Mahavira: The Hero of Nonviolence

Secular parents interested in enlightening their young readers (the book is aimed at children age 4 to 8, though it’s somewhat text-heavy, and high concept) about world religions may like this informative and colorful book about the ancient-era spiritual leader Mahavira. The author, Manoj Jainbook, presents a straightforward (though sometimes editorializing) chronology of Mahavira’s path toward spiritual enlightenment. But if that term makes you wince, the importance of Mahavira’s journey is rooted in his genuine concern for human and animal life, and his capacity for respecting life even in the face of violence and hatred. At the end the author calls attention to twentieth century arbiters of social change (Gandhi, Martin Luther King) whose philosophies can be compared to Mahavira’s.

Readers will be introduced to Jainism and its peaceful principals, and can be led to draw some parallels between Jainism and the more humane interpretations of Christianity. Illustrated by Demi, the colors are light and eye-catching for especially young readers. The illustrations are playful but always reverent.

Mahavira: The Hero of Nonviolence is published by Wisdom Tales and has 28 pages.