Sacred Stories (Paperback)

When attempting to find a simple, engaging, and unbiased approach to world religions for her own family, Marilyn McFarlane discovered such a book did not exist. Understanding the strong need for children to build both respect and knowledge of a variety of religions, regardless of their own faith, McFarlane created Sacred Stories: Wisdom from World Religions.

With beautiful spot illustrations, easy-to-understand descriptions, and essential stories from Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Native American, and Sacred Earth (Wicca), Sacred Stories strives to both engage and educate young readers.

Each captivating story and illustration brings to life the key tenets of a particular belief system, while the comprehensive glossary and resource list enables readers to explore more deeply. Sacred Stories is perfect for both parents and teachers who want to expand their child’s understanding of world culture.

Download the Official Teacher's Guide.

• Publication date: 03/06/2012
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 192
• Publisher: Beyond Words Publishing
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9781582703046
• Dimensions: 5 x 7
• Categories: Spiritual Lifestyles, Children & Young Adult

• How fortunate we are as readers in these times of polarization among religious beliefs to have Marilyn McFarlane's carefully researched stories based on her extensive travels to religious sites—Buddhist shrines, neo-pagan altars, mosques, churches and numerous other religious locations.

  McFarlane writes with outstanding clarity. However, she is no stuffy research writer! Her prose has dramatic flare, which will appeal to children, their parents and teachers alike.

  For young and old, Sacred Stories expands understanding of shared spirituality in the world's religions, thus offering greater peace and tolerance.

  —Doreen Gandy, Oregon Writers Colony Newsletter

• This book is a wonderful way to introduce children to different belief systems. With tales from all the major religions of the world, while managing to keep them at a child's level and to treat each religion with respect. These are not just randomly selected stories, but were chosen to reflect important aspects of each religions teachings. These tales also help to demonstrate the comonality in each culture. With tales from Buddhism to Sacred Earth, Marilyn has done a wonderful job both in the introductions to explain the most important tenets of each religion and in the selection of the stories reflect these teachings. As a folklorist, I would be willing to use the book as part of my curriculum for the children's classes and as a painless introduction for adults.

  —A.M. Donovan

• Written for children and inspired by McFarlane’s grandchildren, Sacred Stories is a delight for young and old alike. Stories/myths are the building blocks of religion. McFarlane has captured the power, spirit, and underlying truth of these building blocks, as she recounts stories from seven major world religions. Buddha, Christ, Krishna, Moses, Buffalo Woman, and Persephone all come to life as the reader turns the pages. The tales are told succinctly and with an animated style that takes the reader on a journey through the fable. The higher truths and metaphysical principles associated with the stories are delicately woven through, rather than hammered home. Sidebars contain snippets of additional information (like the fact that the Demeter/Persephone story is a slightly different, less violent version of the popular myth, one which predates the more common version of the story.)

  —Anna Jedrziewski, Retailing Insight

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  Marilyn McFarlane

  As a travel writer, Marilyn McFarlane has spent her career writing about far-off lands and world cultures. In addition to authoring several guidebooks,writing a regular travel blog, and working as a staff writer for www.europeupclose.com, McFarlane has also written for numerous magazines and newspapers.

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