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29th out of 521 books
—
502 voters
Zen Shorts (Zen)
by
Jon J. Muth
Jon J Muth, author of the best-selling book, THE THREE QUESTIONS, has crafted another profound and winning picture book.
"Michael," said Karl. "There's a really big bear in the backyard." This is how three children meet Stillwater, a giant panda who moves into the neighborhood and tells amazing tales. To Addy he tells a story about the value of material goods. To Michael he...more
"Michael," said Karl. "There's a really big bear in the backyard." This is how three children meet Stillwater, a giant panda who moves into the neighborhood and tells amazing tales. To Addy he tells a story about the value of material goods. To Michael he...more
Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
March 1st 2005
by Scholastic Press
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Three years before Po scadooshed Tai Lung, wonder artist/children's author Jon J. Muth won the Caldecott with the introduction of Zen Panda extraordinaire Stillwater.
Muth's Zen Shorts is a beautiful piece, telling tales of love and comradeship, friendship and patience, care and giving. Three siblings find the Zen Panda and listen -- individually -- to his tales of life. They learn lessons, and so do the readers and listeners, without ever being beaten over the head with stick.
And the water colou...more
Muth's Zen Shorts is a beautiful piece, telling tales of love and comradeship, friendship and patience, care and giving. Three siblings find the Zen Panda and listen -- individually -- to his tales of life. They learn lessons, and so do the readers and listeners, without ever being beaten over the head with stick.
And the water colou...more
A deserving Caldecott Honor winner (_The Hello Goodbye Window_ by Norton Juster and illustrated by Chris Raschka was the winner in 2006), Zen Shorts tells the story of three children who encounter Stillwater, a mysterious Panda with a red umbrella, in their back yard. He tells each of them a simple, poignant story which relates subtly to their lives (in the case of Karl, who is angry at his brother, it is more pointed). The stories all come from the Zen tradition, but this is not obvious unless...more
4 likes · like · see review
Genre: Cultural Folktale
Grade: K-6
Caldecott Honor Book
This is a beautifully illistrated narritive of three siblings that become friends with a panda named Stillwater. Each sibling visits the panda and the panda teaches each one a lesson. He tells them stories about his experiences to help him feel better about what is troubling them. After he tells the story, the book changes to a different, more graphic, illustration style and tells a Zen tale related to the story Stillwater had just told. It's...more
Grade: K-6
Caldecott Honor Book
This is a beautifully illistrated narritive of three siblings that become friends with a panda named Stillwater. Each sibling visits the panda and the panda teaches each one a lesson. He tells them stories about his experiences to help him feel better about what is troubling them. After he tells the story, the book changes to a different, more graphic, illustration style and tells a Zen tale related to the story Stillwater had just told. It's...more
Feb 23, 2009
nicole j. wroblewski
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Everyone!
Shelves:
picture-books
This is a story about a zen philosophy toting giant panda named Stillwater. He shares ancient zen parables with the children he befriends to help them cool their jets. You totally don't have to be a kid to read this. On bad days at work (when we actually have this in stock), I like to pick this off the shelf and read it. It makes problems seem smaller, and dwelling on other people seem a waste of time. Inner peace in like, ten minutes, man!
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my favorite selection:
A HEAVY LOAD
Two traveling monk...more
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my favorite selection:
A HEAVY LOAD
Two traveling monk...more
4 likes · like · see review
While reading this picture book the words seem to speak for themselves and the pictures captivate the audience. The creative and interesting dialogue makes this book a good read aloud because it leaves room for voices and emotion behind the story. Also, Zen Shorts is a wonderful way to introduce a different culture into the classroom, as well as hear a story within a story. The story is long enough to make it worthwhile to gather all your students on a rug for story time, but not too long that t...more
Jun 06, 2013
Ally Copper
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
edt-7220-slm-resources-for-children
"Zen Shorts" by Jon J. Muth encourages readers to rethink their automatic actions and reactions and to consider alternative ways of viewing the world. Stillwater is a panda bear who mysteriously shows up outside the home of Karl, Michael, and Addy. He proves to be a positive influence and friend for the three children. Each child visits Stillwater and receives a story that speaks to their current situation and that offers an alternative way of thinking about the world. The frame story of the chi...more
This book was written by the same author as another book I read called, "The Three Questions" of which is similar in many ways to this one. The illustrations again, have a very asian influence to them and animals are again portrayed as humans and wise. This book tells the story of a three siblings who meet a panda named "Stillwater" who they immediately fall in love with. While they each visit him at his house and tells him of their problems he recounts wise stories that help teach them lessons...more
