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
