Twenty Jataka Tales [Paperback]

These twenty tales have been drawn from famous legends concerning the former lives of the Buddha. Beloved by children and adults alike, they tell of people and animals moved to acts of sacrifice by the noble example of their fellow creatures. The flavor is often suggestive of Aesop, as are the lessons that are so subtly and keenly conveyed.

Presented in a simplified narrative, the tales maintain the magical and timeless beauty of their Far Eastern origins. The stories are ideal for reading to children, as they tell of highly dramatic adventures that are resolved by non-violent and compassionate means. Challenging circumstances bring forth courage and the capacity to love, opening the way to solutions against seemingly impossible odds.

This book will also be coveted for its exquisite illustrations by the well-known illustrator H. Willebeek Le Mair. Noor Inayat Khan remains, in the minds and hearts of many, an exemplary figure whose life has been their inspiration. All these stories helped me learn the lessons the Buddha did, and when Iread them, I can't help but hope I will become strong and wise like the Buddha, too. . . . Kids who like books with magical, fairy-take-like elements would enjoy this book, and kids who like stories like Aesop's Fabes should read this.