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Tenzin's Deer
Barbara Soros draws on the ancient wisdom of the Tibetan people to narrate the touching story of a young boy named Tenzin and the wounded musk deer he encounters in the woods. By paying heed to his dreams and to the needs of the animal he has rescued, Tenzin is able to cure the deer. But soon he discovers that he must learn one of the most important lessons of how to love deeply enough to let go. The lush, intricate illustrations evoke the emotional depth of this tale that encourages the Buddhist virtues of nonviolence, compassion and the rejection of materialism.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 2, 2008
I just discovered Barefootbooks, and I'm quite impressed with their selection. I had gone online to look for "Where's My Goat?" a book I had given a grandchild and liked so much I wanted a copy for myself. But there are so many other books from different cultures and traditions. "Tenzin's Deer" interweaves the story of the musk deer, almost poached to extinction for perfume, and the mystical spirituality of Tibetan Buddhism. In a "the little child shall lead us" story a young boy learns to trust his dreams and move to actions he doesn't understand in order to save the life of an injured musk deer. I was reminded of life lessons I need today.
June 28, 2012
If you're committed to the pursuit of a conscious life, you'll surely be among those who love to sit with their children or their grandchildren and read stories. It is one of the richest of pleasures life can afford, and one that rewards the reader quite as much as the child who sits--sometimes squirming!--in her lap and listens to the words. There is something magical about stories, something we humans deeply yearn for and learn from. I have often said that my greatest reservation about dying has to do with not being able to know the end of the story. Well, stories, plural, because there are so many of them that run concurrently in our lives, from the big ones--will human beings one day land on Mars? and when?--to the little ones that start anew every day of our lives.
Children's stories and children's poems have a special delight. I, for one, have never grown out of them. I can listen with as much rapt attention to a fairy tale as I ever did. It's partly about the sensual pleasure of the spoken word, partly about the images created in our minds--and in part of course about the "message" they convey. They help us to make sense of our experience of the world with the understanding that we share so much with others, and often serve to heal the wounds the world can easily inflict. They can evoke the dark side of that experience (the Brothers Grimm, the late Maurice Sendak) in such a way that it becomes less scary, more easily manageable: we discover, even as children, that ogres can turn into friendlier beasts, and giants can be slain. Rhymes and rhythms are magical. Words give us power, as do stories: we "spell" them out.Watching my now six-month old grandson observe the world through his fresh eyes, I conclude that there's not much I can teach him about awareness. When he's not sleeping (or crying!) he is constantly looking out into the world and absorbing what he sees. With one so young, it's a joy to actually see the learning process taking place. What I have begun to ask myself is whether--and what--we can teach young children about the dharma without clumsy, heavy-handed preaching.
Take, for example, Listen, Listen--a board-page book intended for the very youngest children. Written by Phillis Gershator and illustrated by Alison Jay, it a visual delight, and one that immediately grabbed the eye and held the attention of my little grandson--who already loves to join in turning those sturdy pages. Painted with sophisticated simplicity against a crackle-glaze background, the images of the natural world are colorful and sweet, but without being sentimental. The story is about the cycle of the seasons. The text is beautifully written in simple rhyming couplets, quite as appealing to the ear as the pictures are to the eye; their repetitive, onomatopoeic evocation of the sounds of animals and birds, the wind in the leaves and even of plants blossoming in the spring provides the kind of sound-sequence that holds the youngster's attention and stimulates the brain's important memorizing process. What it teaches ("listen, listen") is the value of paying close attention to the here and now.
