60+ Kids Books About World Religions

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you click my link but does not change your price. See my affiliate policy here.

Best books about world religions for kidsA big part of travel for our family is learning about the people, cultures, and customs in different places we visit. It’s fascinating to learn about the similarities and differences, and we’ve been so grateful to learn from those who have generously shared of themselves and their homes. We’ve especially loved prepping with some kids books about world religions!

 

Religion has been a great place for us to start because it often informs so much of what we experience in a country. It often expands well beyond belief systems into food, lifestyle architecture, and museums/sightseeing. Plus, it’s just really beautiful learning about the goodness in so many people and beliefs.

Here are some great kids books about world religions that are fantastic for learning about the world and its people.

 

Tips for Discussing World Religions With Kids

Ask questions

I find that I’m often inclined to be the one to do a lot of teaching to my kids. But we often learn the most when we ask questions and seek out answers together! I also usually learn a lot when I ask them questions and have them contribute, instead of just telling them my answers.

 

Know it’s okay if you don’t have all the answers

Your kids will likely ask some tricky questions and that’s okay! If you don’t know the answer, don’t pretend to. Instead, you can tell them that you don’t currently know and offer to work together with them to find an answer. These world religions books for kids are a great starting point.

 

Recognize similarities

There are so many similarities across religions! Recognize those, especially when it comes to the desired outcomes of all of them – to raise good, happy people.

 

Call out goodness

It can be tempting to use teaching about world religions as an opportunity to show your kids why your belief system is the best. Try to avoid this, though. There are plenty of opportunities when you can have discussions about the merits of your own religion, but try to not do it in a way that makes it seem yours is better than other ones.

 

This list of kids books about world religions contains affiliate links, but all opinions are 100% my own. That means I earn a small commission if you purchase through my link, but doesn’t change your price.

 

60+ Kids Books About World Religions

 

GENERAL RELIGION BOOKS FOR KIDS

The Kids Book of World Religions

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Target, Walmart

 
God’s Paintbrush

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop

 
What Is God?

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Target, Walmart

 
What Do You Believe?: Big Questions About Religion

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 
Everyone Prays: Celebrating Faith Around the World

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop

 
See Inside World Religions

 

Find it on Amazon

 

 

KIDS BOOKS ABOUT HINDUISM

While not specifically kids religion books, this virtual tour of India has a number of other wonderful India picture books that connect to Hindu culture.

Ramayana: Divine Loophole

This is my very favorite Hindu book for kids. It has beautiful illustrations and short stories of the Hindu epic.

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 

Ganesha’s Sweet Tooth

This silly and fun story of how Ganesha helped write the Mahabharatha is one of my kids’ absolute favorites.

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Target, Walmart

 

Classic Tales from India: How Ganesh Got His Elephant Head and Other Stories

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 

Elephant Prince: The Story of Ganesh

This depiction of the story of how the god Ganesh got his elephant head is beautiful and one our family loves.

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 

The Little Book of Hindu Deities: From the Goddess of Wealth to the Sacred Cow

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Target, Walmart

 

A Day in the Life of a Hindu Kid: Kid’s Hindu prayer, rhyming and activity book

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop

 

Indian Children’s Favorite Stories: Fables, Myths and Fairy Tales

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 

My First Book Of Hindu Gods and Goddesses

 

Find it on Amazon

 

Mahabharata For Children

 

Find it on Amazon, Walmart

 

Festival of Colors

This children’s book about the festival Holi is gorgeous and colorful – perfect as a celebration of this beautiful holiday. This is one of my very favorites.

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Target, Walmart

 

 

KIDS BOOKS ABOUT BUDDHISM

 

The Seed of Compassion: Lessons from the Life and Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Buddha’s mother taught him compassion, and he teaches us to have the same for others. Simple and powerful text that is perfect for young kids.

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 

The Life of the Buddha

Gorgeous watercolor illustrations tell of the life of Siddhartha Gautama, the prince who would become Buddha. This is one I want to own.

