Let's Find Out! Religion

With over two billion adherents worldwide, Christianity is the most widespread religion in the world today. It is also the largest religious group in the United States and Canada. In this accessible, highly illustrated book, the history, teachings, and practices of Christianity are explained in accessible text for elementary-level readers, with vocabulary boxes and other sidebar features to encourage critical thinking and ensure text comprehension. Each of the major periods and branches of Christianity are covered, offering readers a view of the religion's scope and the diverse ways it is celebrated and practiced around the globe.

Dating back over three thousand years, Hinduism is a rich religion with more than nine hundred million practitioners worldwide. Unlike most world religions, Hinduism has no single founder or religious text. Instead, Hindus revere a body of texts known as the Veda and share sets of practices and beliefs including nonviolence, reincarnation, and the holidays of Diwali and Holi. Central tenets of Hinduism are covered in this photograph-filled, elementary-level text. Readers will enjoy learning about the history of Hinduism, important deities, and Hinduism's influence on society at large.

Built around the teachings of the Buddha, who lived in modern-day Nepal about 2,500 years ago, Buddhism is one of the world's largest and oldest spiritual traditions. In addition to its adherents in southern, central, and eastern Asia, today Buddhism has many followers in the Western world who seek through it a peaceful mind, freedom from expectations, and spiritual enlightenment. In this accessible text, the basic beliefs of Buddhism, including the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, are presented in concise language accompanied by sidebar features defining key vocabulary terms and encouraging readers to think critically beyond the text.

Over 1,400 years ago, the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad gave way to a community of followers who have since grown to the second-largest religion in the world today. The word "Islam" itself means "submission," and Muslims are those who submit themselves to the teachings of Muhammad and the Koran. Abounding with images and informative sidebars, this elementary-level text introduces readers to the primary beliefs and practices of a widely misunderstood religion, including the role of prayer, Mecca, and holidays such as Ramadan. In addition to its history, there is a spread dedicated to the important role of Muslim-Americans in U.S. society.

As one of the world's oldest still practiced religions, Judaism has an illustrious history of fascinating, yet often misunderstood, beliefs and practices. Though it has only fourteen million followers today, Judaism is the basis of the Abrahamic religions, and as such influenced the core teachings of Christianity and Islam. The beautiful, colorful spreads in this elementary-level text offer readers a clear, yet thorough survey of Judaism's history, practices, and teachings. The significance of Rosh Hashana, Passover, and other Jewish festivals is covered, as well as cultural movements such as Zionism. Readers will also learn of atrocities carried out against the Jewish people, including the Holocaust, and learn about episodes of Anti-Semitism.