Best Children's Buddhist Fiction

Master storyteller Dharmachari Nagaraja offers 18 beautifully illustrated bedtime stories, inspired by the Buddhist folk tradition, for parents to read to their children. Dharmachari Nagaraja was ordained into the Western Buddhist Order in 1993 and is an experienced broadcaster.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"First off the book is a great quality."
"Sometimes the way a lesson is "taught" to a character in the story is through an unkind act (i.e. "I let you see and feel what the little rabbit saw and felt as you hurt it."). I do not think exposing my children (4 and 6 y/o) to this is worthwhile when there are stories that teach virtues without specific ways to be unkind. At the end of most of stories (stopped reading them to my children after a few and skimmed the rest) I didn't feel at peace. The following are just a few examples from the book of dialog that I did not enjoy reading to my children: "You'd forget your own head if it wasn't stuck on" said her mother (to her daughter). "It's just a dumb animal" laughed Hazel "Are you a bit stupid?"
"This is SUCH a great book to read to your kids!"
"The art is beautiful and the stories are fun."
"He's a worrier so these stories help him relax and see the positive things in life."
"This book offers a great way to introduce the practice of Buddhism to young people."
"We love these bed time stories and meditations."
"Awesome stories with practical lessons."

Milo & Ze is the eagerly-awaited second illustrated children's picture Bull Terrier dog book for kids by Mark Watson and Pablo Michau, authors of the bestselling, " The Shark in the Park ". "Milo is a cute bull terrier puppy who has been forgotten, locked in a kennel, until one night a blinding light comes out of the night sky and smashes his kennel creating a crater that the bull terrier braves his way to peer into and hears a mole who asks his name and the little bull terrier discovers a fallen star: `'Never again need you wish for a friend, he waits for you at your journey's end.'. Also fun or to be read aloud, this children's bull terrier picture book has become one of the most popular bull terrier dog books for children ever. Read this book for FREE with a KINDLE PRIME, KINDLE LENDING or KINDLE UNLIMITED membership. Bull Terrier. | Bull Terrier Gifts. | Bull Terrier Books. |. WINNERS: Best Illustrated Children's book - IPPY Awards 2015 WINNERS: Best Children's Animal Book - Reader's Favorite Awards 2015. "Milo is a cute bull terrier puppy who has been forgotten until one night a blinding light comes out of the night sky and smashes his kennel creating a crater that the bull terrier braves his way to peer into and hears a mole who asks his name and the little bull terrier discovers a fallen star: `'Never again need you wish for a friend, he waits for you at your journey's end.'. And off Milo goes on a journey, more adventures arise - a tiger, amountain goat, a cavern and finally, the little bull terrier puppy arrives at a door: The bull terrier puppy finally has a friend of his own." Guided by a fallen star and written in exquisite rhyming verse, this is a book that will become a classic with children, adults and especiallydog and bull terrier lovers around the world. The star tells Milo that he will meet a friend at his journey's end.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A beautiful book with a wonderful story."
"What a nice book my grandson really enjoyed this book.I like the story the way Milo goes on looking for Ze."
"It was a great read."
"Fun book."
"Such a great story, loved the rhymes, great drawings that were really eye catching."
"What a beautiful story!"
"Wow!"

From the tale of the clever monkey outwitting a hungry crocodile to that of a bird and turtle rescuing a friend, the six amusing parables told by the Buddha will introduce young readers to the famous cycle of fables in Buddhist literature known as the Jatakas, or birth stories, which Buddha originally told to his disciples to illustrate his teachings. For instance, after a heron, in a deceptive ploy, consumes all the fish in a lake, a crab outwits him then makes his way back to the water, "weeping all the while for his lost friends." The full-color illustrations for each Jataka combine the strength of woodcuts and the fluidity of Chinese silk painting, with their serene landscapes in soft colors and confident black lines; the full-spread illustration of a lion heading off a stampede of animals bound for danger is especially moving.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is a very cute book that is suitable as individual bedtime stories or for a sitdown reading of the whole thing."
"Exactly as described and arrived as promised."
"It's short enough to read read all the way through, but we'll typically read just one or two of the stories at a time and talk about them."
"My husband is not Buddhist and was skeptical as to what I was teaching our son (we are raising him to be open minded)."
"My nine year old daughter and seven year old son loved this book."
"Each Jataka we read gave us a great opportunity to talk about kindness, fear, greed and the other myriad feelings we have every day."
"Perfect stories to share with children and discuss sharing, understanding, kindness and happiness."
"The illustrations with the stories kept my kids happy and brought about the thoughtful questions and inquisitiveness that I was hoping."
Best Children's Muslim Fiction

