Summer Reading for Children & Teens
Sukhasiddhi board member and Children’s Librarian, Alicia B. shares her top book recommendations for children and teens that explore the Buddhist themes of compassion, joy, and kindness.
For young children, she has selected The Seed of Compassion: Lessons from the Life and Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. A beautifully told and illustrated story about growing up that will inspire both children and adults.
One of today’s most inspiring world leaders was once an ordinary child named Lhamo Thondup. In a small village in Tibet, his mother was his first great teacher of compassion. In everyday moments from his childhood, young readers begin to see that important lessons are all around us, and that they, too, can grow to truly understand them. - from the publisher website
For teens, Alicia selected a recently published graphic novel Buddha: An Enlightened Life by Keiron Moore with illustrations by Rajesh Nagulakonda. The novel is part of the popular Campfire Graphic Novels series. Graphic novels are a fantastic genre that engage readers through visual storytelling and language.
In the ancient city of Kapilavastu, a prince named Siddhartha Gautama was born, and a wise man declared that he would grow up to be either a powerful king or a spiritual leader who would end suffering. Though his father kept him sheltered, Siddhartha soon became aware of the pain and disease that plagued the world and so abandoned his noble life in order to find answers. He'd eventually become the founder of a religion which persists today, and which has spread a message of compassion and understanding across the world. It was not an easy journey; Siddhartha faced the temptations of a demon, the outbreaks of war, and rebellion within his own order. Follow his journey from prince to pauper and from beggar to Buddha. - from the publisher’s website
