Kindergarten

A favorite preparation for school is the Mennonite "ABC Preschool Series" published by Rod and Staff Publishers. Their workbooks include mode of goodness illustrations depicting farm life, happy home life with mother at home, worship of God, a service attitude, as well as showing little girls in dresses and pig tails.

And to avoid confusion, please note that the Amish and Mennonite community equates the word "preschool" with "kindergarten". In other words, their children do not officially start school until first grade. So their preschool series of workbooks are meant for children ready for kindergarten.

(Book A) ADVENTURES WITH BOOKS --

This is the first book in the series containing a variety of lessons such as colors and coloring; understanding top, bottom, up and down, left, right, open and closed; what is alike, what is different; matching; tracing lines; shapes; what is small, smaller, smallest; dot to dot pictures to complete; categorizing, sorting, and grouping what goes together; and a scripture story with a picture to color.

For devotees of Krsna it may seem preferable of course, to use a story from our own scriptures that is similar. For example, one story in one of the workbooks involved the story of Moses being put into a basket. I used the same cutouts of the woman and the baby in the basket and the river, except I told the story of Kunti and Karna instead.

Another exercise asks "What is missing?"; or to cut and paste a picture together like a puzzle. And there is a song at back of book. Usually these songs are easily adaptable or suitable enough that devotee children can learn them, too.

(Book B) Book B contains Bible stories only.This workbook was the only one I did not purchase. I think it also comes with a related coloring book. Since you do not have to buy all the books together in the series, this may easily be replaced with stories from a children's version of Krishna book and so on, along with corresponding coloring book pages to color. Thankfully, these kinds of materials are becoming available for devotee children.

(Book C) COUNTING WITH NUMBERS --

Basically children learn the numbers 1-10, counting with them, writing them, and using them in various ways.

There used to be a beautiful set of math workbooks A and B published for the gurukulas with detailed Krishna conscious illustrations. But sadly, these are no longer in print.

(Book D) DO IT CAREFULLY

This workbook contains lessons for letter writing practice and hearing sounds. Some material reinforces book A plus mazes, matching capital letters, matching the same pattern, matching the same word, practice for writing a child’s name, writing numbers, sequences and patterns, tracing lines, matching shaded shapes with pictures, things that make sounds, larger and smaller, same initial sounds, parts and the whole, "Which things are used together?" "Where does our food come from?" (garden, tree, animal), coloring a picture by letters, "Summer or winter?" (what activities are done when)

(Book E) EVERYWHERE WE GO --

Reviews material in previous workbooks as well as showing courtesy, jobs and places in a community, pictures that belong together, riddles, and contains a very useful hundred number chart on the back page. This will be very useful in future math homework.

(Book F) FINDING THE ANSWERS--

Book F challenges thinking skills such as what goes together, soft and hard, rhyming, "What comes next?", cause and effect, matching the same number, my telephone #, my birthday, ordering events, patterns, predicting what should happen next, sorting birds from insects, animal homes, animals that move the same, objects that move the same, drawing, following directions, "Made of wood or metal?", "What is it made of?"- leather, glass, cloth, wood or paper.

BOOKS G-H
I recently discovered more books being added to this series- Going on Eagerly and Hearing and Helping-but I have yet to check them out.

Click Here for ordering.

And for anyone wondering what a child should be taught before kindergarten? Prabhupada recommends letting them "eat and play." The madness of teaching children academics at younger and younger ages is for those competing with each other in the material world. Let them be children for those brief four years. If a child bugs you to teach them to read and write at age 4 though, that is a different story. One may wish to begin this series at that age and stretch it out for two years.

UPDATE: I have not reviewed them personally, but titles starting with I-J-K are now available! 

Mode of Goodness Books

Reading shapes our consciousness, so naturally we want to choose good books. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta judged a piece by how many times the Lord’s name is mentioned on a page and Srila Prabhupada's books are a very good example of being first class according to that standard. Anyone who reads is constantly chanting. But it may be some time before children are capable to read them on their own.
What good books are there for needed reading practice as well as giving a love for reading?