3.75 This is from a class assignment from 2007.
Plot: Three siblings, Karl, Michael and Addy meet a panda named Stillwater. Each child visits Stillwater at different times and Stillwater tells them a short story. Each story has something to think about which relates to each child’s situation. For example, Michael was unable to have a good time in the pool because he was angry at his older brother. In Stillwater’s story, a monk asks another monk why he is still carrying the burden of anger.
Major C...more
Plot: Three siblings, Karl, Michael and Addy meet a panda named Stillwater. Each child visits Stillwater at different times and Stillwater tells them a short story. Each story has something to think about which relates to each child’s situation. For example, Michael was unable to have a good time in the pool because he was angry at his older brother. In Stillwater’s story, a monk asks another monk why he is still carrying the burden of anger.
Major C...more
Overtly didactic, I would have liked this book less if we hadn't just had an in-depth discussion about transformative education last night in our semiotics seminar. The power of Zen stories and koans to still the mind and help people to perceive what is up close and cluttering our minds is part of transformation. Without becoming aware of broader forces and trends that work to shape us and boss us around, it can be difficult to transform.
What I enjoy in a transformative experience is the having...more
What I enjoy in a transformative experience is the having...more
This book is absolutely amazing. It is about a family that meet a panda bear when the wind accidentally carries him and his umbrella into their back yard. The two young boys and their sister befriend the bear and the each go visit him on different days. Each day they visit him, each family member has something happen ti them which the panda bear explains through Buddhist fables and meditations. The fables are told as separate stories within the story and have their own unique illustrations. Each...more
Jon Muth's "Zen Shorts" is an interesting tale of how a panda bear named Stillwater and three siblings became friends. The illustrations are very colorful and descriptive, and I really like how the style changes when Stillwater is telling a story/parable. The stories within this book come from Zen Buddhist literature, and Muth chose them because he felt that they related well to young children. This book started with Stillwater appearing in the children's backyard with an umbrella. This was pret...more
Text Summary
Stillwater is a giant panda with meaningful stories to tell. Three siblings: Addie, Michael, and Karl, first discover Stillwater sitting in their backyard, as Stillwater apologetically states that he and his red umbrella have been carried there by the wind. Following their encounter with this giant panda, each of the three children visits Stillwater at his home. On her visit, Addie hears the story of “Uncle Ry and the Moon,” a poor man who gives gifts to a robber. On Michael’s visit,...more
Stillwater is a giant panda with meaningful stories to tell. Three siblings: Addie, Michael, and Karl, first discover Stillwater sitting in their backyard, as Stillwater apologetically states that he and his red umbrella have been carried there by the wind. Following their encounter with this giant panda, each of the three children visits Stillwater at his home. On her visit, Addie hears the story of “Uncle Ry and the Moon,” a poor man who gives gifts to a robber. On Michael’s visit,...more
1 like · like · see review
1. Fantasy
2. This is a collection of tales within a tale about a panda bear who befriends three young children and tells stories to them. Along the way each child is told a personal tale which gives them each their own zen. It is a charming book where morals of fantasy meet everyday life.
3. Critique
a. The storytelling aspect of this book is cute and the characters simple, keeping the focus on the morals of the stories themselves.
b. The morals (for the most part) are easy to understand, even for...more
2. This is a collection of tales within a tale about a panda bear who befriends three young children and tells stories to them. Along the way each child is told a personal tale which gives them each their own zen. It is a charming book where morals of fantasy meet everyday life.
