The goal of this curriculum is to introduce world religions through stories and allow young children to explore the differences and similarities to their own lives. There are beautiful picture books which introduce young children to Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, and Christianity in a gentle and respectful way.


Sacred Places 

People of every religion have built special places – some small and simple, some large and elaborate – where they gather to worship, meditate, celebrate and hope. 

 

Sacred Texts 

Introduces the Bible as a library of books written long ago in which wisdom can be found for Christians, Jews, Muslims and Unitarian Universalists. 

 

Adam and Eve (Judaism)

Adam and Eve’s very first day in the Garden of Eden.

 

Cain and Abel (Judaism)

Cain and Abel were once peaceful brothers, one a shepherd, one a farmer. Jealousy, anger and fear took all of this away. 

 

The Wisdom Bird (Judaism)

A story of the wisdom of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The queen travels from Africa to the ancient city of Jerusalem to learn whether King Solomon can put his wisdom to work.

 

Noah’s Ark (Judaism)

Provides an account of Noah’s story from the Genesis narratives. This version reinforces the message of the wonder and fragility of the natural world. 

 

Night Lights: A Sukkot Story( Judaism)

On a dark night full of mysterious noises, Daniel and his older sister Naomi set out to sleep in their family sukkah.  

 

Rama and Sita (Hinduism)

This epic story introduces the variety and richness of the Hindu pantheon of demons, Hanuman, the monkey king, princes, goddesses and gods.

 

Lighting a Lamp (Hinduism)

Introduces one of the most popular festivals in Hindu tradition called Diwali or “Festival of Light.” 

 

Lights for Gita (Hinduism)

Recently immigrated from India, Gita is looking forward to celebrating her favorite holiday, Divali, but things are so different in her new home in North America.

 

Savitri (Hinduism)

A retelling from The Mahabharata, India’s national epic, about a princess who becomes a heroine because of her mind and heart, not her beauty.

 

Best of Tenali Raman (Hinduism)

A collection of stories about the ruler of Vijayanagar Krishnadeva Raya and the quick witted Tenali Raman, one of his trusted advisors. 

 

Tenzin’s Deer (Buddhism)

This Tibetan tale teaches us to listen to our intuition and be courageous in the face of loss. 

 

The Brave Little Parrot (Buddhism)

A retelling of a traditional “jataka” tale from India, one of the stories about Buddha’s past lives. “Do the little thing that comes from your heart,” it says, “and everything might change, in ways no one could imagine.”

 

Buddha in the Garden (Buddhism)

This story is based on the four Buddhist signs of enlightenment: hunger, sickness, death and seeking enlightenment. 

 

Zen Shorts (Buddhism)

Short meditations –ideas to puzzle over- tools which hone our ability to act with intuition. They often challenge us to reexamine our habits, desires, concepts, and fears. 

The Mountains of Tibet (Buddhism)

In a tiny village, high in the mountains of Tibet, lives a woodcutter. All his life he has longed to travel to faraway places, to see the world. 

 

The Hundredth Name (Islam)

Salah is sad because his camel, Qadiim, always seems so downcast. What if Qadiim could learn the hundredth name of Allah?

 

Sitti’s Secrets  (Islam)

An American Muslim girl misses her “sitti,” or Palestinian grandmother, who lives across the ocean. Explore Islamic culture with geometrical designs.

 

Ahmed’s Secret  (Islam)

Young Ahmed lives in Cairo, and has a donkey and cart. We accompany him as he delivers bottles of fuel and prepares to tell his family his secret – he has learned to write his name. Explore the Arabic alphabet and calligraphic art. 

 

Fasting and Dates  (Islam)

A simple introduction to Ramadan. Follow a family as they fast each day, go to the mosque on the Night of Power, and enjoy a delicious feast. 

 

Joseph (Judaism)

The tale of eleven brothers who sell their favored brother into slavery is a story about envy, greed, and power, but also a story about love, compassion, and forgiveness.

 

The Story of Queen Esther (Judaism)

When the prime minister of Persia decides to destroy all the Jews, no one stands in his way but a young girl. Esther’s story provides the basis for the Jewish holiday of Purim.

 

Daniel in the Lion’s Den (Judaism)

Daniel is thrown into the lion’s den by people who envy him,  but his unwavering faith saves his life.

 

The Moses Basket (Judaism)

This story features Moses’ older sister, Miriam. Long ago in the land of Egypt, a Hebrew mother and her daughter Miriam hide a newborn baby boy in a basket that they float down the Nile River to save the child’s life. 

 

Exodus (Judaism)

The story of the Exodus is one of the greatest stories in the Bible. The major events of this tale are the burning bush, the plagues that afflict Egypt, the Passover, the crossing of the Red Sea, the journey through the desert, the Ten Commandments, and finally the arrival at the Promised Land.

 

Jesus (Christianity)

Tell the whole story of Jesus from his birth in Bethlehem, his growing up in Nazareth, and his death. 

 

Mary, Mother of Jesus (Christianity)

The story of Mary, from her birth to Anna and Joachim, the visit by the angel Gabriel, the Christmas story, the childhood of Jesus, the crucifixion, and her crowning as Queen of Heaven.

 

The Easter Story (Christianity)

This story is about the events in Jerusalem from Palm Sunday to Jesus’ ascension into heaven from the point of view of a little donkey. 

 

Jonah and the Great Fish (Judaism)

Jonah, fearful of going to Nineveh as his God commands, flees to the harbor and takes passage on a ship for the far-off Tarshish. In a storm, Jonah is swallowed up by a great fish. 

 

David and Goliath (Judaism)

A witty version of the story of the Israelite boy, David, as he enters into combat with the giant Goliath, champion of the Philistines. 

 

Anansi The Spider (Indigenous)

In this traditional Ashanti tale, Anansi sets out on a long, difficult journey in which he is saved from terrible fates by his sons. But which of his sons should Anansi reward? Calling upon Nyame, the God of All Things, Anansi solves his predicament in a touching and highly resourceful fashion. 

 

Each Breath a Smile (Buddhism)

Each Breath a Smile introduces young children to mindful breathing. Through beautiful color illustrations, children learn to connect with their breathing to help them experience calmness and enjoy a deeper relationship with their friends and family. 

 

The Fire Children (Indigenous)

The first man and woman are lonely. What to do? They decide to fashion children out of clay. As they are baking the little figures in their fire, they’re constantly interrupted by visits from the sky-god, Nyame. 

 

Whoever You Are 

A celebration of diverse childhoods. A compelling exploration of the differences between children that make them unique as well as the common humanity that unites them.

 

For Every Child 

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in words and pictures. “We can each make a difference if we are vigilant to create a new kind of society, more compassionate, more caring, more sharing, where human rights, where children’s rights are respected and protected.” From the foreword by Archbishop Desmond M. TuTu