Cultivating the Spirit:
Books for Children about Religion and Spirituality

	Boritzer, Etan What is God? Illustrated by Robbie Marantz This book helps children wonder about God and introduces them to the concept of religion, including major world religions and sacred texts. It takes a universalist approach which does not advocate any particular belief system.
	Brooks, Jeremy A World of Prayers Illustrated by Elena Gomez This whimsically illustrated collection of simple prayers for children from countries around the world includes prayers for morning, meals, bedtime, and general blessings, most of which are universal in nature.
	Conover, Sarah and Freda Crane Ayat Jamilah: Beautiful Signs: A Treasury of Islamic Wisdom for Children and Parents Illustrated by Valerie Wahl A wide variety of stories from the Qur'an, the life of the Prophet Muhammad, and other sources illustrate Islamic beliefs and values while acknowledging the diversity of the world of Islamic culture and faith.
	Demi Buddha Demi's exquisite illustrations accompany her retelling of the life of Prince Siddhartha and his spiritual awakening and journey of enlightenment as he became Buddha. Buddhist traditions and values are expressed through tales of his life and death.
	DePaola, Tomie The Parables of Jesus In his distinctive style, Tomie DePaola retells and illustrates these stories from the New Testament, such as "The Good Samaritan" and "The Prodigal Son", which form the essence of Jesus of Nazareth's moral teachings.
	Faithgirlz! Series by various authors A series of books about middle-schoolers Sophie, Grace, Jasmine, Annie, and Storm and how they try to live out their Christian faith as they relate to their classmates, families, and friends.
	Fitch, Florence Mary A Book About God Illustrated by Henri Sorensen This poetic text and the accompanying oil paintings help children understand God in and through the beauty and wonder of nature.
	Granfield, Linda Amazing Grace: The Story of the Hymn Illustrated by Janet Wilson Perhaps the world's most familiar hymn, this song written by a slave trader who later became a minister has inspired and encouraged countless people.
	Hodges, Margaret The Golden Deer Illustrated by Daniel San Souci Retold from an ancient text, this book tells the story of how Buddha came to India as a golden deer and inspired the king and his people to live in harmony with all animals.
	Hodges, Margaret Moses Illustrated by Barry Moser This account of Moses' birth, his life in Egypt, the exodus from Egypt, and the covenant he makes with God reveals the relationship of the God of Israel and God's chosen people.
	Kennedy Jr., Robert F. Saint Francis of Assisi: A Life of Joy Illustrated by Dennis Nolan The life of this universally respected and beloved saint from Italy has inspired many people. Francis lived his Christian faith passionately, caring for animals, the environment, and the poor while preaching humility, simplicity, justice, and peace.
	McDermott, Gerald Creation Inspired by the Bible's creation story, McDermott uses simple, rich language and beautiful, textured illustrations that will draw in anyone from any path who is wondering about the mystery of creation.
	Moore, Stephanie Perry Carmen Browne Series Carmen Browne is a middle school-aged African American girl who tries to live out her faith in good times as well as challenging times as she deals with family, puberty, friendships, romance, racism, school, and life in general. Includes references to African-American history and social concerns.
	Pullman, Philip The Golden Compass The first book of the prize-winning His Dark Materials trilogy is an intricate fantasy tale (recommended for grades 7 and up) of the adventures of eleven-year-old Lyra Belacqua in which the dangers of corrupt religious institutions and practices become apparent.
	Rylant, Cynthia Give Me Grace This brightly illustrated book for young children offers simple, universal prayers for each day of the week.
	Saint-Exupery, Antoine de The Little Prince This non-religious story of an encounter between an aviator who crashes in the desert and a prince from another planet has been an inspiration to many as the prince helps them ask questions about what is important in life.
	Schram, Peninnah Ten Classic Jewish Children's Stories Illustrated by Jeffrey Allon Classic stories from the Torah and the Talmud, brought to life with vivid illustrations, help children learn Jewish history and values. Each story is accompanied by questions to prompt further reflection.
	Vishaka Our Most Dear Friend: Bhagavad-gita for Children This illustrated story presents the essence of the teachings of Lord Krishna in one of the Hindu sacred texts known as the Bhagavad-gita.
	What Makes Me A-- ? (Series) Various Authors. This series presents brief, accessible overviews of the beliefs and practices of religious groups, including: Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Unitarianism, Judaism, Catholic Christianity, Protestant Christianity, and Mormonism as well as the Quaker, Amish, and Jehovah's Witness faiths.

August 2007

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