Hindu Mandir

Children's Literature

Although many Hindu people worship at shrines in their own homes, many others meet in a mandir. When entering this building, Hindus ring a bell and take off their shoes as a sign of respect. They may then make an offering of money, food, water, or incense. Because Hindus believe in many gods such as Ganesh or Vishnu, there are many statues throughout the mandir. Shiva is the god who defeats evil and has three eyes enabling him to see the past, present, and future. When praying, Hindus bow showing their love and respect for the gods. Worship often includes music in the form of dancing, singing, chanting, and playing instruments. As part of the "Places of Worship" series, this book is clearly written and contains excellent photographs which makes it a great visual reference. Each of the six books in the series explains the customs and beliefs of one of the world's six major religions. Following the text, there are additional sources for research, including videos, web sites, and other books. 2000 (orig. 1998), Gareth Stevens/Franklin Watts, Ages 5 to 10, $21.27. Reviewer: Laura Hummel

Childrens Book Watch

Muslim Mosque (2609-4), Sikh Gurdwara (2610-8),Jewish Synagogue (2608-6), Buddhist Temple (2605-1) and Christian Church (2606-X) each cover the basics beliefs and practices of each religion. The 'Living Science' series ($14.95 each) provide around 30 pages of basic science facts to elementary picture book readers. Science Of Air (2569-1), Human Body (2570-5), Energy (2571-3), Sky (2574-8), Magnets (2572-1) and Senses (2573-x) each pack in color photos to provide examples of science facts and kids who are trying out experiments illustrating these facts. The 'Native Americans' set ($17.95) is recommended for an older audience in grades 5-7 and provides over sixty pages of detailed introductory facts suitable for writing papers. Lisa Sita's Indians Of The Southwest (2648-5), Indians Of The Great Plains (2645-0), Indians Of The Northeast (2646-9) and Indians Of The Northwest (2647-7) each provide illustrations and photos of the Indians' daily activities, art, clothing and include maps and timelines of events.
—Childrens Book Watch