Though sometimes you have to search a bit, there are lots of books out there on Buddhist themes for young children, teens, and parents. We'll post here a running list of Fantastic Books and Where to Find them.

If you have a favorite of your own, please share in the comments section and we'll add it!

Young Readers:

The Buddha at Bedtime - Nagaraja

The Buddha’s Apprentice at Bedtime - Nagaraja

The Calm Buddha at Bedtime - Nagaraja

The Lion and the Jackal - Adiccabandhu & Padmasri

Nightlights: Stories to Read to Your Children - Kate Petty, Joyce Dunbar, Louisa Somerville and Anne Chivardi

Peaceful Piggy Meditation - Kerry MacLean

Moody Cow Meditates - Kerry MacLean

Moody Cow Learns Compassion - Kerry MacLean

The Three Questions - John J. Muth

Zen Shorts - John J. Muth

Zen Ties - John J. Muth

Zen Socks - John J. Muth

Zen Ghosts - John J. Muth

Hi, Koo - John J. Muth

The Coconut Monk - Thich Nhat Hahn

The Hermit and the Well - Thich Nhat Hahn

A Pebble for Your Pocket - Thich Nhat Hahn

The Stone Boy and Other Stories - Thich Nhat Hahn

The Barefoot Book of Buddhist Tales - Sherab Chodzin

The Wisdom of Crows and Other Buddhist Tales - Sherab Chodzin & Alexandra Kohn

When the Buddha Was an Elephant - Mark McGinnis

Buddhist Animal Wisdom Stories - Mark McGinnis

Twenty Jataka Tales - Noor Inayat Khan

I Once Was a Monkey: Stories Buddha Told - Jeanne Lee

The Very Delicious Strawberry: Twenty Illustrated Zen Stories Adapted for Children - Tim Johnson & Andrea Brajnovic

Zen & Bodhi’s Snowy Day - Gina Bates Brown & Sarah Jane Hinder

Samsara Dog - Helen Manos & Julie Vivas

Kindness: A Treasury of Buddhist Wisdom for Children and Parents - Sarah Conover & Valerie Wahl

Stories from Buddhist Lands - S. Dhammika & Susan Harmer

Buddhist Stories - Anita Generi & Tracy Fennell

The Mountains of Tibet - Mordicai Gerstein

Prince Siddhartha: The Story of the Buddha - Janet Brooke & Joe Landwehr

The Monk and the Yak - Ovi Avnur

The Cleverest Thief - Baird Hoffmire

Dorje’s Stripes - Anshumani Ruddra

Tibetan Tales for Little Buddhas - Naomi C. Rose

Shantideva: How to Wake up a Hero - Dominique Townsend

Tara’s Coloring Book - Andy Weber

Ming’s Kung Fu Adventure in the Shaolin Temple: A Zen Buddhist Tale - Yijin Wert

One Hand Clapping: Zen Stories for All Ages - Rafe Martin

No Words: The Teachings of the Buddha - Buddhist Text Translation Society

Meditation Is an Open Sky: Mindfulness for Kids - Whitney Stewart & Sally Rippin

Master of Mindfulness: How to Be Your Own Superhero in Times of Stress - Laurie Grossman

Charlotte and the Quiet Place - Deborah Sosin

Teaching Meditation & Buddhism to Kids:

Sitting Still Like a Frog: Mindfulness Exercises for Kids (and Their Parents) - Eline Snel

Mindful Teaching and Teaching Mindfulness: A Guide for Anyone Who Teaches Anything - Deborah Schoeberlein David & Suki Sheth

Planting Seeds: Practicing Mindfulness with Children - Thich Nhat Hahn & Chan Chau Nghiem

Sitting Together: A Family-Centered Curriculum on Mindfulness, Meditation & Buddhist Teachings - Sumi Loudon Kim & Jack Kornfield

Sitting Together Activity Book - Sumi Loudon Kim & Jack Kornfield

Baby Buddhas: A Guide to Teaching Meditation to Children - Lisa Desmond

A Handful of Quiet: Happiness in Four Pebbles - Thich Nhat Hahn

A Buddhist Understanding of Childhood Spirituality: The Buddha’s Children - Alexander von Gintard

Mindful Games: Sharing Mindfulness and Meditation with Children, Teens, and Families - Susan Kaiser Greenland

Mindful Games Activity Cards: 55 Fun Ways to Share Mindfulness with Kids and Teens - Susan Kaiser Greenland & Annaka Harris

Breathe, Chill: A Handy Book of Games and Techniques Introducing Breathing, Meditation and Relaxation to Kids and Teens - Lisa Roberts

Acorns to Great Oaks: Meditations for Children - Marie Delanote & Johannes Vandierendonck

Teen Buddhists:

Buddhism for Teens: 50 Mindfulness Activities, Meditations, and Stories to Cultivate Calm and Awareness - Candradasa