Non fiction can be useful and educational, but beware of opinions that may be mixed in with factual information. For example, a Christian magazine may be acceptable when it is about nature and topics of children's interests, but not when they slip into it propaganda against other religions. Another problem is the enjoying spirit that predominates secular and religious books as well.

There are also are fictional books for the younger set that contain touching truths that are appreciated by adults as much as children. Now and then you will find them. When you do, make sure to share them with other devotee mothers. Some favorites are posted here. They may not be perfect, but relatively speaking, they are gems from the garbage heap. Dig for them and discuss them together. In other words, use what some call "the eclectic method" or the "cafeteria approach", by carefully picking and choosing the best materials you can find.

So, besides all the bonafide Krishna conscious children’s books available, here is a partial list of other favorites from our home library:

THE GIVING TREE by Shel Silverstein
While changing bodies from boyhood to youth to old age, a boy is shown unconditional love by a tree, along with her many natural gifts. The only objection might be the boyfriend and girlfriend illustration of sitting behind the tree unchaperoned with their initials etched in the trunk, but then the boy gets married soon afterwards anyway.

YELLOW AND PINK by William Steig (author of the original "Shrek").
Two puppets speculate together, in an amusing way, about how they came to exist. Great for witty, anti- evolutionary teaching.

ROTTEN ISLAND byWilliam Steig. A good case is made why we can't be rotten all the time and what happens when something good comes along. Good and evil are contrasted. A similar theme is found in the story The Old Brown House listed in the book "The King's Daughter and Other Stories for Girls" by various authors. A nice discussion can be added how the house in this story may be compared to one's house and the rose given to the old woman by the little girl may be compared to what happens when one is given the bhakti seed and the bhakti creeper is there in one's heart.

THE KING'S DAUGHTER AND OTHER STORIES FOR GIRLS by Various Authors. Mostly Christian in tone, but many valuable lessons may abe gained and applied for any reader such as the story "How to Read the Bible". This is applicable to sastra as well. And again the story of "Tje Old Brown House" made the whole book worthwhile.

WHEN THE WIND STOPS by Charlotte Zolotow.
This book contains beautiful illustrations painted on wood by Stefano Vitale.
A mother explains to her son that in nature an end is also a beginning as day gives way to night, winter ends and spring begins, and, after it stops falling, rain makes clouds for other storms and so on, thus the message, "Nothing ends." Good for teaching the concept that material nature is also divine, also eternal, although considered the Lord's inferior energy. Although temporarily manifest, it continues eternally in cycles.

THE ROUGH FACED GIRL by Rafe Marti, illustrated by David Shannon. American Indian version of the Cinderella story. The one with a pure heart can see God.

SCUFFY THE TUGBOAT and His Adventures Down the River by Getrude Crampton, illustrated by Tibor Gergely. This engaging tale is about an attitude change for Scuffy after a trip down river to the open sea. A lesson in appreciating what we have and the wonders of nature’s rivers. Scuffy passes small villages, larger towns and finally a bustling city. First printed in 1947, colorful illustrations include women washing clothes in the river and old fashioned horse and cart transportation.

PRINCE SIDDHARTHA The Story of Buddha by Jonathan Landaw, illustrated by Janet Brooke, (Wisdom Publications)
Very nice telling of the life of Siddhartha or the Buddha, his qualities and character. There are no references to meat eating in this book. Very clean story. Very compassionate. Teaches detachment and utilizing human life for higher purposes.
Nice, colorful illustrations.

APRICOT ABC by Miska Miles.
Lovely illustrations gracefully enhance poetic verses about the life cycle of an apricot.

THE LITTLE HOUSE by Virginia Lee Burton.
Beautiful, detailed illustrations. So much is taught indirectly by this book- the passage of seasons, the passage of time, contrasting country and city life...

THE WUMP WORLD by Bill Peet.
Contains an environmental message. On a lovely planet, the fictional creatures called "Wumps" are visited by aliens called "Pollutians".