Tenzin's Deer, by Barbara Soros and illustrated by Danuta Mayer, is aimed toward the slightly older child. It is the story of a Tibetan boy and his rescue of, devotion to, and eventual release of a wounded fawn. Again, beautifully illustrated with an informed sensitivity to the artistic traditions and conventions of Tibetan art, with its combined stylistic patterning and attention to realistic detail, the book extols the healing power of compassion. Along the way, but subtly, we learn a valuable lessons: about karma--the way in which skillful action leads to greater happiness; about non-attachment and the importance of being able to let go; about the release from suffering; and about the respect we owe to every living being. For a similar age group, I think, is The Gift, by Carol Ann Duffy and illustrated by Rob Ryan, the life-cycle story--childhood to old age--of a girl who discovers her own burial plot at an early age and "gifts" it to herself and her family as a place of natural beauty where the cycle of her life will be very naturally and beautifully completed. We are born, we do our share of suffering, we experience illness and old age, and die...
And finally--this for somewhat older children--there is the Barefoot Book of Buddhist Tales, retold by Sherab Chodzin and Alexandra Kohn and illustrated by Marie Cameron. Even the exquisitely painted margins of this book are done with an eye for the varied traditions of Buddhist art as well as for each story's themes and motifs. The illustrations recall the conventions of the mogul painting, as well as the Orient as we learn about in such favorites as the countless children's versions of The Arabian Nights. They evoke the exoticism, the mystery--and the humor--of the stories, which range from Zen anecdotes to mythic tales from India, China and Japan. Each of them celebrates the range and influence of Buddhist teachings in the SouthEast Asian countries, and makes a point of clarifying some aspect of those teachings. A useful "Foreward"is helpful to adults in understanding the context of the stories with briefly told historical information about the origin and spread of Buddhism and its mythical and archetypal extensions. As it concludes, "These stories reflect many profound truths of the Buddha's teaching, but no matter how profound, the truth is always simple and can be grasped by young children at least as easily as adults."
Children's stories and children's poems have a special delight. I, for one, have never grown out of them. I can listen with as much rapt attention to a fairy tale as I ever did. It's partly about the sensual pleasure of the spoken word, partly about the images created in our minds--and in part of course about the "message" they convey. They help us to make sense of our experience of the world with the understanding that we share so much with others, and often serve to heal the wounds the world can easily inflict. They can evoke the dark side of that experience (the Brothers Grimm, the late Maurice Sendak) in such a way that it becomes less scary, more easily manageable: we discover, even as children, that ogres can turn into friendlier beasts, and giants can be slain. Rhymes and rhythms are magical. Words give us power, as do stories: we "spell" them out.Watching my now six-month old grandson observe the world through his fresh eyes, I conclude that there's not much I can teach him about awareness. When he's not sleeping (or crying!) he is constantly looking out into the world and absorbing what he sees. With one so young, it's a joy to actually see the learning process taking place. What I have begun to ask myself is whether--and what--we can teach young children about the dharma without clumsy, heavy-handed preaching.
Take, for example, Listen, Listen--a board-page book intended for the very youngest children. Written by Phillis Gershator and illustrated by Alison Jay, it a visual delight, and one that immediately grabbed the eye and held the attention of my little grandson--who already loves to join in turning those sturdy pages. Painted with sophisticated simplicity against a crackle-glaze background, the images of the natural world are colorful and sweet, but without being sentimental. The story is about the cycle of the seasons. The text is beautifully written in simple rhyming couplets, quite as appealing to the ear as the pictures are to the eye; their repetitive, onomatopoeic evocation of the sounds of animals and birds, the wind in the leaves and even of plants blossoming in the spring provides the kind of sound-sequence that holds the youngster's attention and stimulates the brain's important memorizing process. What it teaches ("listen, listen") is the value of paying close attention to the here and now.
Tenzin's Deer, by Barbara Soros and illustrated by Danuta Mayer, is aimed toward the slightly older child. It is the story of a Tibetan boy and his rescue of, devotion to, and eventual release of a wounded fawn. Again, beautifully illustrated with an informed sensitivity to the artistic traditions and conventions of Tibetan art, with its combined stylistic patterning and attention to realistic detail, the book extols the healing power of compassion. Along the way, but subtly, we learn a valuable lessons: about karma--the way in which skillful action leads to greater happiness; about non-attachment and the importance of being able to let go; about the release from suffering; and about the respect we owe to every living being. For a similar age group, I think, is The Gift, by Carol Ann Duffy and illustrated by Rob Ryan, the life-cycle story--childhood to old age--of a girl who discovers her own burial plot at an early age and "gifts" it to herself and her family as a place of natural beauty where the cycle of her life will be very naturally and beautifully completed. We are born, we do our share of suffering, we experience illness and old age, and die...
