Below are my favorite Buddhist books for kids and teens, sorted by age group. Return to the main page of the Book Shop for adult selections.

Buddhist Books for Children 3-8 Years Old

Each Breath a Smile by Sister Susan Introduces very young children to mindfulness and an awareness of nature. Read more about Each Breath a Smile

Peaceful Piggy Meditation by Kerry Lee Maclean Kids in a fanciful pig family use meditation to deal with their daily stresses. Read more about Peaceful Piggy Meditation

Moody Cow Meditates by Kerry Lee Maclean A young boy/cow has a very bad day, and his grandfather teaches him a meditation technique to help him deal with his anger. Read more about Moody Cow Meditates

Zen Ties by Jon Muth Lovely story about children learning compassion, featuring a giant Panda. Read more about Zen Ties

Zen Ghosts by Jon Muth Buddhism and Halloween? Sure! In this 3rd children's book featuring Stillwater the panda, the theme of 'what is real?' is explored. Read more about Zen Ghosts

Buddha at Bedtime by Dharmachari Nagaraja Focused on teaching universal values such as kindness, sharing and forgiveness through fable like stories. Read more about Buddha at Bedtime

Jataka Tale Series by Dharma Publishing The Jataka Tales are a set of folk stories from India featuring animals and magical creatures, that are often used in Buddhist cultures to relay ethical teachings. Read more about the Jataka Tale Series

Buddhist Books for Children 9-12 Years Old

I Once Was a Monkey: Stories Buddha Told by Jeanne Lee Versions of several Jataka Tales - fables about the Buddha's past lives. Read more about I Once Was a Monkey

Kindness: A Treasury of Buddhist Wisdom for Children and Parents by Sarah Conover More Buddhist fables, from many lineages. Read more about Kindness

Prince Siddhartha: The Story of Buddha by Jonathan Landaw The Buddha's life story. Read more about Prince Siddhartha

A Pebble For Your Pocket by Thich Nhat Hanh Lovely first person stories from Thich Nhat Hanh on mindfulness and compassion. Read more about A Pebble for Your Pocket

Buddhist Books for Teens

Wide Awake: Buddhism for the New Generation by Diana Winston Great introduction to Buddhism, with anecdotes targeted to teens. Read more about Wide Awake

The Way of Youth: Buddhist Common Sense for Handling Life's Questions by Daisaku Ikeda Q&A format, with real questions posed by teens. Read more about The Way of Youth

Siddhartha by Herman Hesse Classic novel based on (but not exactly) the Buddha's life. Read more about Siddhartha