MICKEY MOUSE AND THE BEST NEIGHBOR CONTEST, Published by Golden Press (Little Golden Books) Despite the popular Disney cartoon characters that personally I am not fond of, this little book I stumbled upon one day contains a good message about developing a service attitude. Made the entire book worth reading to children...many times. Contains one reference to meat eating on the last page.

THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT by Karen Backstein and Annie Mitra (Scholastic). Here's one version of the poem with a satisfying ending. The blind men meet someone who can see an explain the whole elephant! It is much like meeting a bona fide guru.

THE SHAPE OF ME AND OTHER STUFF by Dr. Seuss
After reading this book, you'll see shapes everywhere. One reference is made to gum chewing.

THE ISLAND OF THE SKOGG  by Steven Kellog
More or less the message here is that how you behave towards others is what you get back. Some mice visit an island, but out of fear shoot a cannon at it. When they land they see a huge footprint. It turns out to have been made deceptively by a tiny and rather cute little thing called a Skogg trying to defend itself.

IF EVERYBODY DID by JoAnn Stover
This book make a a case for good behavior in an amusing way. Children are caused to think about what their actions would be like "if everybody did".

ONE TOUGH TURKEY by Steven Kroll
Set in pilgrim days or the first Thanksgiving and having the mood of "Chicken Run", a  story for vegetarians on the usually saddest day for turkeys. 

MEDIO POLLITO or Half Chicken by Ada Flor Ada. Written in Spanish and English. The story of a half chicken (or How the weather vane came to being) who does good and is returned the favor when he needs it most. Also he finds his place in the world despite the fact he is different from others.

HORTON HEARS A WHO by Dr. Seuss. Some say this is an anti abortion book with the message "A person is a person, no matter how small."

JUST THE WAY YOU ARE by Max Lucado. Allegorical story about meeting the Lord. Only one of the characters displays advancement of the heart rather than physical talent.

THE ROUND SULTAN AND THE STRAIGHT ANSWER by Barbara K. Walker. Illustrates how the fear of death helps an obese sultan fulfill his desire to lose weight. Shows the effect of anxiety created by the concept of time. Contains some references to meat eating.

FOLK TALES FROM INDIA and FAIRY TALES FROM INDIA  by Vernon Thomas (Hemkundt Press). Full of witty stories.

MRS. PIGGLE WIGGLE by Betty MacDonald
Introduce humorous stories to children and think of cool ways to influence children, after reading this.

These are some of the less contaminated Mennonite children's story books. Lots of nice stories with good lessons for children:
THE SQUIRREL AND THE NUT by Mrs. James Swartzentruber Book 2 of the God is Good series, Rod and Staff Publishers. Everything happens for a reason. Introduces the idea that every living being has a job to do in Krishna's universe, as the story shows how a tree gets planted by a squirrel storing nuts.

GOD MAKES SEEDS THAT GROW by Mrs. James Swartzentruber, part 3 of the God is Good series, (Rod and Staff Publishers)
A little boy plants candy corn instead of a real seed, hoping to get more candy and learning that only God can make seeds that grow.

GOD'S WONDERFUL WATER by Mary M. Landis, illustrated by Virginia Kreider.
Beautiful, detailed artwork along with text telling about the important gift of water supplied by Krsna.

MOLLY HELPS MOTHER by Laura Clay, (Rod & Staff Publishers),
In the story a little girl's mother is sick in bed so the girl prays to God how she can help her mother. She decides to watch over her little brother and involve him in lots of TV free activities. The entire story encourages a service attitude. Nice, realistic drawings of country family life.

THE LOST MILK JAR, by Lucy Ann Conley (Rod and Staff Publishers)
On their sled ride back home three children have a mishap, and within the deep snow lose the jar of milk they were sent by their mother to bring home. They turn to the Lord for help and pray, asking Him to help them find the milk jar, "if it is His will". Good for teaching children to turn to Krishna when in trouble.

THE MISSING POPCORN and Other Stories (Rod and Staff Publishers)

BETTY'S SECRET and Other Stories by Grandmother Lois, R&S Publishers

TATTLETALE SPARKIE and Other Stories by Lucy Ann Conley, Rod and Staff Pub.

