Zen Shorts (Caldecott Honor Book)
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.89 You Save: $11.10 (62%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.87 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Zen Shorts (Caldecott Honor Book)
Book Review: Searching for the Stillness Within
Summary: 5 Stars
Muth's Zen Shorts is a funny story about a panda bear named Stillwater who mysteriously appears in the backyard of three siblings: Michael, Addy, and Karl. As the children become acquainted with their new friend, they each decide to visit him separately. First, Addy the middle sister visits Stillwater's home and brings him a housewarming gift - a delicious bamboo cake. In return Stillwater tells her a story about his Uncle Ry. In the story Stillwater tells of his Uncle's constant kindness and generosity to all those around him - even to a thief who comes to steal the little he owns! Next Michael, the elder brother, walks with Stillwater to a nearby tree where they talk about the present and how unpredictable it can be. To calm Michael's worried mind Stillwater tells him the story of a father rabbit who experiences varying bouts of good and bad luck and whose response to every situation is to always be content with what he has at a given moment and to never take anything for granted.
Lastly, Karl the younger brother, is invited by Stillwater to go swimming with him in his pool, but little does Stillwater know that Karl's idea of `swimming' involves a wide variety of inflatable toys that fill up the pool to such an extent that neither of them can swim in it! In an attempt to calm down angry Karl - who is upset at his older brother Michael and frustrated at the swimming pool crisis - Stillwater tells him perhaps the most memorable Zen story about two monks (who for the story are transformed into mice monks) who were walking along the road where they meet a very rich lady mouse who is upset because here two servants, laden down with the many bags she has them carry, cannot carry her across the muddy puddle on the ground so she does not dirty her feet. The elder of the two monks calmly walks up to the angry lady, lifts her unto his back, and carries her across the puddle dirtying his toga in the process. When he gently places her on the ground, the lady stomps away without so much as a thank you to the elderly monk - this part always brings to my mind this quote from William Shakespeare, "blow, blow, thou winter wind. Thou art not so unkind as man's ingratitude". The younger monk is bemused by the oblivious peace the elder monk is in, despite the lady's rudeness, and for the rest of the journey back to the monastery he wears a slightly impatient face as if waiting for the elder monk to begin complaining. Finally, when he can not stand it any longer, the younger monk asks the elder monk why he is unshaken by the ingratitude shown unto him; the elder monks turns to him and says, "Why are you still carrying that mean woman, I placed her on the ground miles ago". The moral of the story which Stillwater teaches Karl is to not hold onto anger and to try your best to forgive others and be at peace with yourself.
Using his flawless watercolors, Muth brings to life these powerful principles behind Buddhist thought. Through Stillwater young readers, like Addy, Michael, and Karl, with learn about kindness, contentment, and forgiveness. And from the beginning of the story they will be just as hooked onto the peculiar yet polite panda bear with funny shorts and a big red umbrella as the three siblings were. Once again Muth has masterfully combined adult concepts and child storytelling to make a beautiful book with a powerful message for young readers. After having read Muth's best selling interpretation of Leo Tolstoy's The Three Questions to my second grade class, Zen Shorts was a successful follow up and will be a wonderful addition to your child's collection of story books at home.
Book Review: from missprint.wordpress.com
Summary: 5 Stars
Zen Shorts is a picture book written and illustrated by Jon J. Muth. But it's also a short story collection. And it's also a philosophy book. And it has a giant panda. Oh, and it is a Caldecott Honor book too.
The story starts when siblings Addy, Michael, and Karl meet Stillwater, a large Panda who wanders into their backyard to retrieve his umbrella. I love the opening scenes of the story. Karl, the youngest sibling, is looking out a window and telling Michael he sees a huge bear. Eventually all of the kids go out and say hello to Stillwater. Addy introduces Karl, who is "shy around bears he doesn't know." I find that phrase so enchanting. This kind of charm continues throughout the book.
The next day Addy meets Stillwater for tea. Then Michael and Stillwater hang out. Then Karl goes swimming with Stillwater.
Each outing is accompanied by an appropriate short story. The first is about a man (panda) who gives a gift to a robber. Another is about a man who knows that luck is a many-faceted thing. The final story is about a monk carrying an unnecessary burden. I'll never explain the stories as well as Muth tells them, so you should just read the book.
The illustrations of Stillwater and the children are beautifully rendered watercolors. The coloring is subtle with quite intricate line work for the drawings. The stories between the "real" story are printed on pastel backgrounds and illustrated with silhouettes so that they have a clearly different look from the rest of the book.
When you're finished you should also check out the afterward which explains the underlying philosophy for each story. (Muth has a lot of Buddhist/Taoist influences.)