3. Critique
a. The storytelling aspect of this book is cute and the characters simple, keeping the focus on the morals of the stories themselves.
b. The morals (for the most part) are easy to understand, even for...more
The story is straightforward and fanciful all at once: a giant panda named Stillwater moves in next door to three siblings, and becomes friends with all of them, telling them stories and teaching them how they might think about things differently. (Stillwater isn't totally didactic, though: he asks questions, and listens, and I like how meets the children where they are, and how there's no expectation of moral perfection.) The pictures are a mix of watercolors (for the scenes where Stillwater's...more
This 2006 Caldecot Honor book is pure beauty, from the water color illustrations to the wise stories. Karl, Abby and Michael meet Stillwater on a rainy day in their backyard. The next day Abby went to visit Stillwater. They share some cake while Stillwater tells Abby a story about gift giving. Michael visits Stillwater the next day and as they sit high up in a tree Stillwater tells Michael luck. Karl visits next and brings with him a whole pool full of swimming toys even though Michael told him...more
Summary-
Zen Shorts is a thought-provoking picture book for K-3rd readers. Even though the content and themes would be better understood by older readers, all children would be able to enjoy the beautiful pictures and interesting characters. Zen Shorts is about three children who are visited by a panda bear named Stillwater. Each day one of the children go to visit Stillwater with a problem or question. He tells them stories that make the children reconsider their issues and opinions.
Response-
Th...more
Zen Shorts is a thought-provoking picture book for K-3rd readers. Even though the content and themes would be better understood by older readers, all children would be able to enjoy the beautiful pictures and interesting characters. Zen Shorts is about three children who are visited by a panda bear named Stillwater. Each day one of the children go to visit Stillwater with a problem or question. He tells them stories that make the children reconsider their issues and opinions.
Response-
Th...more
Stillwater is a giant Panda who befriends three children and shares stories with each that teach about the benefits of selflessness, acceptance, and letting go of anger. These stories blend elements from Zen Buddhism and Taoist philosophies.
To be honest, I wasn't so sure about this book. It sounded like something that would wow adults and leave children in its philosophical dust. Well, I was right about the first bit - I am wowed! And, predictably, I was wrong about the second bit. It's a perfec...more
To be honest, I wasn't so sure about this book. It sounded like something that would wow adults and leave children in its philosophical dust. Well, I was right about the first bit - I am wowed! And, predictably, I was wrong about the second bit. It's a perfec...more
5 likes · like · see review
Zen Shorts
genre: contemporary fiction
Summary: Stillwater, a gentle panda, dispenses a zen inspired philosophy to three average children living next door. Stillwater, teaches the children how to handle life's difficulties through a series of short enlightening stories.
A. This critique focues on how the illustrations reflect the theme of harmony and peace.
B. The illustrations effectively use composition, scale, color, and line to portray a serene feeling that merries with the zen inspired stories...more
genre: contemporary fiction
Summary: Stillwater, a gentle panda, dispenses a zen inspired philosophy to three average children living next door. Stillwater, teaches the children how to handle life's difficulties through a series of short enlightening stories.
A. This critique focues on how the illustrations reflect the theme of harmony and peace.
B. The illustrations effectively use composition, scale, color, and line to portray a serene feeling that merries with the zen inspired stories...more
The three short stories in this collection, as the title would imply, move rather slowly. In a very “Zen-like” manner, a giant panda shares philosophical stories with the three kids who live next door. Although the two older children warmed up to the curious panda immediately, the youngest boy was “shy around bears he didn’t know.” That was the only humorous line in the story, the rest took a more solemn, contemplative tone.
The stories reveal basic truths about human nature and can lead to a ri...more
The stories reveal basic truths about human nature and can lead to a ri...more
1 like · like · see review
Jul 01, 2011
Donna Crane
added it
In this Caldecott Honor Winner. exquisite watercolors are accompanied by a graceful and child-friendly introduction to Zen Buddhism and its panda practitioner, Stillwater. Three young siblings each receive the gift of a traditional story from Zen tradition, but the approach is anything but didactic. When the youngest, Karl, comes to visit Stillwater to swim, he is full of resentment towards his older brother, Michael; he spends his whole day complaining rather than enjoying the company of his fr...more
So, this afternoon we finished reading our other two books, and my niece said, "Amy, I have a book we can read! It's called Zen Shorts--see, it's about a panda who wears shorts!"
As entertaining as that story might have been, the story that Zen Shorts actually was was really lovely. The kids enjoyed the panda and his interactions with the kids, and they very much appreciated the pictures. It was a unique and peaceful story.
For me, what drops this from four stars to three is my niece only understo...more
As entertaining as that story might have been, the story that Zen Shorts actually was was really lovely. The kids enjoyed the panda and his interactions with the kids, and they very much appreciated the pictures. It was a unique and peaceful story.
For me, what drops this from four stars to three is my niece only understo...more
3 likes · like · see review
Stillwater is a very cool bear who speaks "with a slight panda accent" and moves next door to Addy, Michael, and Karl. They take turns visiting him, and he tells them stories. I love how the illustrations change while Stillwater is telling the stories. And if you look closely in the illustrations after he tells Addy the story of "Uncle Ry and the Moon," Stillwater and Addy are painting the pictures that illustrated that story.
Personal response: Karl, Addy and Michael meet Stillwater, a giant Panda who teaches them life truths through stories (short meditations). The three stories Panda tells the children makes them reconsider why they do the things they do. In other words he is challenging them to reexamine their habits and ideas.In the story Sillwater tells Addy she learns it is better to give than to recieve. Even if you think you have nothing to give, there is always something, and the best thing to give can be fr...more
1 like · like · see review
Jon Muth’s Zen Shorts is about Stillwater the whimsical panda who meets a family of three children. The children found him in their backyard where he was retrieving his lost umbrella. Each of the children visits Stillwater on their own. During the visit, Stillwater shares an old story that teaches each child a lesson. Muth’s watercolor drawings are bright and cheery during Stillwater and the children’s interactions. When Stillwater tells his stories to the children, the illustrations are black a...more
Brilliant! I saw that this book had a lot of hype and I was exited that it fell into my lap... Simple manifestation I believe. I ended up purchasing the book for an entire $0.50 at a thrift store a couple blocks from my home. I can say that it's easily the best investment I've ever made for two quarters. I read this to my seven year old daughter and my three year old son this morning. The three year old was in and out with his attention, but the seven year old remained in awe throughout the enti...more
Zen Shorts is an absolutely fantastic read from start to finish, and the illustrations are amazing to boot! The story centers around a group of siblings who happen to befriend a panda bear named Stillwater, and the tale then has the siblings each spend a day with their new friend, learning some valuable life lessons in the process. My favorite part of this book is how there are some "Zen" style stories interspersed within the story, which Stillwater uses to teach his new found friends some thing...more
Jan 31, 2009
Dolly
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
parents reading with their children
Great book with three short little stories that are good teaching points for Zen. The main character, a panda named Stillwater, is a Zen master and befriends some neighbors, telling them in turn each a story. It's a nicely illustrated book, with the Zen stories in monochromatic contrast to the background tale. Our girls enjoyed this story and I loved it!
I wish I could rate this story for illustrations vs. storyline separately. 3 for the story, 10,000 for the illustrations. I love how the coloring of the pictures changes throughout the story to help make a "break" into the parables. That said, I felt like the pieces of the story were disconnected--how do the three siblings' experiences connect? Is there further discussion/healing between them?
The parables are very interesting and would be great pieces of discussion for older kids, but I couldn'...more
The parables are very interesting and would be great pieces of discussion for older kids, but I couldn'...more
This is a beautiful book with absolutely fantastic little stories about morals. Stillwater, the Panda, shows up in the back yard of three children. The three become friends and Stillwater gives three ancient fables to each of the children. To Addy, Stillwater tells her a tale of material possession and the values we put on them. For Michael, he tells a tale of luck and how it is better to accept the lot you're given and work with it than blame it on things, such as luck, that you cannot control....more
This is an utterly charming story (actually stories) within a story. Three children meet a giant panda, Stillwater. One by one, they become good friends with the gentle and wise panda, who relates stories to them. I think my favorite story was the one of the monk who carried a proud and ungrateful princess over a puddle. When the monk's companion, some hours later, fumed why the monk had not reacted and scolded the ingrate, the monk replied "I put her down hours ago. Why are you still carrying h...more
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Jon J. Muth is an American comic artist. His works include J. M. DeMatteis' graphic novel Moonshadow, Neil Gaiman's The Sandman: The Wake (along with Michael Zulli, Charles Vess), Mike Cary's Lucifer: Nirvana and Swamp Thing: Roots. Muth has gone on to an award-winning career as a children's book writer and illustrator. He received a Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators for his illustration...more
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Mar 12, 2013 10:31am