Suggested Source Materials
for the Study of Tibet for Grades K-4
The
Dalai Lama: A Biography of the Tibetan Spiritual and Political
Leader
Written
and Illustrated by Demi. A biography of The 14th Dalai Lama
for juvenile readers. Beautifully illustrated and written
in simple language. Cloth. 31 Pages. Henry Holt & Co., 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.
Explore
Tibet
By Kimberly Evers & Newark Museum Junior Museum Staff. This
activity book features teaches young people about traditional
Tibetan culture with cut-outs of Tibetan nomads, yaks, tents,
recipes, mask making, glossary and board game. Recommended
as a text for grades K-3. Paper. 33 Pages. Snow Lion Publications,
1992.
The
Mountains Of Tibet
Written and Illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein. After dying,
a Tibetan woodcutter dies is given the choice of going to
heaven or living another life anywhere in the universe.
A beautifully illustrated, award-winning story for all ages.
A wonderful tale of reincarnation. Paper. 24 Pages. Harper
& Row, 1987.
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:
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)
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.
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.
Halpern,
Gina, Where Is Tibet?, Snow Lion, Ithaca, 1991
Leo,
Veronica & Daknewa, Tashi, The Three Silver Coins,
Snow Lion, Ithaca, 1995
Raimondo,
Lois, The Little Lama of Tibet, Scholastic Inc.,
New York, 1994
Reynolds,
Jan, Himalaya: Vanishing Cultures, Harcourt, Brace,
Jovanovich, San Diego, 1991
Schroeder,
Alan, The Stone Lion, C. Scribner's Sons, New York,
1994
Stewart,
Whitney,To the Lion Throne, Snow Lion, Ithaca, 1990
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
Compiled
by Tibet Education Network at Global Source.