This is a great book to read with older children because even if they don't get the philosophy, the stories are approachable and they'll get something from it. (Even youngsters will enjoy the pictures.) It's a great introduction to philosophy, a fact that becomes clear after reading the afterward, for "students" of any age. Muth does an admirable job creating a picture book that children and grownups can enjoy together.
Book Review: A Friend for Life
Summary: 5 Stars
"Zen Short" is a profound and meditative picture book which offers both comfort and wisdom to children and adults alike. In this story, three young siblings befriend Stillwater, the unforgettable Panda bear. Each child spends an afternoon with Stillwater, and in the course of this shared time, each child (and the reader) is able to hear a Zen-like story. These stories within the story are tailor-made for what is on the heart of each child, and all three come away from Stillwater with a life-changing, life-affirming gem of wisdom. These wisdoms, which include the values of sharing and giving, of learning to "wait and see," and of letting go of negative energy, are invaluable truths that enter into the hearts of the reader and have the potential to help us and make us stronger, just as the children are helped and made more strong.
Stillwater is a character we can carry with us, just as we can carry Dr. Seuss' memorable Sneetches on the beach, who learn the lesson of acceptance, or as we can carry the little cat Jamile from Nila J. Webster's "The Gift of You, The Gift of Me", who learns the sacred nature of gratitude, or again as we learn from the Skin Horse in Margery Williams' "Valveteen Rabbit" the lesson of becoming real. Stillwater, so beautifully illustrated, so calm, so truly Zen, can be our friend, whatever age we are; when we meet an ungrateful person, such as the young woman in the sedan chair who is rude to the two monks, we can recall the meaning of this story within the story: we can recall the image of Stillwater sharing this story, and we too can learn to release the burden of negativity.
The illustrations in this book enhance in every respect the story. Each of the three stories within the story are drawn in a lovely and stark black-and white. The main story is done in warm, rich and striking colors, and the specific illustrations, such as Stillwater painting Addy as Addy also paints Stillwater, capture the Zen of life.
Jon J. Muth's work has been described by the New York Times Book Review as "quietly life-changing," and that is a great truth.
Book Review: Amazing, simple, yet gorgeous
Summary: 5 Stars
Zen Shorts is a book about three siblings in a happy white upper middle class suburb who meet a Buddhist Master in the form of a Panda named Stillwater. Through their friendships with Stillwater, he imparts wise and concise lessons derived from historical figures and common tales in Zen Buddhism. In each case, one of the children approaches Stillwater and eventually he tells them a story. Addy and Stillwater share cake and a story about giving and sharing, as well as the beauty of nature in the world that we all share. Stillwater teaches the middle child Michel that everything has a purpose and that change is constant and not always bad. And the youngest Karl learns that no one can hurt you without your permission and to let the little things go because resentment wastes time.
Stylistically, the art on this book is gorgeous. Muth illustrates most of the plot in brilliantly colored but complex watercolors. The use of texture for grass and clouds gives them a three-dimensional feel, particularly when Michael and Stillwater look at the clouds in an expansive two-page illustration. There is a sharp contrast between these beautiful mellow watercolors and the sharp thick black ink brush drawings that illustrate the particular little stories. These drawings are far simpler and focus mostly on the main animal characters themselves, and this serves to highlight the profound simplicity of the lessons they teach.
Muth says in his afterward that he wanted to "challenge us to examine our habits, desires, concepts, and fears" and in this task he clearly succeeds.
Book Review: "When minds are agitated, we cannot see the true world."
Summary: 5 Stars
The author has taken these gifts of Zen Wisdom and transformed them into lessons for all his readers. This story is about gifts, and giving. Literally. And also philosophically. And I love everything about it.
The imposing Panda, Stillwater, is making friends with three siblings while celebrating with understated humor the birthday of his absent Uncle Ry. The neighborhood scenes are as quiet as some of Ryokan's poetry; the watercolors are deft, and the sketches reminiscent of delicate Japanese ink drawings. These combine to become a masterpiece of teaching, altogether in the Zen way, and already a classic.
The respect and love brought to the re-telling of the stories in an appropriately reflective style impresses even some restless children. They seem to appreciate the humor, gentleness and inspiration.The children, Addy, Michael and Karl, are at the perfect time for learning these truths, and what is more needed today? As the author notes: "When our minds are agitated, we cannot see the true world."
Each of us reading, and listening, may remember one of these three stories to be a favorite of ours. We will want to explore other Zen meditations with our young listeners, and other friends. Reviewer mcHAIKU is one of many who would like *ZEN SHORTS* to have been the first choice of the NEWBERY committee (you read that correctly); I am working to improve my *attitude*!