| Book Reviews |
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| The Rabbit and the Tigerdile by W.W. Rowe. Published by Snow Lion Publications. 1997 reviewed by Grace Myers, age 11 This book is filled with enlightening pictures, which will entertain small children. It has a wonderful storyline which children of all ages will enjoy. This tells the story of a generous rabbit and a day of giving. The Rabbit and the Tigerdile shows you that there are great rewards for being generous and punishments for being greedy. The pictures are great for young children. The storyline is great for all ages but aimed towards 5-10 yrs. The Robber Chief by W.W. Rowe. Published by Snow Lion Publications, 2002 reviewed by Grace Myers, age 11 The Robber Chief by W.W. Rowe tells the story of a once-greedy jeweler who learns a lesson about karma and the ways of generosity. There aren’t many pictures, and those are only black and white and not good for small kids. Grade school children will love this book and enjoy it because of the addicting storyline and wonderful lessons woven into every chapter. The storyline and text are suitable for grade school children. Amy and Gully in Rainbowland by W.W. Rowe. Published by Snow Lion Publications reviewed by Grace Myers, age 11 Amy and Gully in Rainbowland is an enlightening story about two siblings, Amy and Gully, who magically find themselves in Rainbowland, a very pretty land with a dark-hearted ruler. With the aid of a mysterious old man, they learn that looks can be deceiving, to be kind, and many other lessons along the way. This chapter book is great for grade school children, but all ages will love it, and find joy in the enchanting tale of children learning a life long lesson. The reading level is suitable for grade school children, but even small children will enjoy having it read aloud. Meow said the mouse, by Beatrice Barbey. Plum Blossom Books, 2005. reviewed by Tiffany Meetz This is an interesting little picture book for young children about a mouse who is transformed into a cat after drinking milk from a cat’s bowl. She wonders around, exploring the world as a cat, until she gets hungry, and then eats a mouse for lunch! After eating the mouse, she transforms back into her old self again to tell her mother of the adventure. Meow said the mouse, is a book about change and appreciation for all things on earth. Its illustrations are of paper cutouts and collage techniques with a bit of Asian shadow puppet esthetics. At the end of the story, a brief introduction to Asian shadow puppets is mentioned, as well as a website where children can print out characters from the book to create their own shadow puppet. Samsara Dog, by Helen Manos. Kane/Miller Publishers, 2007. reviewed by Tiffany Meetz This picture book is about a dog that lives many lives. Some lives are short and some are quite long. With each new life, he is born into a different situation. Some situations are quite cozy and make the dog happy, while others are harsh and make dog angry and fierce. In his last life, the dog is cared for by a boy who experiences a tragedy. This tragedy helps the dog understand the meaning of true happiness and love, causing the dog to reach nirvana. This is a very good book and I would recommend it for children who are old enough to understand reincarnation. Younger children might not understand the concept of the same dog dying and then being reborn into another life on the very next page. Tibetan Tales for Little Buddhas, by Naomi C. Rose. Clear Light Publishing, 2004. reviewed by Tiffany Meetz This is one of the most beautiful children’s books that I have ever seen. Suitable for children over age 5 and written in both English and Tibetan, this book features three Tibetan folktales about bravery, wisdom, kindness and expectations. The book introduces parts of Buddhism and Tibetan culture to readers like the phrase “Om Mani Padme Hung”, Buddha, butter lamp, Dalai Lama, dakini, mala, prayer flags, prayer wheel, stupa, yak, yeti. It also offers a brief introduction to Tibet and its people. The book is illustrated with bright, colorful paintings, is the winner of the 2005 Nautilus Award for Children’s Illustrated Literature and features a forward by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I highly recommend this book and cannot say enough wonderful things about it. The Hermit and the Well, by Thich Nhat Hanh. Plum Blossom Books, 2003. reviewed by Tiffany Meetz This is a beautiful picture book for younger children told by Thich Nhat Hanh about a trip that he took as a schoolboy to the top of a mountain to see a hermit. He describes his anticipation to meet the hermit, and his disappointment, which later turns to gratitude when he does not find the hermit. This is a very simple book, but very beautifully and poetically written. The illustrations are soft and calming, as is the whole book. This is a perfect book for younger children and suitable for all ages. Each Breath A Smile, based on the teachings by Thich Nhat Hanh reviewed by Tiffany Meetz This is an excellent book to use when introducing small children to meditation and mindfulness. It uses visual images to help children connect with their breathing in order to relax and form closer relationships with the world around them. The book is simple to read and understand, and the illustrations are absolutely beautiful. This is by far my favorite children’s book and I cannot recommend it enough. Thank You For Giraffes, by Vivian Husnik (www.childwonderpress.net) reviewed by Tiffany Meetz This is a most unique book based on a child’s nighttime prayers. Each page expresses gratitude for things like giraffes, food and water, wild and calm, sunsets and dawn, home and places far, the moon and stars, animals big and small, and most of all…love. The most unique aspect of the book is that it is completely illustrated with quilts. The illustrations are vibrant, vivid and full of detail and color. This is an excellent book to use when teaching a child the importance of gratitude. Buddhist Animal Wisdom Stories, by Mark W. McGinnis reviewed by Tiffany Meetz This book is comprised of 44 Jataka tales written as short stories. Each story is approximately 1 ½ pages, making this and excellent book to use for short bedtime stories. The stories are filled with lessons that deal with kindness, compassion, fear, tolerance, respect, generosity, and responsibility. Each story is accompanied by a beautiful illustration featuring the animals depicted in each story. This book would be an excellent addition to any library and is a wonderful book for both children and adults. Baby Buddhas, by Lisa Desmond reviewed by Tiffany Meetz This book is not really a children’s book, but more a parents guide for teaching meditation to children as young as 18 months. The book was well written and had a lot of useful tips to use when teaching children to meditate. However, the author does “require” a lot of different materials and props for each of the meditations taught in the book. A lot of mothers really enjoy this book and found it to be very useful. I did use some of the tips from the book, but I did not use any props or materials and have found great success in teaching my child to meditate. |
| Young Children's Books |