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop

 

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

20 modern retellings of Buddhist tales that highlight ethical dilemmas that kids might face in their own lives.

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop

 

Under the Bodhi Tree: A Story of the Buddha

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 

Buddhism for Kids: 40 Activities, Meditations, and Stories for Everyday Calm, Happiness, and Awareness

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 

Samsara Dog

 

Find it on Amazon

 

Zen Books for Kids

As a subset of Buddhism, Zen has some specific components to it and also some beautiful children’s books about Zen!

 

Zen Ties

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop

 

Zen Shorts

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 

Addy’s Cup of Sugar

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 

KIDS BOOKS ABOUT JUDAISM

This post on celebrating Hanukkah activities with kids has other kids Judaism books specifically related to Hanukkah.

 

Here Is The World

This book that goes through a year of Jewish holidays is one of my favorites.

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 

Purim Chicken

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 

Hanukkah Bear

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 

New Year At The Pier: A Rosh Hashanah Story

 

Find it on Amazon

 

Once Upon An Apple Cake

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 

Fridays Are Special

I love that this book talking about Shabbat features a multiracial family.

 

Find it on Amazon

 

Chik Chak Shabbat

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Target, Walmart

 

The Whispering Town

This picture book introduces the Holocaust in a way that is appropriate for young children. This one reminds me of Number the Stars, a favorite.

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Target, Walmart

 

The Patchwork Torah

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 

KIDS BOOKS ABOUT ISLAM

The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Target, Walmart

 

Muhammad

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop

 

Like the Moon Loves the Sky

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Target, Walmart

 

Under the Ramadan Moon

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Target, Walmart

 

Lailah’s Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 

The Best Eid Ever

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Target

 

Ramadan and Fasting Activity Book (Discover Islam Sticker Activity Books)

 

Find it on Amazon, Walmart

 

KIDS BOOKS ABOUT SIKHISM

Fauja Singh Keeps Going: The True Story of the Oldest Person to Ever Run a Marathon

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 

The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Target, Walmart

 

 

KIDS BOOKS ABOUT CONFUCIANISM AND TAOISM

I didn’t find a ton of books in this category, so if you know of other great ones, please let me know. This virtual tour of China for kids also has some related book recommendations!

 

Who Was Confucius?

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 

Who Was Confucius? Ancient China Book for Kids

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 

KIDS INDIGENOUS SPIRITUALITY BOOKS FROM NORTH AMERICA

This post on celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day has other fantastic indigenous picture books for kids.

We Are Water Protectors

Winner of the 2021 Caldecott, this book lives up to all the rave reviews.

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 
Two Bear Cubs: A Miwok Legend from California’s Yosemite Valley

My kids adore this tale of how a spot in one of their favorite places was formed.

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Target, Walmart

 
How the Stars Fell into the Sky: A Navajo Legend

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Target

 
Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 
We Are Grateful

One of my very favorites for its beautiful seasonality and depictions of everyday life through them.

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Target, Walmart

 
SkySisters

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Target, Walmart

 
The Thundermaker

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 

CHRISTIANITY BOOKS FOR KIDS

This list of diverse children’s Christmas books has lots of other Christian children’s books, as well, as does this post on our favorite Easter books for kids.
Jesus (Demi)

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 
Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop

 
The Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Target

 

 

INTERFAITH BOOKS FOR KIDS

King Solomon and the Bee

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Walmart

 
Yaffa and Fatima: Shalom, Salaam

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Target, Walmart

 
Trees of the Dancing Goats

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Target, Walmart

 
Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas

 

Find it on Amazon, Bookshop, Target, Walmart

 

MORE POSTS

IF YOU LIKED THIS POST WITH KIDS BOOKS ABOUT WORLD RELIGIONS, YOU MIGHT LIKE THESE POSTS TOO:

 

DON’T NEED THESE WORLD RELIGIONS PICTURE BOOKS QUITE YET? PIN THIS POST FOR LATER!

kids books about world religions

5 Responses

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *