One of the most enjoyable sights when Christmas is around the corner is the proliferation of children’s storybooks at the bookstores I frequent. From Santa to Rudolph or even Krampus (perhaps in a defanged form), I revel in how, despite its secularized nature, Christmas is able to inspire artists and authors alike to share the message of the holiday, be it in its Christian expression or otherwise, to younger generations.
I am all too aware that no such anticipation or excitement (at least on such a global scale) exists in the Buddhist world for Vesak. While I don’t believe in aping Christmas culture, it is certainly true that Indian and Asian cultures are woefully under-represented in English-language publications at most bookstore chains, nevermind children’s books on Asian and Buddhist festivals. Priya Kumari, the founder of Eternal Tree Books, has made a small step to a corrective with her recent book, My Vesak – Day of Buddha (2025).
This publication is both activity book to stimulate the creativity of its young readers, while also explaining in simple and clear language what the festival entails. Making a paper lantern is one of the activities introduced in the book, which is a common practice in Theravada-dominant countries such as Sri Lanka. The familiar story (there’s no such thing as too many retellings) is laid out in a direct but engaging way: how Prince Siddhartha Gautama set off on the path to enlightenment, and how his becoming the Buddha would set in motion a world faith tradition. Kumari’s vision is worldwide; the Vesak practices of Japan, China, Sri Lanka, and many other regions and nations enjoy illustrations in My Vesak.
No children’s book is complete without an illustrator, and in many ways, there is no other genre where such a partnership between the artist and the writer is so critical. Urvashi Dubey does a wonderful job of bringing to life the many dimensions of Vesak, including the temple ceremonies, flower offerings, and charitable giving and altruism that characterize the commemoration of the Buddha’s life, work, and enlightenment. The book does not only focus on the figure of the Buddha but the Dharma that he prioritized, highlighting to children how the Buddhist virtues of generosity, wisdom, and compassion will help them become warriors for peace and mindfulness.
Kumari has won many awards for her writing, and her most popular book, which remains Leaf Talks Peace: Buddha’s Message of Harmony (2021), was the first picture book to be blessed with a foreword by HH the Dalai Lama. Indian household names like Anupam Kher, Hema Malini, and Chandrika Tandon, as well as international Buddhist figures like Sharon Salzberg, have praised her mission and work.
Her example of My Vesak will hopefully encourage other children’s writers to dive into the endlessly rich resources of Buddhist faith and myth to inspire and entertain children all year round. The Jataka Tales would be a particularly fruitful place to start. Bringing their charismatic and engaging characters to life for English-reading audiences in the Global South and the West alike would be a laudable project for any children’s author.