Magnificently capturing the colorful world of Islam for the youngest readers, this breathtaking and informative picture book celebrates Islam's beauty and traditions. Hena Khan's first picture book, Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story , was a 2009 Booklist "Top 10 Religion Book for Youth."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My kids love the fact that they are so many Islamic kids books out there "for them" I bought this several times for my kids' friends also."
"The illustrations are beautiful and it's a great easy read to keep children interested."
"My two year old son enjoys looking at all the pictures and images even though he may not fully understand it right now."
"With perfect rhyme and gorgeous illustrations, this book provides a simple introduction to the world of Islam as seen through the eyes of a young narrator."
"I want to raise an open minded child capable of choosing her own beliefs (or lack thereof). To be able to do so I'd have to introduce her to all religions since they've began introducing her without my consent (and against my wishes). This book is a great introduction to Islam for a 5 year old ."
"Fantastic book, my 2 year old loves it."
"This book was purchased to add cultural awareness to my classroom."
"My 2 year old loves this book."
Best Children's Hindu Fiction

"Amme Tell Me" is a charming and informative series of children's books that introduces the major Hindu festivals and figures to young readers, and are perfect for families wanting to share stories of Hinduism with their children or for educators looking for resource on the Hindu culture for their students. The idea for the 'Amma, Tell Me' series of books came as a way to introduce her sons to Indian mythology and festivals.When not writing, working or running after her boys, she is happiest curled up with a book and a hot cup of chai.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Had purchased a few other Diwali books and was unhappy with how straightforward the pictures and story was - they would not hold my 3 year-old's attention."
"The illustrations are stunning!"
"It's really hard to find books and other materials that are appropriate for bicultural kids."
"I was concerned that the book itself was paperback and not a hardcover book - though the pages are very thick and sturdy."
"Got for my child."
"I bought it to teach my kids the story of Diwali and it truly did not dissapoint!"
"I just got this to read to my 4 year old."
"Beautifully illustrated book --- colorful backgrounds and characters!"
Best Children's Christian Fiction Books

These sweet, sometimes silly rhymes and adorable art are sure to make God Bless You and Good Night a favorite part of the bedtime ritual for parents and children. Hannah C. Hall estimates that she has read approximately 4,500 bedtime stories to her children over the last few years.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Highly recommended for very young children or older children to read to younger siblings."
"This was bought as a gift."
"I purchased as an e-book for when the lights are out and my kids still can’t sleep, I can read this to them."
"Very nice bedtime read..."
"Just as expected, happy with purchase."
"Very sweet story with darling pics."
"Gave it to my cousin for her baby shower instead of a card."
Best Children's Jewish Fiction Books

This 25th anniversary edition of a now-classic tale relates how Hersehel outwits the goblins that haunt the old synagogue and prevent the village people from celebrating Hanukkah.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Won the Caldecott Award the year it was published!"
"I usually don't like goblins and witches stories or anything scary for that matter and I don't do Halloween, BUT I really enjoyed this book immensely."
"My kids (6 & 9) love this story."
"Loved the beautiful illustrations!"
"Before giving it, I admit—I reread the book, and it definitely holds up even as an adult."
"I am confused by the review that says this book advocates violence as Hershel tricks all of the goblins without physically hurting them (though I suppose he does threaten one of them)."
"I ordered this book to be a part of our Hanukkah unit, and the kids loved the story so much that we read during free time every day through the month of December."
"Great story about an everyday guy who uses his brains and faith to outwit a horrible adversary."
Best Other Children's Religious Fiction

This edition presents the seven books— The Magician's Nephew ; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy ; Prince Caspian ; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader ; The Silver Chair ; and The Last Battle —unabridged and arranged in C. S. Lewis's preferred order. Deceptively simple and direct, The Chronicles of Narnia continue to captivate fans with adventures, characters, and truths that speak to readers of all ages, even fifty years after they were first published.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Also, the book description says "text only", which is strange, because this copy has tons of the original illustrations in full-color (I'll try to post pictures soon)."
"This is a beautiful paperback box set of the Narnia collection, that so many of us grew up with."
"We are living in such tumultuous times with a medieval death squad marching from the middle east slaughtering innocents, we need teach of children that good is worth sacrifice."
"This is a great edition of the series."
"My old copy of the narnia books was so worn and tattered and the binding barely sticking to the duck tape that I set out looking for a new and better copy after 10 years of reading my old copy. I found this beautiful edition that I have wanted for a long time for an awesome price, I paid 22 dollars plus shipping and handling, the book on amazon is described as: The Complete Chronicles of Narnia (text only) by C. S. Lewis."
"The latter provides a glimpse into the evolution of C.S.Lewis' writing, but my nonscholarly interest slacked off quickly."
"Lewis did a very good job writing these stories and used very exciting words. It was about how Lucy, Susan, Peter and Edmund fell in love with Aslan and became kinds and queens of Narnia.""
"maybe the description stated that and maybe I missed it, I haven't bothered to go back and look, but I would have liked it better as 7 books."