Jataka Tales
Read our collection of 28 Jataka tales — the oldest and most beloved stories from the Buddhist tradition. The Jataka tales recount the previous lives of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) before his final birth and enlightenment, illustrating how he cultivated moral perfection across hundreds of lifetimes.
In each Jataka story, the future Buddha appears as a different being — sometimes a wise king, sometimes a humble animal, sometimes a merchant or sage — always demonstrating virtues such as compassion, generosity, patience, and wisdom. These stories date back to the 4th century BCE and were originally inscribed on the walls of ancient Buddhist temples across India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia.
The Jataka tales are perfect for teaching children about Buddhist values, kindness, and ethical living. Each story is retold in clear, engaging language with vivid illustrations, making them ideal bedtime stories for kids and valuable resources for classrooms studying world religions and Asian literature.
Jataka Tales
Ages 3-5
The Wise Hare: Generosity Writes Itself on the Moon
The Wise Hare: Generosity Writes Itself on the Moon - a folk tale retold for young readers with a clear moral, simple words, and the warmth of a bedtime...
Jataka Tales
Ages 3-5
The Golden Swan: Greed Destroys What Love Creates
The Golden Swan: Greed Destroys What Love Creates: The Golden Swan A Jataka Tale of Greed and the Price of Avarice Long ago, when kings ruled from marble
Jataka Tales
Ages 3-5
The Brave Little Quail: Small Courage Defeats Great Pride
The Brave Little Quail: Small Courage Defeats Great Pride: The Brave Little Quail A Jataka Tale of Wisdom and Unlikely Alliance In the days when animals could
Jataka Tales
Ages 3-5
The Deer King Nigrodha: Sacrifice Changes the Heart of a Hunter
The Deer King Nigrodha: Sacrifice Changes the Heart of a Hunter: The Deer King Nigrodha A Jataka Tale of Compassion and Redemption In the shadow of the great
Jataka Tales
Ages 3-5
The Monkey King’s Sacrifice: A Tale of Selfless Love
The Monkey King's Sacrifice: A Tale of Selfless Love: The Monkey King’s Sacrifice A Jataka Tale of Selfless Courage and Transformation In the ancient times
Jataka Tales
Ages 3-5
The Reluctant Tortoise
The Reluctant Tortoise: There was a time when the city of Benaras was ruled by King Brahmadatta. In the same city, lived Bodhisatta, the son of a potter.
Jataka Tales
Ages 3-5
The King’s Elephant
The King’s Elephant: Long ago, the mighty Himalayas were home to a large herd of eighty thousand elephants headed by a magnificent white elephant. He had a
Jataka Tales
Ages 9-12
The Hawks And Their Friends
Hawks and animal friends learn that loving-kindness, not kinship, binds hearts together across difference.
Jataka Tales
Ages 6-8
The Measure of Rice
The Measure of Rice: Source: Jataka Tales Ellen C. Babbit | Type: Jataka | Country: India | Language: English AT one time a dishonest king had a man called the
Jataka Tales
Ages 3-5
The Story of the Banyan Deer
The Story of the Banyan Deer: Source: Jataka Tales Ellen C. Babbit | Type: Jataka | Country: India | Language: English Once upon a time a Deer lived in a
Jataka Tales
Ages 6-8
The Banyan Deer
The Banyan Deer: Source: Jataka Tales Ellen C. Babbit | Type: Jataka | Country: India | Language: English ONCE upon a time there was a deer named Banyan. A
Jataka Tales
Ages 6-8
The King’s White Elephant
The King's White Elephant: Source: Jataka Tales Ellen C. Babbit | Type: Jataka | Country: India | Language: English ONCE upon a time a number of carpenters