Blue Jean Buddha: Voices of Young Buddhists - Sumi Loundon & Jack Kornfield

The Buddha's Apprentices: More Voices of Young Buddhists - Sumi Loundon Kim

Wide Awake: A Buddhist Guide for Teens - Diana Winston

Buddha in Your Backpack: Everyday Buddhism for Teens - Franz Metcalf

There’s Nothing Wrong with You for Teens - Cheri Huber & June Shiver

Stuff That Sucks: A Teen's Guide to Accepting What You Can't Change and Committing to What You Can - Ben Sedley

Buddha Boy - Kathe Koja

Dharma Punx - Noah Levine

For Parents:

A Path for Parents - Sara Burns

Time-Out for Parents: A Guide to Compassionate Parenting - Cheri Huber & June Shiver

Buddhism for Mothers of Young Children: Becoming a Mindful Parent - Sarah Napthali

Buddhism for Mothers of Schoolchildren: Finding Calm in the Chaos of the School Years - Sarah Napthali

Buddhism for Mothers: A Calm Approach to Caring for Yourself and Your Children - Sarah Napthali

Brave Parenting: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide to Raising Emotionally Resilient Children - Krissy Pozatek

Zen Parenting: The Art of Learning What You Already Know - Judith Costello & Jurgen Haven

If the Buddha Had Kids: Raising Children to Create a More Peaceful World - Charlotte Kasl

Raising Resilience: The Wisdom and Science of Happy Families and Thriving Children - Christopher Willard

Parenting in the Present Moment: How to Stay Focused on What Really Matters - Carla Naumburg

Dharma Family Treasures: Sharing Buddhism with Children - Sandy Eastoak

Momma Zen: Walking the Crooked Path of Motherhood - Karen Maezen Miller

Little Buddhas: Children & Childhoods in Buddhist Texts and Traditions - Vanessa R. Sasson

Zen & the Path of Mindful Parenting: Meditations on Raising Children - Clea Danaan

Joyful Parents, Successful Children - Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting - Myla & John Kabat-Zinn

Zen Parent, Zen Child - Christian Conte

Yoga & Tai Chi:

Yoga for Children: 200+ Yoga Poses, Breathing Exercises, and Meditations for Healthier, Happier, More Resilient Children - Lisa Flynn

Yoga Games for Children: Fun and Fitness with Postures, Movements and Breath - Danielle Bersma

Tai Chi for Kids: Move with the Animals - Stuart Alve Olson & Gregory Crawford

Many centres in the Triratna Community around the world have been successful in initiating family events and programs, but there are still many opportunities to expand on this - especially in those areas where these initiatives haven't yet taken off. Here are a couple of great ways to get started:

1) Create a Local Network of Families

In your local sangha it's helpful to first identify and connect with other parents. This can take the form of informal gatherings, play dates, swapping babysitting, or just simply making time to check in with other parents to see how their practice is going and offering support. If there aren't many other families at your centre you may want to stretch out the network a bit further and join forces with parents at other centres in your region, or even connect online.

Take those opportunities to discuss with each other what your interests and needs are. If your network is small, then it may be enough just to build strong spiritual friendships with a handful of other parents and give each other support. For larger networks, how would your children like to engage with the sangha and what are their age ranges? What are your personal feelings about introducing your children to Buddhism? Are you looking to find extra time to practice alone or would you like to have your child present while you practice? What resources and skill sets are already available in your local sangha for working with children? Ask yourself and each other what it would look like to start creating some space for family in your sangha and in your personal Buddhist practice.

2) Taking the Initiative

If there isn't much happening for children and families at your local centre, don't assume that it's because families are not welcome there! Centres are very busy places with many different demands - it's an undertaking just running a basic program. Your centre leaders may not be aware that there is a desire for more family events unless you talk to them about it. Leaders may also be uncertain about how to begin children's programming, or may feel they don't have the resources themselves to lead it. Your local network of parents can help to get the conversation started, to identify what you would like to do, and even help to locate an Order member who could take the lead on making it happen.

Even if they aren't personally the leader of events, it's important to be in close communication with at least one Order member who can "sponsor" your new program. They will be an invaluable resource for teaching, organization, and representing families to the centre team. They will also be able to help you promote and plan programs and encourage opportunities to include children at events like festival days. Leaders should ideally have experience with children, they should be well-versed in basic Buddhism, and should be able to speak to how we practice Buddhism in the Triratna community. It's also important that leaders are well-known and trusted by the centre team and understand the centre's safeguarding policies. 

Centres and Order members leading children's events may benefit from joining the Centre & Leader Family Resources group to learn more about how other centres run their programs, so encourage them to become a member!

We hope that this introduction is helpful!

For those who have existing programs at their centres, we would love to hear in the comments below how you got started and if you have any tips!