Faith and spirituality
Kaddish for Grandpa in Jesus' name, amen
Five-year-old Emily tries to understand her grandfather's death by exploring the Christian and Jewish rituals that her family practices during and after his funeral.
Love one another : the last days of Jesus
Recalls how Jesus taught people to love, how he was crucified for his teachings, and how his resurrection brought hope to the world.
My Name Was Hussein
Although they have kept their Islamic traditions living in their Bulgarian village for many generations, when an army takes over their village, a Muslim boy and his family are forced to take Christian names.
Samsara dog
"Dog lived each life as it came until, finally, he learned the most important lesson of all." A parable of the Buddhist belief in reincarnation adapted from the eighth-century writings of Shantideva, this story describes eight lives of a brown dog. Readers see him first as a feral animal in an urban jungle, alone and trusting no one. His following lives, though, gradually come to contain more love and kindness, until in his final life he is the faithful companion to a blind boy. This is where he learns the highest type of compassion.
The always prayer shawl
His grandfather's ancient prayer shawl teaches Adam the importance of tradition and change, in a story that spans six generations, from Czarist Russia to the present day.
The Berenstain Bears and the big question
When Sister Bear asks her mother about God, Mama tries to explain.
The best Eid ever
Aneesa and her grandmother come up with a plan to help two girls who are refugees celebrate Eid in America.
The Hermit and the Well
While on a school field trip in Vietnam, a young boy climbs a mountain without finding the Buddhist hermit he is expecting to see, but later realizes that he has found much more.
The Mystery Bear
When Little Bear wakes up from hibernation and goes off in search of something to eat, the smells of a delicious feast draw him to a nearby house. The people inside are having a wonderful time and are delighted to welcome the stranger in a bear costume - after all, it"s Purim, when lots of people dress up! Little Itzik suspects that the stranger might actually be a real bear, but everyone else is having too much fun to pay attention to his warnings. The comical story and Naomi Howland's bright, jolly illustrations capture the noisy and cheerful spirit of a favorite holiday. Includes an Author"s Note about the celebration of Purim.
The walking stick
Van, a young Vietnamese boy, finds a teak stick near a Buddhist temple where his uncle, a monk, lives. The man fashions the wood into a brass-tipped walking stick for his nephew and says that now the Buddha "will watch over you no matter where you go, and bring you safely home."
The white nights of Ramadan
Looking forward to the festival known as Girgian that comes in the middle of the holy month of Ramadan, Noor and her brothers prepare by decorating bags they'll carry to collect candies, while learning about the true meaning of Ramadan.
Then I think of God
In a poetic and moving narrative, Hickman tells about the special moments when children's thoughts turn to God. This reverent tribute is accompanied by rich, full-color paintings that express love and joy.
Zen shorts
When Stillwater the giant panda moves into the neighborhood, the stories he tells to three siblings teach them about perseverance, forgiveness, and simplicity. Includes factual note on Zen.
