Little Sid: The Tiny Prince Who Became Buddha

Little Sid is an inspiring story about happiness. The book shows that you can’t buy happiness, but you have to go out and find it. It tells the story of Siddhartha, but in a more modern way. For instance, Little Sid receives a stuffed animal as a present, which I don’t think they would have had in the time he actually lived.

The pictures are very colorful and cartoon-like, which would appeal to younger kids. I think kids as young as three would enjoy this as a bedtime story. It includes an afterword about Siddhartha but doesn’t give enough information to be great for an older kid’s research. It is, however, a good introduction to Buddhism and could potentially start conversations about what’s important in life.

It is a very short book that doesn’t cover much action. It also seems over-the-top because his parents were away all the time and never had a moment to be with him. I think there are better books about Siddhartha even for younger kids, but it does leave you happy at the end of the book and feeling good for “Little Sid.”