Bible stories, Sunday school, vacation Bible school, even church camp, it’s all available for Christian kids. That's great but what do you do when you are not raising your children Christian? There aren’t many options. It’s not like there is Sunday school for little Buddhists. Sure, if you are lucky enough to live near a Buddhist center, they may have classes for young people or even a family meditation or service, but not everyone does. Basically, it is up to you to teach your children your personal beliefs. There are some great books available on Amazon to help you, though. You have to hunt them down, but they are out there. 

One of the great choices is Anh’s Anger. When young Anh becomes angry and says unkind comments to his grandfather, he is instructed to go to his room and sit with his anger. Eventually, his anger dissipates and he feels better. The lessons are based on the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh about mindfulness and Buddhism.     

From the perspective of a parent, the book was enjoyable to read with lovely illustrations. The topic, although serious, keeps children’s attention. Anger is portrayed as a red creature/devil, which did briefly frighten my 4 year old. If you have kids that are worried about those ubiquitous monsters under the bed or in the closet, wait a few months before reading this. If you, like me, have tried to teach your children to breathe through their anger and take time to calm down, this book is a great reinforcement to that lesson. 

Published by Plum Blossom Books, this story and many others are available for your family’s reading pleasure. You may be missing the VBS, but you get way better books.