And finally--this for somewhat older children--there is the Barefoot Book of Buddhist Tales, retold by Sherab Chodzin and Alexandra Kohn and illustrated by Marie Cameron. Even the exquisitely painted margins of this book are done with an eye for the varied traditions of Buddhist art as well as for each story's themes and motifs. The illustrations recall the conventions of the mogul painting, as well as the Orient as we learn about in such favorites as the countless children's versions of The Arabian Nights. They evoke the exoticism, the mystery--and the humor--of the stories, which range from Zen anecdotes to mythic tales from India, China and Japan. Each of them celebrates the range and influence of Buddhist teachings in the SouthEast Asian countries, and makes a point of clarifying some aspect of those teachings. A useful "Foreward"is helpful to adults in understanding the context of the stories with briefly told historical information about the origin and spread of Buddhism and its mythical and archetypal extensions. As it concludes, "These stories reflect many profound truths of the Buddha's teaching, but no matter how profound, the truth is always simple and can be grasped by young children at least as easily as adults."
March 28, 2009
Yeah, I only gave this 4 stars because I'm not going all crazypants, but I suspect this is one that I could read over and over again and get more out of it every time. Which is why it has been added to the "to-own" shelf. And it's got values I think are important to teach kids (detachment, coping, loving deeply, compassion). And I like the "Tibetan" style illustrations. :-)
May 26, 2026
What a magnanimous character this short story includes ! A story, which deeply associated my heart as I read it, harmonizing names of the story’s Jampa and myself as a reader, Maitri as if that musk deer was me witnessing the compassion and love of Tenzin. I would consider him as a bodhisattva. This short story by Barbara Soros exquisitely depicts profound themes,which I could observe in this lovely short story were - what we call in today’s world, ART OF LETTING GO; story beautifully depicts that how important it is to love someone, but not like someone to be wholly attached to. This is also a deep philosophy in Buddhism as Buddha and his teachings had been told us about, that not to get attached to someone and like, but to truly love someone at the level of even be able to let them go for the sake of it. I, from the bottom of my heart, appreciate Barbara Soros and the illustrator, Danuta Mayer for appreciating this beautiful and one of my favourite ,Tibetan culture and depicting this philosophy through this luminous short story and compassionate characters.
Other themes I could ponder through the story were - impermanance, anthropomorphism of the musk deer etc. Besides these really good themes, for me, one of the interesting aspect was that how Tenzin was getting his answers through his dreams, which basically is a consciousness in the state of an unconscious body. I could see that how dreams are highlighted in the story as a symbolism of profound power; our mind is vast. We can ponder beyond what we wonder.
Other themes I could ponder through the story were - impermanance, anthropomorphism of the musk deer etc. Besides these really good themes, for me, one of the interesting aspect was that how Tenzin was getting his answers through his dreams, which basically is a consciousness in the state of an unconscious body. I could see that how dreams are highlighted in the story as a symbolism of profound power; our mind is vast. We can ponder beyond what we wonder.
December 7, 2019
Beautifully written and illustrated
October 13, 2011
Barbara Soros, a practitioner of Tibetan medicine for over twenty years, draws on her knowledge of Tibetan wisdom and myth to create Tenzin's Deer, a picture book seeped in traditional Tibetan culture. A young boy named Tenzin is born beneath a shining comet. He is the holder of the collective wisdom of many generations. He is kind toward both people and animals (be they yaks, dogs or deer). When he discovers a musk deer wounded by an arrow, his innate compassion and empathy lead him to take the deer back to his home and try to heal it. He names the deer Jampa, "Loving Kindness". While Tenzin sleeps, a dream shows him how to help Jampa get better. Jampa’s slow recovery also provides an inner journey for Tenzin, who must learn his most important lesson of all: how to let go of what he loves. This is a story from a culture most children know little about; a culture based on kindness and goodness and a belief in trusting one’s inner voice.
