Zen Shorts

When Stillwater the bear moves into the neighborhood, the stories he tells to three siblings teach them to look at the world in new ways.

Winner of Book Sense Book of the Year Award (Children's Illustrated) 2006
Winner of New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association Award (Picture Book) 2005
Winner of Parents Choice Award (Spring) (1998-2007) (Gold) 2005
Commended for Caldecott Medal 2006
Commended for Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens (Up to Seven) 2006
Short-listed for Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Grades K-3) 2007
Short-listed for Red Clover Award 2007
Short-listed for Black-Eyed Susan Award (Picture Book) 2006
Short-listed for Grand Canyon Reader Award (Picture Book) 2007
Short-listed for Colorado Children's Book Award (Picture Book) 2007

“Booklist Starred Gillian Engberg (Booklist, Mar. 1, 2005 (Vol. 101, No. 13)) Like The Three Questions (2002), Muth''s latest is both an accessible, strikingly illustrated story and a thought-provoking meditation. Here he incorporates short Buddhist tales, "Zen Shorts," into a story about three contemporary children. One rainy afternoon, a giant panda appears in the backyard of three siblings. Stillwater, the Panda, introduces himself, and during the next few days, the children separately visit him. Stillwater shares an afternoon of relaxing fun with each child; he also shares Zen stories, which give the children new views about the world and about each other. Very young listeners may not grasp the philosophical underpinnings of Stillwater''s tales, but even kids who miss the deeper message will enjoy the spare, gentle story of siblings connecting with one another. Lush, spacious watercolors of charming Stillwater and the open neighborhood will entrance children, as will the dramatic black-and-white pictures of the comical animal characters that illustrated Stillwater''s Zen stories. Muth doesn''t list sources for the tales, but his author''s note offers more commentary about Zen. Stillwater''s questions will linger (Can misfortune become good luck? What is the cost of anger?), and the peaceful, uncluttered pictures, like the story itself, will encourage children to dream and fill in their own answers. Category: Books for the Young--Fiction. 2005, Scholastic, $16.95. K-Gr. 3. Starred Review Horn Book (Horn Book Guide, Fall 2005) Three Zen stories are woven into a contemporary frame story when Stillwater, a talking panda, meets three young children. The panda narrates a story to fit each child''s mood. The "shorts" are illustrated with quick black brush strokes, white forms, and pale backgrounds, while the children and Stillwater live in a tranquil watercolor world. An author''s note provides background information. Category: Picture Books. 2005, Scholastic, 40pp, 16.95. Ages 4 to 9. Rating: 3: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration. Kirkus Starred Review Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, February 1, 2005 (Vol. 73, No. 3)) Limpidly beautiful watercolors and a wry, puckish gentleness mark these three Zen stories, one for each of three children. Michael, Karl and Addy discover a giant panda in their backyard. ("He spoke with a slight panda accent.") His name is Stillwater, and he tells Addy the tale of his Uncle Ry, who gave the robber who could find nothing to steal in his house his own tattered robe. (The robber, in the black-and-white illustrations that mark the three stories, is a raccoon.) When Michael comes to visit, he climbs a tree to sit with Stillwater, who tells the story of the farmer''s luck. Karl comes to visit carrying too much stuff for Stillwater''s wading pool, and hears just the right story for him. The pictures are as full of peace and solace-and humor-as the text: The title page has the panda dancing in a pair of oversize shorts; the cake Addy brings for tea has a stalk of bamboo in it for Stillwater; Karl and the panda bow to each other at the end of their day. The Buddha lurks in the details here: Every word and image comes to make as perfect a picture book as can be. (author''s note) 2005, Scholastic, 40p, $16.95. Category: Picture book. Ages 5 to 9. Starred Review. 2005 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved Timnah Card (The Bulletin of the Center for Children''s Books, April 2005 (Vol. 58, No. 8)) Addy, Michael, and Karl meet Stillwater the giant panda when he enters their yard to retrieve his breeze-blown umbrella. In their subsequent one-on-one visits to Stillwater's house, the siblings enjoy short stories from the Zen and Taoist practices told by Stillwater. Though the children's interaction with Stillwater instigates the telling of each story, these tales connect only tenuously with the frame narrative,”

A Caldecott Honor Book

• "An accessible, strikingly illustrated story and a thought-provoking meditation." -- Booklist, starred review
• "Every word and image comes to make as perfect a picture book as can be." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Readers will fall easily into the rhythm of visits to Stillwater and his storytelling sessions, and many more will fall in love with the panda, whose shape and size offer the children many opportunities for cuddling." -- Publishers Weekly "Beautifully illustrated in two distinct styles, this book introduces readers to a Zen approach to the world, wrapped in a story about three siblings and their new neighbor, a panda....Appealing enough for a group read-aloud, but also begging to be shared and discussed by caregiver and child, Zen Shorts is a notable achievement." -- School Library Journal

Jon J. Muth is the author and artist of the New York Times best seller and Caldecott Honor Book Zen Shorts. He has illustrated many award-winning books, including another New York Times best seller, A Family of Poems, by Caroline Kennedy. He is also the writer and illustrator of The Three Questions, which the New York Times called "quietly life changing."

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