A Pebble for Your Pocket

by Thich Nhat Hanh, Philippe Ames (Illustrator), Nguyen Thi Hop (Illustrator)

Introduces the basic principles of Buddhism, and includes Buddhist practices that children can do by themselves or with others.

Genres: Buddhism, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Childrens, Spirituality, Religion, Meditation

47 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Thích Nhất Hạnh was a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, teacher, author, poet and peace activist who then lived in southwest France where he was in exile for many years. Born Nguyễn Xuân Bảo, Thích Nhất Hạnh joined a Zen (Vietnamese: Thiền) monastery at the age of 16, and studied Buddhism as a novitiate. Upon his ordination as a monk in 1949, he assumed the Dharma name Thích Nhất Hạnh. Thích is an honorary family name used by all Vietnamese monks and nuns, meaning that they are part of the Shakya (Shakyamuni Buddha) clan. He was often considered the most influential living figure in the lineage of Lâm Tế (Vietnamese Rinzai) Thiền, and perhaps also in Zen Buddhism as a whole.

Reviews

[Dr. Appu Sasidharan (Dasfill) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to introduce the younger generation to Zen Buddhism, this book will be a great choice. Thich Nhat Hanh tells us the basic teachings of Buddha through this illustrated book. Even though it is mainly targeting the younger age group, I thoroughly loved reading this book.

When you feel uneasy, sad, or angry, you can go into a room that has a low table with a flower, a little bell, and enough cushions for everyone in the family to sit on. Then you close the door, sit down, invite the sound of the bell, and practice breathing mindfully.

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[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some great picture books for kids out there that cover Buddhist concepts. I love Anh's Anger, Peaceful Piggie Meditation, and Zen Shorts. This is the best book for kids who are a little older that I've found. It is mostly text but still very short and contains very simple stories that illustrate Buddhist concepts. I particularly like that it provides simple practices to help with mindfulness and dealing with strong emotions.

[Jerry Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book that brings you right back to the place of peace and acceptance. If you’ve read other Hanh books this will all be familiar territory with nice tweaks to gear it for sharing with youngsters. I will certainly be using this to encourage my grandchildren to invite the bell into their lives.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so calming and peaceful. It is a book of short stories from Buddhism, aimed at younger people, but is certainly suitable for adults as well.

I plan to keep this and reference it often as a way to calm myself and practice compassion for myself and others.

[Hassan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful little book, that Aili recommended and now I recommend to people who might be interested. I'm very much convinced that consciously practicing mindfulness and gratitude and empathy have potent emotional benefits, and I've found myself getting better at being present (for myself and my family) after too many years of running treadmills. While this book is ostensibly aimed at younger readers, I guarantee that it's for anyone and everyone. The most helpful chapters for me were, "Present Moment, Wonderful Moment," "Return to Your Hermitage," "Breathing Meditation" (similar to Sitting/Walking Medication), and "Four Mantras." The latter one, in particular, is incredibly moving and I should probably reread it every week to remind myself to not be a distant asshole and to be 100% present for Aili and Inara and Ziya every single day.

[Venkatesan Natarajan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book that in simple language speaks volumes about mindfulness, being in the present. Drawn from Buddha's teachings, it is meant for both children and adults alike. The simple colorful stories teaches us how to handle anger, look at the simple joys of life, treat one another as humans, with compassion and love.
It is a definitely a "good read" - I am sure everyone will love it!

[Alyson Fortune · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a little collection of Buddhist fables and concrete ideas for kids (and adults) to practice mindfulness. I definitely took a few good ones from this and look forward to sharing them with the family.

[Sudarshan Bindal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Thay's teachings.This little book can probably be finished in an hour or so,but it could take a lifetime to practice.Very simple language,yet inspiring towards practice.As good for adults as for kids!!!

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As many others have said, the tales and practices in this book are as wonderful for children as they are for adults.

Pick it up, give it a read, and share it with some kiddos you know to help them along their own mindful path.

[Anand Ganapathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the first books on Mindfulness that I read . Though the author has written it for kids , adults can benefit from the practices suggested in the book too. Bunch of stories on Buddhism with Mindfulness as a theme .