This gentle story has a message relevant for all religions and cultures, about generosity and the selflessness of true love. The illustrations are as mystical and sensitive as the story and subtly represent the love Tibetans have for all living creatures. It evokes a people and place that is, of course, in danger of being absorbed and lost.
“More than anything, Tenzin loved his deer. They slept together, ate together, listened to the wind together and spent many nights gazing at the changing moon over the vast mountains.”
Soros writes lyrically, but with quite a complex vocabulary and at length. This would be suited to 7-10 year olds.
I loved the jacket flap description of the illustrator. “Passionate about animal rights, Danuta has set up a refuge in her own home that currently houses seventeen dogs, three noisy parrots, and some two hundred smaller animals. Having tended numerous injured creatures and helped them on the road to recovery, Danuta easily identifies with the story of Tenzin’s Deer and understands the mixed sense of elation and loss felt when releasing a healed animal back into the wild.” When I read this I immediately wanted to check whom the publisher was, who had had the sensitivity to pick just this artist for this project
This gentle story has a message relevant for all religions and cultures, about generosity and the selflessness of true love. The illustrations are as mystical and sensitive as the story and subtly represent the love Tibetans have for all living creatures. It evokes a people and place that is, of course, in danger of being absorbed and lost.
“More than anything, Tenzin loved his deer. They slept together, ate together, listened to the wind together and spent many nights gazing at the changing moon over the vast mountains.”
Soros writes lyrically, but with quite a complex vocabulary and at length. This would be suited to 7-10 year olds.
I loved the jacket flap description of the illustrator. “Passionate about animal rights, Danuta has set up a refuge in her own home that currently houses seventeen dogs, three noisy parrots, and some two hundred smaller animals. Having tended numerous injured creatures and helped them on the road to recovery, Danuta easily identifies with the story of Tenzin’s Deer and understands the mixed sense of elation and loss felt when releasing a healed animal back into the wild.” When I read this I immediately wanted to check whom the publisher was, who had had the sensitivity to pick just this artist for this project
May 30, 2022
Maj 2022: jeg har lige læst den igen og græd lidt over hvor smuk jeg synes den er, så den får 5 stjerner nu
September 2021: Jeg var dælme tæt på at give den her fem stjerner, for den rørte mig virkelig meget, og jeg har straks besluttet mig for at give den i gave til nogle børn jeg kender. Tibetanske Tenzin finder en skadet hjort og passer den til den bliver rask. Hvad der så sker, vil jeg ikke afsløre, men det er en meget smuk historie.
I efterskriften står der blandt andet "Dette er en fortælling om kraften i medfølelse, om vejledning gennem drømme, om den gave det er at kunne helbrede og om evnen til at elske inderligt og give afkald. Tenzin ved at alt levende skal behandles med respekt. Han forstår at ønske andre alt godt. Han forstår at stille spørgsmål, at lytte til sin intuition, at respektere en drøm, og at være modig og generøs ved et tab", og dette er meget rammende for bogen.
Derudover har den fantastisk smukke illustrationer.
Alle børn vil kunne få et eller andet ud af den, dog er tibetansk kultur så anderledes end dansk kultur at små børn nok ikke vil forstå dén del. Men alle børn har godt af at lære om medfølelse for dyr, så jeg vil vurdere 2-10 år.
Med forord af Dalai Lama.
September 2021: Jeg var dælme tæt på at give den her fem stjerner, for den rørte mig virkelig meget, og jeg har straks besluttet mig for at give den i gave til nogle børn jeg kender. Tibetanske Tenzin finder en skadet hjort og passer den til den bliver rask. Hvad der så sker, vil jeg ikke afsløre, men det er en meget smuk historie.