MORE TITLES AND AUTHORS TO CHECK OUT:
Once a Mouse by Marcia Brown
The Grasshopper and the Ants by Margaret Wise Brown (based on the Aesop fable)
If Everybody Did by Jo Ann Stover

AMAR CHITRA KATHA many comic book style Vedic stories for children. Available from India, so you'll have to do a search to find a distributor.

NOT SO FAVORITE BOOKS AND WHY
Previewing an unfamiliar book is recommended before handing it to a child.   An example of a book that overlooks reality, a not uncommon phenomena to be wary of in modern literature is "The Story of Ferdinand".

Outright, I find the character of Ferdinand endearing and worth emulating. I have mixed feelings about this story though because it glosses over the otherwise horrific, inhumane sport of bullfighting. It bothers me enough while reading this to a child to not want to read it because, as an adult, I am well aware that the usual outcome of bull fights, even with the display of passive, noncooperation posed by Ferdinand is not at all pleasant. In other words, in real life poor Ferdinand would never have made it back home alive!

It is also contradictory for readers to express so much sentiment for a bull when in real life, bulls and cows are tortured in factory farms and brutally killed on a daily basis; they are treated just like objects instead of anything worth loving. On the other hand, connecting with Ferdinand may somehow or other raise sensitivity and affection toward them. That was my original hope while purchasing this book.

"Winners Never Quit" by Mia Hamm
Besides the good message of the title which initially attracted me, I liked the story taken from the author's life when she was a little girl playing soccer which nicely illustrates how she learned this lesson. Yet, the author's divorce after seven years of marriage contradicts the message of this book! Worse, in my opinion, is her turning from what was originally healthy playfulness into a professional soccer player, which makes a bad role model for young women who plan on having a home and family. Of course, kids don't have to know this, so the story itself is of great value. And it's good she is no longer married (I don't think she has children). Every woman should make that choice to become a professional of something as a public woman or to become a homemaker. Because when they try to do both, marriages usually crumble and children suffer.

"Make Way for Ducklings"
Sorry but I fail to see what is so great about this greatly applauded classic. I didn't like for one thing the mother duck's arrogant attitude of proudly parading her brood down the street oblivious to the trouble she is causing the drivers and the endangerment to her ducklings. Not a good example for children either is her initial attempt to cross a busy street. If the policeman hadn't been there she'd have been road kill. I think it would have been better if the ducks had been characterized as dumb animals instead of one's with arrogant thought processes.

And I didn't understand why they returned to the place where they could hardly get food except by begging peanuts and where they nearly got run over by a little boy on a bike. And why did father duck take off? A strange book, so I plan to read it a few more times to see if I can get something else out of it.

Otherwise, the old-timey illustrations are detailed and interesting

WAYS TO OBTAIN BOOKS OR PRACTICE READING MATERIAL
1. Borrow from a library and neighbors.
2. Scour thrift and used book stores. But beware of old and used books. They may cause allergies. Make sure they are in good condition and store them carefully. Air them out in hot sun to freshen.
3. Check out Amazon.com or Rainbow Resource for discounts.
4. Improvise or make own materials such as simple readers (see "Bob's Books". Anyone can make those!).
4. The Internet can also be a source of free materials, books, and poems. For example, the entire McGuffey Readers are available online (the link is here). Beautiful poetry is contained therein.
6. Subscribe to periodicals- BTG, Hightlights for Children, Farmer's Almanac for children (These cover a wide variety of subjects. Cheaper than paying more for entire-and often hardback- books).
7. Don't forget to tell stories, lots and lots of stories. An important way to impart knowledge according to the standards you value the most. In this way you are a walking Krishna conscious story book.
8. Don't be afraid to read favorite books to children over and over again. They get more out of it each time and you will, too. Space them apart a bit, of course. 

MORE HELPS FOR FINDING GOOD BOOKS
Ask other devotees for recommendations, read book reviews and review the books themselves. Checkout to see if your local library has their catalog online to borrow a book before buying. Amazon.com also facilitates sneak previews of many books.

GOOD QUOTES:
“The more you read, the more your thoughts and conversations will reflect your reading. Scripture will come to mind while you are working, talking...”

