
I read from these two books at bedtime regularly with my five-year-old and she LOVES them. It has been magical to watch her spontaneously put into action some of the concepts taught through these beautiful stories. You don’t have to be a Buddhist to appreciate the naked truth in these pages. I highly recommended them!
Today’s children face challenges and obstacles far beyond what their parents ever imagined. In Buddha at Bedtime, 20 thoroughly modern retellings of ancient Buddhist tales give parents a fun, low-pressure way to impart wisdom and moral guidance without preaching. Each story highlights a moral or ethical dilemma that echoes those that children face in their own lives, providing insight and enlightenment that they can use to defuse trying situations. At the conclusion of each story, applicable Buddhist principles are discussed. Featuring engaging characters, enthralling adventures, and modern language that speaks to today’s kids, these beautifully illustrated stories can help children relieve stress, attain greater academic and social achievement, and enjoy a more positive outlook on life.
In The Buddha’s Apprentice, master storyteller Dharmachari Nagaraja weaves a thrilling narrative spell while at the same time conveying basic life lessons that will help children to develop their personality, deal with their anxieties, and find peace and confidence as they grow up. The stories explore themes from the Eightfold Path, which is Buddhism’s practical route to a happy life. Topics covered, with the lightest of touches, include speaking in a kind and truthful manner, behaving with compassion, thinking selflessly and avoiding the pitfalls of egotism. Although providing gentle guidance on the art of living well, which is the basis of true happiness, each story is also compelling in its own right, featuring characters, settings and events that every child will find absorbing. Each narrative concludes with an affirmation that helps to draw out its positive message, while the superb, specially commissioned illustrations will delight your child and provide a starting-point for discussion and further enjoyment. The helpful introduction provides insights into the value of Buddhist principles for children and shows how visualisation, imaginative thinking and even first steps in meditation can help to nurture young minds and hearts.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2110825.Buddha_at_Bedtime