I efterskriften står der blandt andet "Dette er en fortælling om kraften i medfølelse, om vejledning gennem drømme, om den gave det er at kunne helbrede og om evnen til at elske inderligt og give afkald. Tenzin ved at alt levende skal behandles med respekt. Han forstår at ønske andre alt godt. Han forstår at stille spørgsmål, at lytte til sin intuition, at respektere en drøm, og at være modig og generøs ved et tab", og dette er meget rammende for bogen.
Derudover har den fantastisk smukke illustrationer.
Alle børn vil kunne få et eller andet ud af den, dog er tibetansk kultur så anderledes end dansk kultur at små børn nok ikke vil forstå dén del. Men alle børn har godt af at lære om medfølelse for dyr, så jeg vil vurdere 2-10 år.
Med forord af Dalai Lama.
October 19, 2016
TRADITIONAL
1. No awards
2. 2nd Grade+
3. A young boy Tenzin encounters a wounded deer feeling deeply sad. He decides to take the deer home and let his dreams guide the healing process! As the deer heals, Tenzin becomes attached but learns to free his loved ones hoping for the deer to be healthy, strong and invincible as ever.
4. I enjoyed reading this Tibetan folktale because it educated me in the Tibetan culture and belief values. This story has a good lesson to learn which thoroughly explains it at the end of the book which is helpful in clarifying specific contexts. The illustrations are very unique and relates to its cultural aesthetics compared to being a neutral friendlier art work.
5. This book can be used in the classroom setting to expose students to a cultural perspective on folktales. Folktales are not only in America, they are all over the world. Students can then pick their favorite cultural folktale.
1. No awards
2. 2nd Grade+
3. A young boy Tenzin encounters a wounded deer feeling deeply sad. He decides to take the deer home and let his dreams guide the healing process! As the deer heals, Tenzin becomes attached but learns to free his loved ones hoping for the deer to be healthy, strong and invincible as ever.
4. I enjoyed reading this Tibetan folktale because it educated me in the Tibetan culture and belief values. This story has a good lesson to learn which thoroughly explains it at the end of the book which is helpful in clarifying specific contexts. The illustrations are very unique and relates to its cultural aesthetics compared to being a neutral friendlier art work.
5. This book can be used in the classroom setting to expose students to a cultural perspective on folktales. Folktales are not only in America, they are all over the world. Students can then pick their favorite cultural folktale.
November 2, 2016
Based on a Tibetan tale, this picture book (or illustrated text) tells the story of Tenzin, a Buddhist, who has been granted the gift of understanding all living things on the planet (including mountains and plants). On his journeys he discovers an injured Musk deer who has been injured by an arrow. With the help of the land and listening to his heart and mind, Tenzin restories the buck back to health but must also let it go.
I really admired both the writing and the artwork in this book. It is clear that both Soros and Mayer try to honour and tread carefully around the rich buddhist culture whilst raising awareness of conservation and compassion. Mayer's gouache paintings are incredibly detailed and no page or space is wasted in celebrating this rich culture and the same can be said of Soros' words. She takes time to create a nice story but also clearly wants the reader to respect and understand the culture too.
I really admired both the writing and the artwork in this book. It is clear that both Soros and Mayer try to honour and tread carefully around the rich buddhist culture whilst raising awareness of conservation and compassion. Mayer's gouache paintings are incredibly detailed and no page or space is wasted in celebrating this rich culture and the same can be said of Soros' words. She takes time to create a nice story but also clearly wants the reader to respect and understand the culture too.
Read
March 23, 2009Lovely Buddist tale about freeing things you love
November 5, 2010
One of my all time favorites. Beautifully illustrated, touching story. Very peaceful and gentle.
Read
September 26, 2011Book about true friendship and selflessness. Also about the Tibetan religious principles. I would use for world religious studies and problem solving also, teaching selfless giving.
July 24, 2016
G's b-day gift. Nice.
Read
April 2, 2013PBWR Session 10
April 13, 2014
Really enjoyed both the art and the story. Read mostly as part of my deer research.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews