REVIEWS
"Religious Diversity and Children’s Literature is an outstanding resource for teachers and families as they educate children about the religious diversity of our country and the world. Until now, public teachers have had few resources for introducing young students to religious and spiritual traditions in ways that are educationally sound and constitutionally permissible. This book fills that gap with fair and accurate discussions of a wide variety of religions and beliefs, accompanied by an annotated guide to the best children’s literature available for teaching about those religions and beliefs in the classroom. At a time when learning about religion is vitally important for building understanding across differences at home and abroad, I hope that every elementary and middle school teacher will get a copy of this book—and use it often." Charles C. Haynes Religious Freedom Education Project at the Newseum

"Religious Diversity and Children’s Literature takes one of the most important and controversial topics of today—religious diversity—and seeks to make it accessible through one of our most popular media—children’s literature. In our increasingly multifaith and multifaceted society, an understanding of how others view and understand the world is of paramount importance to adults and children alike. This book comprehensively addresses the need for teaching resources on this important topic. Each religion or belief system is first explored through personal experience, history, practice, sacred texts and so on. This is then followed by a list of literary sources, both fiction and non-fiction. Facts are important; stories possibly even more so, since they lie at the heart of many religious traditions and are a wonderful and memorable way of drawing children into the subject. Religious Diversity and Children’s Literature takes great strides toward increased understanding which, I believe, is vital in our world today and for the future." Anita Ganeri

CONTENTS
Dedication. Foreword, Jeff Passe. Acknowledgments. Introduction. 1. Why Learn About Religious and Spiritual Traditions? 2. Connecting World Religions and Childrens Literature. 3. Indigenous Belief Systems. 4. Native American Spirituality. 5. Hinduism. 6. Judaism. 7. Buddhism. 8. Christianity: Orthodoxy and Catholicism 9. Christianity: Protestantism. 10. Islam. 11. Sikhism. 12. Free Thinkers and Other Belief Systems. Appendix A. Appendix B. About the Authors.