Buddha at Bedtime: Tales of Love and Wisdom for You to Read with Your Child to Enchant, Enlighten and Inspire [Paperback]

Dharmachari Nagaraja (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 6, 2008

Many of today’s children face challenges and obstacles far beyond what their parents ever imagined. These 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.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dharmachari Nagaraja regularly presents BBC Radio 2's Pause for Thought with Terry Wogan, and has appeared on BBC 1's Heaven and Earth programme. A practising Buddhist for nearly 20 years, he formerly ran the Covent Garden Meditation Centre in London. He is currently involved with the Glasgow Buddhist Centre, where he works as a psychotherapist.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Duncan Baird (May 6, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844836231
• ISBN-13: 978-1844836239
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (83 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,805 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Eastern > Buddhism
  • #70 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Parenting

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

109 of 109 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars LOVED this book! April 18, 2010

By Katharine M. Nitti

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

No matter your religious affiliation, or lack of, this book is FANTASTIC and can be read to ALL ages...really. Our girls are 4 and 5 and the 4 year old rarely has the attention span for many of the books our 5 year old does. But, since this book's stories are short, they are perfect for kids (and adults...my Mom liked it so much she bought one for herself!) and adults alike. At the end of the story, I gave each child a chance to think about and come up with a "moral" or something they learned from the story. They LOVED doing that, and though they didn't always actually get the one written in two sentences at the end, they came up with lots of other ideas that were ALSO in there. GET THIS BOOK. For Christians that feel they should ONLY read things that teach "Christian" morals, you won't feel that this goes against ANY teachings in your faith. Its not a book of religion. It doesn't try to sell another faith at all. These are all really important, basic (but not so basic that they will annoy you. These are things that kids should hear frequently while developing what kind of person they want to be, and that development needs reinforcement for years and years and YEARS...and adults need this primer too as a reminder, or as an eye opener. I LOVE this book, and am on here to find more just like it. :)

63 of 65 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for all of us! June 16, 2008

By Audrey C. Crane

Format:Paperback

We have a (pretty verbal) 3-year old, and this is perfect for her. Moving slightly away from all-picture books, this has just the right length stories, right mix of pictures and story, and each story has a moral which Buddha spells out at the end. (Or if you were uncomfortable with that, you could just say "The moral of the story is".) These prompt some nice bedtime conversations. Also there are enough stories in the book that we've been reading a different one every night for a month, so we aren't pounding our head against the wall when she picks this book up night after night. Each story has one (lovely) full-page illustration and is 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 pages long, borrowing small bits from the original illustration throughout. The stories are entertaining and most are new to us. The publisher does a few other similar books and we will definitely pick them up.

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Even My Three-Year-Old Likes It September 2, 2009

By toothius

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Though this book is geared toward a higher age group, my three-year-old daughter and I just read the first story in the book and she really liked it. She also enjoyed the breathing exercise at the beginning of the book, and I think it got her relaxed and in the mood for a good bedtime story.

My only confusion is the use of Hotei or Laughing Buddha in the place of the actual Buddha Shakyamuni. Oh well, it gave me a chance to explain who the "Laughing Buddha" was.