[J-Bert Posts: 293 Status: Offline WWW]

I'm looking for non-preachy picture books that would appeal to a 4-year-old about the different religions in the world. Both books about how there are many different religious beliefs OR stories that focus on a particular religion are good. ZEN SHORTS and ZEN TIES are the only two that are coming to mind for me right now, and I'm sure there are more.

[Wendy Martin Posts: 490 Status: Offline Got art? WWW]

I have 3 books out about Wicca. "An Ordinary Girl, A Magical Child;" "Aidan's First Full Moon Circle;" and "Smoky and the Feast of Mabon." You can find out more about them on the publisher's web site http://magicalchildbooks.com.

[olmue Posts: 4,231 Status: Offline WWW]

A friend of mine and her dad did a nice world religions picture book not long ago: There Are Seven Houses on My Street, by Ron Flowers and Anise Flowers. It's self published, so it might be hard to find in a library, but I appreciated it for its positive outlook and respectful way of showing what is special to several different religions, and what could help a child find people who practice them relatable instead of other-able.

[Vijaya Posts: 8,510 Status: Offline LISTEN. Let all mortal flesh keep silence ... WWW]

I have a wonderful book by DK on mythologies of the world and I'll bet they have something about world religions as well. Yup, DK publishes What Do You Believe? A search on Amazon brought up some titles -- they're better for a slightly older child, but my kids enjoyed the DK books as I read to them.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_2_21?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=religion+for+children&sprefix=religion+for+children%2Caps%2C138

Give Your Child the World is an amazing resource for books that connect children to various parts of the world, and may include books on religion.

[J-Bert Posts: 293 Status: Offline WWW]

These are great! Keep the recommendations coming if you think of more.

[rab Posts: 688 Status: Offline WWW]

J-Bert, this one doesn't focus on religion, yet in looking at how people around the world live, it demonstrates aspects of religion. For example, one of the children is a Buddhist monk-in-training. It's also just fascinating to look at the photographs of children from all over the world and the things that are important in their lives (some of them to do with religion). As my friend the religious studies professor is always reminding me, religion is not a matter of belief, but of stories, rituals, and symbols.
https://www.amazon.com/Children-Just-Like-Me-Celebration/dp/0789402017/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467650626&sr=1-2&keywords=children+around+the+world

[dinalapomy101 Posts: 2,166 Status: Offline Happy writing to all! WWW]

We have ILYAS & DUCK SEARCH FOR ALLAH by Omar S. Khawaja and illustrated by Leo Antolini at my library and it is very cute!

[carrots Posts: 744 Status: Offline]

My very favorite is Old Turtle by Douglas Wood and Cheng Khee-Chee. Along with Wood's powerful, fable-like story are Khee-Chee's hypnotically beautiful illustrations.

https://www.amazon.com/Old-Turtle-Douglas-Wood/dp/0439309085/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467676397&sr=1-1&keywords=old+turtle

(This Scholastic edition must be a re-release, as my copy is from the 90s.)

I read this the first day of every class I ever taught and became known- among my 9th and 10th graders - as "Turtle Lady," due to my fondness of this gem and ability to weave it into various aspects of history and pop culture. (Yes, high schoolers dig picture books! And when I left teaching to have my first child, I received *dozens* of stuffed turtles and outfits with turtle prints. The power of Old Turtle.....)

 

[Engsis]

I love Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors by Hena Khan. It's visually stunning and isn't preachy:
https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Domes-Silver-Lanterns-Muslim/dp/1452141215/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

[Sheila Posts: 166 Status: Offline I write and illustrate for children of all ages. WWW]

THE ALWAYS PRAYER SHAWL by Sheldon Oberman is a beautiful book with truly masterful illustrations by Ted Lewin. It won at least two awards, the National Jewish Award and  the Sydney Taylor Award. It's published by Boyds Mills Press and is an excellent read -aloud. Another Jewish story that's more of a folktale is HERSHEL AND THE HANUKKAH GOBLINS by Eric Kimmel with Trina Schart Hyman's dark atmospheric illustrations that earned her a Caldecott Honor. It's another one that will keep most four-year-olds enthralled.