Suggested Source Materials
for the Study of Tibet: Grades 5-8
The
14th Dalai Lama: Spiritual Leader of Tibet
By Whitney Stewart. A well-researched biography of The Dalai
Lama, discussing the history of Tibet and the role this global
leader plays in his country's spiritual and political life.
Includes many photographs. Cloth (Lib. Bound). 128 pages.
Lerner Publishing, 1996.
The
Art of Exile: Paintings by Tibetan Children in India
Remarkable, powerful paintings by Tibetan refugee children,
tell of their lives in Tibet, escaping into exile, life in
India and their hope for a future Tibet. Includes interviews,
photographs and essays. Visit their website to find out more about the origins and current status of this
art project. Educators can seek permission through the website
to reprint certain paintings for classroom use. Paper. 135
Pages. Museum of New Mexico Press, 1998
A Dog's
Tooth
Text by W.W. Rowe, Illustrated by Chris Banigan. A retelling
of a classic Tibetan tale of deception and faith in which
a young man who fails to obtain a sacred relic for his dying
mother gives her a dog's tooth instead. Uniquely illustrated
in a multimedia of paintings and photographs. Cloth. 31 Pages.
Snow Lion Publications, 1998.
The
Geography Coloring Book
By Wynn Kapit. The best educational atlas Global Source has
seen. Students learn about geography with this interactive,
sophisticated coloring book covering the world in great detail
through maps and text. Originally designed for use in higher
education, it has become popular in secondary school classrooms.
The only atlas that identifies the political geography of
Tibet, along with many other countries of conflict. Paper.
150 Pages. Longman, 1999.
Our
Journey From Tibet
Written by Laurie Dolphin, Photographs by Nancy Jo Johnson.
Documents the journey of a nine year old girl who, with a
group of children, illegally escapes Tibet over the Himalayas
for a education in the Tibetan exile community of Dharamsala,
India. Based on a true story, with the actual photographs
from this journey. Includes a letter from The Dalai Lama.
One of the few books to age-appropriately introduce students
to issues of human rights, cultural survival, migration, and
the refugee experience for elementary education (Grades 3
and up). A number of ESL educators have found this book a
valuable teaching tool. It was taken out print in 1999, but
is still available through Tibet Education Network at Global
Source. Cloth. 40 Pages. Dalton Children's Books, 1997.
Prince
Siddhartha: The Story of the Buddha
Written by Jonathan Landaw, Illustrated by Janet Brooke. The
story of Prince Siddhartha and how he became the (historical)
Buddha, the Awakened One, and founder of one of the world's
great religions. One of the few accessible biographies of
the Buddha written for young people. Paper. 142 pages. Wisdom,
1984.
Tara's
Coloring Book
Illustrated by Andy Weber & Nigel Wellings, Text by Jonathan
Landaw A coloring book of traditional Tibetan Buddhist art.
Detailed text explains history and philosophy behind religious
figures and symbols, along with coloring instructions. Great
for art projects. Paper. 12 outlined plates. Wisdom, 1979.
Tibet
(Children's Press Enchantment of the World Series)
Written by Ann Heinrichs. A through overview of Tibet, covering
geography, history, culture, religion, politics, The Dalai
Lama, and monastic life, with "Facts at a Glance"
section and index. Lots of pictures with descriptions. Great
as student research source and/ or text. An excellent text
and research tool for students in grades 5-9. Cloth (Lib.
Bound). 160 pages. ChildrenÕs Press, 1996
Tibet
(Lands, Peoples, Cultures Series)
By Bobbie Kalman. An excellent reader covering the whole of
Tibet, with chapters on geography, history, culture, nomadic
life, Tibetan Buddhism, Tibet under Chinese rule, The Dalai
Lama, and festivals. Includes glossary and index. Recommended
as a classroom text for grades 5-8. Paper. 32 Pages. Crabtree
Publishing Co., 1990
Tibet:
Enduring Spirit/Exploited Land
By Robert
Apte and Andres Edwards. A comprehensive case study of traditional
Tibetan land use and ecological wisdom, contrasted with the
current, endangered natural environment resulting from Communist
Chinese rule. Recommended as a text for high school or college.
Cloth. 175 Pages. Heartsfire, 1998.
Tibet
through the Red Box
Written and Illustrated by Peter Sis. A son finds his father's
diaries of travel in Tibet during the 1950's and imagines
his journey in a mystical land on the verge of being absorbed
by Communist China. Based on the diaries of the author's father,
who was a Czech filmmaker while hired by the Chinese Government
to document the building of a railroad into Tibet, deals with
the impact it will have on an ancient society. A provocative
story, beautiful illustrated, for children and adults that
explores a child's memories of a father whose work took him
to mysterious, far off places. A Caldecott Honor Book. Cloth.
