach four hundred children about the way of awareness and love. In reply, the Buddha recounts his previous life experience as a plumeria tree. This tree painfully witnesses the cruel deceptions of a heron upon forty fish and a wise and crafty crab. Though helpless to intervene, the compassionate tree takes vows with far-reaching consequences.
Serage, Nancy. The Prince Who Gave Up a Throne : a Story of the Buddha. New York : Thomas Y. Crowell, 1966.: ISBN 0690655665; 62 pp. B&W illustrations by Kazue Mizumura.; The story of the Buddha's life. Ages 9-12.
Silacara, Bhikkhu. A Young People's Life of the Buddha. Colombo, Ceylon : W. E. Bastian, 1953.: 179 pp. : illustrated.
Stewart, Whitney. To the Lion Throne: the Story of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications, 1990.: ISBN: 0937938750; 62 pp. Black and white photographs, including some of the Dalai Lama as a boy (age 4, age 10) and as a young man.; A very nice nice biography of the Dalai Lama, from early childhood, to his escape from Tibet in 1959, to his Nobel Prize for Peace in 1989. Includes a map of Tibet, glossary, suggestions for further reading for both adults and children, and a family tree of H.H.
Stewart, Whitney. The 14th Dalai Lama : spiritual leader of Tibet. Minneapolis : Lerner Publications Co., 1996.: ISBN 0822549263; 128 p. : ill. (some color), map ; 23 cm.; A biography of the current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, discussing the history of Tibet and the role of the Buddhist leader in this country's spiritual and political life. Includes bibliographical references (p. 124-125) and index. Ages 5-up.
Van De Wetering, Janwillem. Little Owl--An Eightfold Buddhist Admonition Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1978.: ISBN 0395264561; 64 pp. Illustrations by Marc Brown.; The stories of eight baby animals, each of whom get too caught up in a single aspect of the Noble Eightfold Path, with disastrous results, until they learn to help one another.
Ye, Ting-xing. Three Monks No Water New York: Annick Press, 1997.: ISBN 1550374435; Color illustrations by Harvey Chan; Three monks live in the mountains Each believes that he is not responsible for hauling water up the steep slope, so they go without. But when a fire breaks out and they all yell "Water!", an essential lesson in cooperation is learned.
Zerner, Amy. Zen ABC. Boston: Charles E. Tuttle Co., 1993.: ISBN: 0804818061; Illustrations by Amy Zerner and Jessie Spicer Zerner.; A Zen alphabet book with a haiku or koan for each letter. Very nice, colorful illustrations.

Book Reviews

Books For Children
reviewed by Whitney Stuart in Tricycle issue#2 (I'm looking for this article. Can someone fax it to me?)

The Death of Echadon: How Buddhism Came to Silla by Edward B. Adams
Where Is Tibet? Text and illustrations by Gina Halpern. Tibetan translations by Ngawang Jorden.
Prince Siddhartha by Jonathan Landaw.
Hero of the Land of Snow Adapted by Sylvia Gretchen. Full-color illustrations by Julia Witwer.
The Children of Nepal by Matti A. Pitkanen with Reigjo Harkonen.

Last update: Wednesday, 19-Jan-98
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Bibliography of Children'sBuddhist Literature

Book Reviews

Bibliography of Children's
Buddhist Literature