“If a book is not worth re-reading, it is not worth reading.”

“No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally worth reading at the age of fifty.”

“The books that help you the most are those which make you think the most.”

“Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them AT all.” Henry David Thoreau

“The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them.” Mark Twain

“Extract gold from a filthy place.” -Canakya Pandita

“When I get a little money, I buy books; and if any is left over, I buy food and clothes”- Eramus

Why We're Vegetarian

PROTECTS ANIMALS
1. a kind and compassionate diet

• recognizes that animals also have souls."If we find a difference in characteristics, then we can say that in the animal there is no soul. But if we see that the animal and the human being have the same characteristics, then how can you say that the animal has no soul? The general symptoms are that the animal eats, you eat; the animal sleeps, you sleep; the animal mates, you mate; the animal defends, and you defend. Where is the difference?" -Srila Prabhupada.
• does not disrupt a soul's progress in transmigration. "Real ahimsä (non violence) means not checking anyone's progressive life. The animals are also making progress in their evolutionary life by transmigrating from one category of animal life to another. If a particular animal is killed, then his progress is checked. If an animal is staying in a particular body for so many days or so many years and is untimely killed, then he has to come back again in that form of life to complete the remaining days in order to be promoted to another species of life." Bg 16.1-3p 

2. the cruel practices of factory farming and slaughterhouses-

• veal crates
• filthy, overcrowded living conditions 
• other mistreatment of animals 

PROTECTS SOCIETY, KARMIC REACTIONS
1. violence breeds violence
2. the exception for ksatriyas

• a duty to practice killing art, to protect society from miscreants
• " Sometimes they used to kill animals in the forests to practice the killing art because without such practice they would not be able to kill the undesirable elements. Kñatriyas are allowed to commit violence in that way because violence for a good purpose is a part of their duty" -SB 3.21.50p
• the difference between hunting wild animals vs killing helpless, dependent, penned creatures
• unnecessary slaughtering and killing is uncivilized

PROTECTS THE EARTH, POLLUTION FROM FACTORY FARMING AND SLAUGHTERHOUSES

• erosion caused by mass cattle grazing.
• run off pollutes nearby water sources
• the green house effect

HEALTHY BODIES
1. simple, vegetarian diet easier to digest.
2. meat rots quickly,

• full of bacteria
• harsh chemicals for cleaning homes and work places necessary

3. meat eating unnecessary, overeating linked to many diseases.

PURIFIES CONSCIOUSNESS, AVOIDS ATYAHARA AND PRAYASA
1. atyahara, taking more than allotted by God
2. prayasa, unnecessary endeavor

• meat eating generally unnecessary
• plants depended upon by all for existence

3. saving valuable time for self realization via simple diet

SLAUGHTERHOUSE MORE SINFUL THAN MEAT EATING

• tons of unpurchased meats go to waste
• uncivilized humans kill only what they can eat, nothing is wasted

HUMAN LIFE, MEANT FOR DISCRIMINATION

• Meat eating meant for animals; you cannot reason with an animal about diet 
• Check out: A Conversation With a Cat (True story)
• The dietary choices given for human beings

ANIMAL SACRIFICES
1. Scriptures make some allowance for animal sacrifices and meat eating.

• Animal sacrifices (in which the life of an animal is rejuvenated) are currently forbidden in Kali yuga since they cannot be properly executed
• Animal sacrifices are always forbidden by saintly persons
• Die hard meat eaters are given concessions with strict regulations, meant for gradually giving up meat eating altogether as troublesome. Srila Prabhupäda: "Just like still animal sacrifice... Not only the followers of Vedas, every religion—animal is killed or sacrificed under certain religious rituals (Jews and 'kosher' food), in the lower stage. In the higher stage there is no such animal sacrifice. Just like this Krishna consciousness movement, there is no ritualistic process as animal sacrifice. But the Vedas, they will include everyone. Suppose one is addicted to fish-eating or meat-eating. So the Vedas do not reject him also. He gives him direction that 'You... All right, you can eat meat, but not you can start slaughterhouse. You can sacrifice one goat in the presence of goddess Käli, and then you can eat.' That means restriction. Goddess Käli cannot be worshiped daily. So at least, he is forbidden to eat daily, meat. That is the idea."

