Stillwater’s story lead to a conversation about adoption for me and two children I watch who were both adopted from China. As we were reading this story, the children began discussing their journey to the US. It was a very special time for us, and learning their story in their words was a great bonding moment. Reminding me that life is precious and family is a gift. Some born to us, and others we choose.

We adore this book and often refer to the story of the two monks when belaboring things that happened at school, or at home. Sometimes you just have to remember to put “the weight” down. No benefit comes from carrying it on your back for hours, days or years.

I love reading these books to my son. For one thing he calls his grandmother Panda, so pandas have always had a special place in our hearts. But the Zen lessons are so valuable for young children. I’ve read a lot of picture books and these are unlike anything else, including the beautiful illustrations.

Zen shorts represents valuable life lessons taught in simple words and beautiful graphics, for the better understanding of both children and adults

Zen Shorts give my four-year-old and I a time out moment, where we stop and think and see that there are other ways of looking at things. It’s a great bedtime read-aloud, as we wind down at the end of a busy day.

My great-nephew is a very busy, task-oriented four-year-old, but reading about Stillwater can make him sit quietly and look at the world from a different perspective.

When I was in graduate school, I wrote about “Zen Shorts” during my first course on children’s literature. That was the first time I examined a picture book from a critical standpoint. The experience provided me with insights on and an appreciation for the genre that I will never forget.

My three year old daughter adores this book, and I personally can hardly get through it without throwing it aside and running to my easel — I’m pretty sure that the brilliant watercolors teach me something new about painting every time we read it!

My son, Mitchel, collects Pandas and has since he was little tiny. His room is full of all things panda and one of his favorite new children’s books is Zen Shorts. He would absolutely love having this very special poster in his collection. It would be treasured always.

The thing that Zen Shorts has impressed upon my daughter the most is the idea of not ‘carrying’ something that you should have already let go. Sometimes life is unfair; someone might be ungracious or even mean to you. But rather than dwell, you can move on to better things. At six years old, she’s still working on letting things go, choosing her battles, and getting back on track after setbacks, so the lessons in this book really resonate.

As for this mom, I’m simply thrilled that Mr. Muth has found such a wide following, and created so many lovely works, in the realm of children’s books. I’ve been a fan of his work since the late 1980s, when I fell in love with a graphic novel that he painted. It’s so much fun to share his books now with my kids!

We are always looking for books to read to our classes, about life and what we should say and do, looks like these books would be a great addition to our classroom!!!!

The first time my daughter read Zen Shorts it really opened her to the fact that there are many ways to look at situations in life and that the most obvious way to see things is not always the best way to view the situation. I love how open ended the stories are. And the art work is beautiful!

The illustrations of Jon Muth are beautiful and match perfectly with his writing. I appreciate the parable quality of the stories in Zen Shorts and how easy to understand and applicable they are, not only to children, but to us all.

Jon J Muth’s illustrations are gorgeous. Kids and adults can appreciate the beautiful are work and the lessons taught in the books.

My 2.5 year old recently discovered both Zen Shorts and Zen Ghosts. In the past week I think I’ve read both of them to him 50 times each. He loves the illustrations, as well as the little bits of story he understands. These books are like wonderful little Aesop’s fables, yet they exude more life than those old tales thanks to the vivid, cutting illustrations of Muth. These books are wonderful for encouraging both reading and critical thinking.

My 2.5 year old has been exposed to my own practice of Zen Buddhism through two venues: My morning meditation and our bedtime stories (Zen Shorts has been a staple). The artwork (I have been a fan of Muth since his Moonshadow and Wolverine days) conveys as much emotion as the story itself. Soft and unassuming, the lyrical style and watercolors are blunt but expressive in a simple fashion – just like Zen.

The stories convey the truth that life is for living, simple stories and simple expressions for deep truths and lifelong ethics. Kindness is just kindness. Generosity is just generosity. The robber at night deserves both and Muth does a wonderful job in conveying it to a younger reader (also one of my favorite Zen parables).

And while I always appreciate reading literacy, My glass is full of gratitude for the ethical literacy that Muth portrays so artfully to a new generation.

Cheers,
John.

For me Zen Shorts are great conversation starters with my students. It lets them look at things in different ways and we always have multiple conversations after reading any of the stories. Sometimes the picture speak for themselves.