[David Walley · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very soothing book, and good to know that there is so much love in the world. Also good to know that for good to exist there has to be Mara, so do not despair when you see Mara; it is all interconnected

[Panya Chakravarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good introduction to Buddhism, mindfulness and an amazing book for adults and children alike. I’d definitely gift this to friends I was trying to get into the practice. I felt myself practicing the meditations as I was reading :)

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good mindfulness lessons geared for kids and their parents.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neat, soft book. Some of it is very specific but it does make me want to visit Plum Village! It's inspiring and encouraging.

[KT · Rating 4 out of 5]

simple. easy to follow. will try it on the family

[Anna McHenry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short, book filled with 1–3 page stories and reflections on Buddhism. Thich Nhat Hanh is one of my favorite Buddhist authors and explains things in a way that helps you explore the teachings yourself.

Each story is simple and thought provoking. It is perfect for introducing mindfulness and compassion in an approachable way. I can imagine reading one aloud each day, whether in a classroom or at home with children. These stories open the door to meaningful conversations and offer guidance on how to live kindly, stay present, and practice being a good human.

It’s a lovely little book to return to again and again, no matter your age.

[Cheryl]

Very text heavy. The only copy I could read is an ebook (from Tucson) and it just didn't work for me that way. I did read at least one line, one thought, from every page, and I would try again if I found it in paper. If you have access to it in paper, and are looking for an introduction to Buddhism written at the intermediate level, give this a try.

June 2022

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely book. A very simple way of explaining mindfulness to children. I do think adults can learn from it as well. I appreciated the exercises. Because the writing is spare it is easier to remember and carry with me throughout my day. I would recommend to anyone who is working to be more aware, peaceful and awake.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how the author can break the wisdom into easy-to-understand chapters. Not only does it help digest the learnings, it doesn't feel too heavy or like a lecture. Despite not being a Buddhist, I can internalize the teachings and the meditation guide. Highly recommended book!

[Justin Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical and tender guide to being a calm node in the interlaced network we find ourselves in: particularly dug the sections on anger, the speeding horse, and the already-jeweled dharmakaya world we live in.

[Emma or Emily]

it had some interesting advice and breathing techniques that were good. There were a couple sentences here and there that were inherently misogynistic and relied on stereotypical gender roles.

[Jillian Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Don’t think that practicing Buddhism is very difficult. It’s not difficult; it’s easy. Can you breathe in and out and know that you are breathing in and out?” P95.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holding hands with the clouds and the moon, she now made her way towards the ocean - but she was no longer in a hurry to reach it, she was enjoying every moment. Each of us is a river.

[Valentina Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Siempre he sido reacia a la idea de la meditación pero el libro explica en cosas cotidianas en qué consiste la conciencia plena y es muy amigable para niñas y niños.

[Nima Wangdi Reading toddler · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great book for kids to practice mindfulness.... Presents readers with a great way to transform our mind by linking with interesting stories. Loved it

[Jac Orlando · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had really high expectations for this book, and I’m not sure why. I definitely thought there were nugget of wisdom here but much of it seemed overly simplified. And yes, I know this is for kids, but I actually think this is for beneath many children. I was hoping to use things with my child therapy clients but not sure how much is applicable. Overall, it was fine, but not life changing which is what I was expecting based on the authors reputation. Still hope to read more of his books!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book for teaching children about Buddhism. It also works well for adults. I liked he combination of teachings and practices. However some of the last few stories focused on teaching the child to help his parents not argue were a little to focused on the mother having to change first. Granted, this may be my feminist bias, but those few stories made this book more of a 4.5 for me (but I rounded up to 5).

[chamnab yoem]

Enjoy reading with great phylosophy

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good, though not what I was expecting. The stories are more like children's sermons, true stories from the author's own experiences, than the fable setup that I expected. I think my kids are still a bit young for this, but I expect it will be very useful in a year or two, and I look forward to it.

[Christine Word · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Gentle and engaging, his words and stories guide us (one and all), and seem to speak directly to the heart. I especially appreciated the chapter about anger, and strong emotion. Framing it in a way that teaches one to "take care" of the feelings rather than stuffing, judging or acting out. An excellent family read a-loud.