The Secret of the Sand Castles - by Demi (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A timeless Buddhist tale about the things that matter most: truth, generosity, compassion, and love.

When a group of children are having a playful day at the beach, the fun of building sand castles is forgotten when they start arguing about whose castle is best. While fighting over "I," "me," and "mine," they end up destroying and abandoning the castles they so carefully constructed. The timely arrival of a magical wise man teaches the children that unlike the sand castles, it is the things we can't see that really matter most.

Delicately illustrated by the beloved and award-winning author Demi, The Secret of the Sand Castles teaches children the joy of creating a harmonious world in which to live--with an open heart and love for one another.

Review Quotes

"For years I've adored Demi's simple, elegant, and sincere art and writing, which are filled with heartfelt warmth. In The Secret of the Sand Castles, Demi conveys another precious message of what is really important in life, with her enchanting art filled with wonders."

--Rima Fujita, author and illustrator of The Extraordinary Life of His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama

"This little book presents truth simply, clearly, and with great charm. With fine line illustration and brief text Demi offers parents and young children a heartfelt lesson about deeply important things."

--Rafe Martin, author of The Rough-Face Girl and Before Buddha Was Buddha and founding teacher of Endless Path Zendo

About the Author

Demi was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, into a family of renowned artists, with painting in her blood. She studied at The Instituto Allende in Guanajuato, Mexico; with Sister Corita at Immaculate Heart College in Hollywood, California; at the M.S. University in Baroda, India, while on a Fulbright scholarship; and at the China Institute for Arts in New York City. Demi is the award-winning author and illustrator of over three hundred bestselling children's books, including picture-book biographies of spiritual leaders such as the Buddha, the Dalai Lama, Lao Tzu, Confucius, Gandhi, Jesus, Mother Teresa, Muhammad, Guru Nanak, and Hiawatha. Her titles have sold over two million copies. Numerous folktales such as The Empty Pot and Liang and the Magic Paintbrush transmit the wonder and magic of China. Her work has received many awards and accolades, among them the Christopher Award, which recognizes individuals whose work makes a positive difference in the world, and the Middle East Book Award. Her titles have also been designated American Library Association Notable Children's Books, New York Times Best Illustrated Books, Notable Books for a Global Society, and American Bookseller Pick of the List Books.