2. Other concessions

• in an emergency situation
• in places where agriculture is scarce (dessert or far north)
• for uncivilized human beings, "Human teeth are so made that they can chew and cut fruit and vegetables, although there are two canine teeth so that primitive humans can eat flesh if they so desire."- SB 1.2.17 lecture, 8/20/72, LA

PREREQUISITE TO SPIRITUAL VISION
1. increases the mode of goodness and knowledge is the result, meat eating does the opposite by increasing the mode of ignorance
2. Logically animals have souls. They share similarities with humans.
3. Animals are Krsna’s sons, too (Bg 14.4). They are our brothers.
4. Animals are also citizens of the state and should be protected., "Mahäräja Pariksit said that only the animal-killer cannot relish the transcendental message of the Supreme Lord. Therefore if people are to be educated to the path of Godhead, they must be taught first and foremost to stop the process of animal-killing as above mentioned. It is nonsensical to say that animal-killing has nothing to do with spiritual realization." (lecture, 12/4/68, LA)
5. nourishes the quality of mercy
6. nourishes spiritual vision of Lord in the heart of every living being

BEYOND VEGETARIANISM
1. Ultimately non-devotional vegetarian is also sinful, it is also killing.
2. In Krsna’s universal govt, all foods must first be prepared for sacrifice or offering.
3. One who does not offer to the Lord first in thanksgiving is a thief and liable for punishment.
4. Devotees eat only foods offered to Krishna, Krishna is vegetarian. (Bg 9.26)

KRISHNA'S FAVORITE ANIMALS- COWS AND BULLS
1. Cows and bulls are the most important, valuable animals, must always be protected.
2. A well-trained ox provides the best, most economical and environmental way to till the earth as well as provide a hundred times more food than a dead ox which can only provide a few meals. 
3. Mother cow gives the brain food that nourished brahminical culture
4. Dairy foods, especially ghee, makes for a satisfying vegetarian diet, providing necessary “animal food without slaughter”.
5. Cow dung is vital for healthy soils.
6. Animals that die naturally can still be utilized for their leather, hide, horns, bones and so on.

VIDEOS
There are several good videos available to help our children understand why we're vegetarians (besides the fact that Krishna is!).



The series below is NOT recommended for young children. It may be alright for older teens to see the reality of factory farming and slaughterhouses, but I myself could only watch one of these a couple of times. The second in the series I have not yet seen, I just found it today. Each time I watched the first video, it brought a response in me such as going out and distributing Prabhupada's books.





GOOD ARTICLE, TOO, FOR ALL AGES:
Cow Escapes NY Slaughterhouse and Find a New Home!

MORE INFORMATION:
Author Leo Tolstoy's Visit to a Slaughterhouse
Facts of Vegetarianism
Meat- Dirty, Diseased, Dangerous

"May cows stay in front of me;
May cows stay behind me;
May cows stay on both sides of me.
May I always reside in the midst of cows."
--Hari Bhakti-vilas 16.252

A Matter of Perspective

While teaching children the Vedic view of the universe, I found this video helpful and fun. It shows how reality can be a lot different from what our imperfect senses directly perceive.


Also checkout: "How Big?"

Another example is that the fabric on one's couch may appear smooth and flat, but when viewed from a super powered microscope one realizes how it may appear like a hilly terrain to a micro-organism!



These examples show how modern cosmology, which relies on imperfect senses and instruments is highly speculative.

The Most Important Lesson

(author unknown, adapted)
Lord, who am I to show the way
To little children day by day,
So prone myself to go astray?

I give them knowledge, but I know
How faintly flickering and low
The candles of my knowledge glow.

I teach them to will and to do
But only now to learn anew,
My own great weakness through and through.

I show compassion for mankind
And all creatures of Your design,
But my own love lags far behind.

Lord, if their guide I still must be,
O let the little children see
Their mother leaning hard on thee!"