Red Wing is an American Buddhist nun and author of award-winning children’s books rooted in Buddhist wisdom and universal values. She is the founder of Instilling Goodness Books, a series that serves families, schools, libraries, and communities seeking meaningful literature that inspires moral growth, inner peace, and a sense of connection with the world. She also writes under the names Bhikshuni Jin Rou and Dana Green. Her name, Red Wing, honors her great-great-Cherokee grandmother.
Her path to children’s literature includes storytelling through puppetry with New York City Parks and off-Broadway theater, as well as volunteer work at a Tibetan refugee center and an orphanage in Nepal, where she encountered the living traditions of Eastern wisdom and virtue. Her background spans education and the arts: she holds a master’s in Holistic Education from Heartwood Institute of Healing, a master’s in Buddhist Classics from Dharma Realm Buddhist University, and a certificate in Children’s Writing from the University of Washington.
This one-to-one interview shares Red Wing’s background and experience writing First You: A Jataka Tale.
Tell us about First You, a Jataka Tale.
“First You” tells the unforgettable story of a young elephant whose devotion to his mother becomes an act of courage that transforms everyone it touches.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Himalayan Mountains, this timeless tale follows Sati, a dazzling white elephant whose life is shaped by his mother's unwavering devotion, as she always places his needs before her own.
As Sati grows, he returns the love his mother showed him. Their peaceful world is shattered when a powerful king captures Sati and surrounds him with luxury. Yet, no comfort can replace love. Refusing food and water, Sati longs only to return to the mother who taught him what it means to put others first. Moved by this devotion, the king sets Sati free, forever changed by the lesson of compassion.
Reunited with his aging, blind mother, Sati’s story becomes a profound reflection on gratitude, moral courage, and unconditional love. Even after his mother’s passing, Sati serves the king, not out of obligation, but from a heart transformed by empathy and wisdom.
Rooted in a traditional Jataka tale, First You introduces timeless Buddhist values of selflessness, respect for elders, and mindful living in a way that is highly accessible to children and meaningful to adults.
Perfect for bedtime or the classroom, this story shows that true wealth is kindness and that the best leaders act with empathy and care.
What inspired you to write First You, a Jataka Tale?
First You grew out of a Jataka tale I read years ago about the Buddha’s life as an elephant. The story’s message of love and devotion quietly shaped how I see the world and echoed my own family’s experience—especially my parents’ gift of transforming difficult times into harmony.
I wrote this book in a children’s writing class at the University of Washington, with help from my critique group—whose favorite advice was “Cut! Cut! Cut!” which urged me to cut back until I had it down. This book is my way of passing the timeless love and wisdom of this tale on to children today.
How did your background and experience influence your writing?
My writing was shaped by my childhood, growing up in Mississippi on a cotton farm amid a family of musicians and storytellers, their talents making the days cooler and the work lighter. Through monastic life as a Buddhist, marked by reflection, study of ancient texts, and the oral tradition of wisdom stories, I came to believe deeply that early moral education is the foundation of a child’s character and can be nurtured by story and art.
One of the best things I have done is enroll in the Children’s Writing Certificate Program at the University of Washington, which gave me the unique skills to draft children’s books. It led me to write books centering on compassion, respect for life, and helping children develop a caring relationship with the natural world.
What is one message you would like readers to remember?
If readers take away just one thing from First You, I hope it’s this: ancient stories endure when we engage with them creatively.
As I wrote this book, I tried to balance respect and imagination—honoring a traditional Jātaka tale while retelling it in a way that feels meaningful to children today. Along the way, I learned that when old stories are told in fresh ways, their lessons can last.
Through close collaboration with illustrator Akanit Dachani—whose sense of humor and richly detailed drawings bring elephants to life in the natural landscapes of the Himalayas—I came to see how deeply intertwined storytelling, art, and the natural world are. Ultimately, I hope people see that stories are like bridges—connecting us to wisdom from long ago to the hearts of today.
Purchasing the Book
First You, a Jataka Tale, has received positive reviews from authors, well-known literary organizations, and reviewers worldwide. Book Excellence writes, “First You is a beautifully rendered meditation on love, sacrifice, and the quiet strength of family bonds, told through the tender relationship between a mother elephant and her child. Red Wing’s storytelling, paired with luminous illustrations, elevates the book into a modern classic that speaks to the hearts of children and adults alike.”
This award-winning book is available now on buddhisttexts.org., Amazon and major online retailers: https://www.amazon.com/First-You-Jataka-Red-Wing-ebook/dp/B0DX65DTPW
Readers, educators, and families can explore more of Red Wing’s work and Instilling Goodness books at www.instillinggoodnessbooks.com and www.buddhismforkids.net, where her mission to inspire compassion and mindfulness continues to grow.
To extend the experience beyond the page, download the free Teacher & Parent Guide, featuring engaging activities and discussion prompts designed for classrooms and family reading time: https://www.buddhisttexts.org/products/first-you-1?srsltid=AfmBOop8AujhGoFAAJtFoafO3XnVxNLxKmZlidyCTGQIOmbwn1vHi-rA
Red Wing can also be followed on Facebook, Instagram, and X, where she shares insights, updates, and resources celebrating kindness, storytelling, and mindful living.
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