55 Pages. Farrer, Straus and Giroux, 1998.
Tibet:
Tintin's Travel Diaries
By Daniel de Bruycker. Explores the geography, history, traditional
culture, religion and current situation in Tibet combining
educational text with Herge's original cartoons and contemporary
photographs. One topic per two pages. Recommended as a text
for grades 3-5. Paper & Cloth. 75 Pages. Barrons Educational
Series, 1995. (out of print)
Tibetan
Folk Tales
By Fredrick & Audrey Hyde-Chambers. A collection of 26 traditional
Tibetan folk tales that invoke the spiritual wisdom, humor,
and cultural heritage of these people from the Roof of the
World. Written to honor the oral tradition of Tibetan storytelling.
Unfortunately, this book is out of print. Paper. 186 Pages.
Shambhala, 1981.
Special
Tibet Issue of Faces
Faces: Peoples Places and Cultures, the well-known children's
magazine, dedicated their October 1999 issue to learning about
Tibet. It features ten articles and stories, three activities,
and other resources covering a broad scope of Tibetan issues,
including The 14th Dalai Lama, Singer Yungchen Lhamo, Dharamsala,
traditional Tibetan celebrations, a Tibetan Cultural Center
in the US. TEN Director, Jon Garfunkel, was a consulting editor,
and contributed an article about The 11th Panchen Lama. Recommended
as a student reader the study of Tibet for grades 4-9. Paper.
46 pages. Cobblestone Publishing, 1999.
Gibb,
Christopher, The Land Of Snows: A History of Tibet, Book
One, Tibetan Children's Village, Dharamsala, 1984
----------, Independence to Exile: A History of Tibet, Book Two,
Tibetan Children's Village, Dharamsala, 1984
Kundun
(video)
The story of The Fourteenth Dalai Lama from his birth in 1935
to his escape into exile in 1959, during the Chinese occupation
of Tibet. Authentic recreation of life in Tibet starring an
all Tibetan cast. A Martin Scorcese film, written by Melissa
Mathison. Feature Film. 1998. 135 minutes. Themes: Biography,
History, Tibet-China Relationship, Non-violence, Compassion,
Leadership
Compassion
In Exile: The Story of The 14th Dalai Lama (video)
An award winning film about the life of The Fourteenth Dalai
Lama and overview of the current situation in Tibet, including
many interviews. Documentary. 1992. 60 minutes. Themes: Biography,
Human Rights, Cultural Survival, History, Exile Experience,
Compassion
Home
to Tibet (video)
A Tibetan exile living in the United States returns to visit
his family in Tibet, then leaves with his niece whom he takes
to a Tibetan refugee community in India for their formal education.Documentary.
1995. 55 minutes. Themes: Exile Experience, Current Tibetan
Situation
Little
Buddha (video)
A young boy from Seattle is identified as the incarnation
of a Tibetan Lama, interspersed with flashbacks to scenes
from the life of the historical Buddha in ancient India. A
Bernado Bertalucci Film. Filmed in Seattle. Feature Film.
1994. 123 minutes. Themes: Tibetan Buddhism & Monastic Culture
, Historical Buddha, Tibetan Diaspora. Read the book: McGill,
Gordon, Little Buddha, Berkley Books, New York, 1994
Mustang:
The Hidden Kingdom (video)
Journey of a high Tibetan Lama from Dharamsala, India sent
by the Dalai Lama to the Tibetan Kingdom of Mustang, in Nepal
to teach and find two young children to bring back to India
for a formal education. Produced for the Discovery Channel,
narrated by Harrison Ford. Documentary. 1994. 90 minutes.
Themes: Tibetan Diaspora, Traditional Tibetan Culture, Tibetan
Buddhism, Geography
Tashi
Jong: A Traditional Tibetan Community in Exile (video)
An award winning documentary about villagers from a community
in the Kham Province of Tibet who flee their homeland after
the Chinese occupation and resettle as a community in the
foothills of Northern India. The lama who arranges this resettlement
named their village Tashi Jong or Auspicious Valley, and helped
create a self-sustaining Tibetan enclave in exile The film
offers a model for the sustainability of traditional culture,
once insulated from the outside world, now redefining itself
in a modern world. A valuable cross-cultural source for teaching
students (grade 5 & up) about elements and patterns of culture
and the growing trend of vanishing traditional culture. Documentary.
1999. 45 minutes. Themes: traditional culture, exile experience,
diaspora, sustainability, education, cultural survival.
Tibet
In Exile (video)
Follows a group of young Tibetan children who have escaped
from Tibet and their introduction and socialization into the
Tibetan exile community of Dharamsala, India. Documentary.
1991. 30 minutes. Themes: Exile, Migration, Diaspora, Education,
Human Rights, Cultural Survival
Compiled by Tibet Education Network at Global Source
