🌳 Buddhist

Bodhi Day books for kids: what it is and how to celebrate

When is Bodhi Day? Tuesday 8 December 2026; then Wednesday 8 December 2027. Many Mahayana Buddhists mark it on 8 December; some follow the lunar calendar instead.

What is Bodhi Day?

Bodhi Day remembers the day Siddhartha Gautama sat under a fig tree (the Bodhi tree) in Bodh Gaya, India, and became the Buddha, 'the awakened one'. It is a day for quiet reflection, kindness and meditation.

Who celebrates Bodhi Day, and books for each

Buddhist

Some Buddhists meditate, read teachings, decorate a fig tree or plant with lights and beads, and eat a simple meal of rice and milk, which Siddhartha is said to have eaten before his enlightenment.

📖 Free guide
Under the Bodhi Tree: A Story of the Buddha
Deborah Hopkinson
the Buddha's life and awakening, told for children
Questions to ask → View on Amazon ↗
📖 Free guide
The Buddha in Me
Christine H. Huynh
patience, kindness and mindfulness for young children
Questions to ask → View on Amazon ↗
📖 Free guide
Buddha at Bedtime
Dharmachari Nagaraja
short Buddhist stories to share at bedtime, each with a gentle lesson
Questions to ask → View on Amazon ↗
📖 Free guide
The Prince Who Ran Away
Anne Rockwell
the life of Prince Siddhartha, who became the Buddha
Questions to ask → View on Amazon ↗
📖 Free guide
Peaceful Piggy Meditation
Kerry Lee MacLean
simple ways for children to try meditation and calm down
Questions to ask → View on Amazon ↗
📖 Free guide
Buddha Stories
Demi
traditional stories from the Buddha's teachings, with gold-ink pictures
Questions to ask → View on Amazon ↗

Questions to ask while you read

Use these with any of the Bodhi Day books on this page. Pick two or three, and there are no wrong answers.

What is the family in the story getting ready for?
Which part of Bodhi Day would you most like to try, and why?
How do the people in the story show they care about each other?
Is anything in the story like something your family does?
What would you like to ask a friend who celebrates Bodhi Day?

Ways to celebrate Bodhi Day with children

Sit quietly together for one minute and notice your breathing.
Hang paper leaves on a houseplant, each with a kind wish.
Eat a simple bowl of rice pudding and talk about being calm.
Light a candle in the evening for each day until the new year.

Bodhi Day picture books at a glance

All the Bodhi Day books on this page: Under the Bodhi Tree: A Story of the Buddha (Deborah Hopkinson), The Buddha in Me (Christine H. Huynh), Buddha at Bedtime (Dharmachari Nagaraja), The Prince Who Ran Away (Anne Rockwell), Peaceful Piggy Meditation (Kerry Lee MacLean), Buddha Stories (Demi).

Questions parents ask about Bodhi Day

What does Buddha mean?

'The awakened one' or 'the enlightened one'. Siddhartha was a prince who left his palace to understand why people suffer, and became the Buddha.

Is Bodhi Day the same as Wesak?

No. Wesak (in spring) celebrates the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death together for many Buddhists; Bodhi Day marks only his enlightenment.

Related festivals: Wesak · Christmas

All festivals, by month and by faith →

Traditions vary between families, places and communities; ask your child's friends and their families how they celebrate. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.