A Lotus for You: On the Path of Peace with Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh

The first-ever biography of visionary peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) illustrates his remarkable life and inspirational teachings specifically for children ages 5-9

Thich Nhat Hanh, the revered world spiritual leader nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King Jr. and called ＂the father of mindfulness＂ by TIME Magazine, lived a fascinating life. Born in Vietnam, his 95-year path of transformation included political exile and spanned multiple continents.

After a long life of dedicated activism, Thich Nhat Hanh became known for how the insight he had when he was just a little boy changed the world--if you pay attention, he realized, everything you see is special. In the pages of this book, learn why it’s worthwhile to savor a sweet treat, the secret weapon for strength you carry everywhere you go (hint: kids do it 20-30 times per minute!), and how horrible challenges like living through a war can make you a kinder, wiser person.

Moving stories from award-winning author Minh Lê (Drawn Together, Let Me Finish) and warm watercolors from Cátia Chien will captivate children and parents alike along this journey through the years with the irreplaceable Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.

As they say in Plum Village, the monastery in Southwest France founded by Thich Nhat Hanh in 1982 that has grown to become the largest Buddhist monastery in the West: ＂A lotus for you, a Buddha to be.＂

Minh Lê is the author of the picture books Lift and Drawn Together (winner of the 2019 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature), illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat, Let Me Finish! (named an NPR Best Book of 2016), illustrated by Isabel Roxas, and The Perfect Seat, illustrated by Gus Gordon (all published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers). He also wrote Green Lantern: Legacy, a middle grade graphic novel (illustrated by Andie Tong) for DC Comics. In addition to writing books, Lê has written for a variety of publications, including The New York Times, The Horn Book, NPR, and HuffPost. Except for spending time with his wonderful wife and children at their home in San Diego, Lê’s favorite place to be is in the middle of a good book.

Cátia Chien is a Brazilian Taiwanese artist. She’s the illustrator of such titles as The Bear and the Moon, which was a Society of Illustrators Gold Medal for Original Art winner and a Golden Kite Award for picture book illustration winner, and A Boy and a Jaguar, an ALA Notable Book and recipient of the Schneider Family Book Award.

Her art has been shown in galleries worldwide including the Beijing National Gallery and the Bologna Children’s Book Fair exhibition. She is also the founder of A THOUSAND WORLDS, a curated picture book directory celebrating BIPOC creators. She lives in Pasadena, California with her family.