Zen Ties by Jon J. Muth Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Zen Ties
Book Review: Another Great Jon Muth Book
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this after receiving Zen Shorts. Jon Muth leaves the reader with a sense of calm. Great lessons for children of all ages.Book Review: Awesome Book
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a very cute story for children which shows the way we are all part of humanity and how one receives help through helping others. It is a very warm book with beautiful illustrations. It is my new favorite. I also love the previous book Zen Shorts. For young and Old, Buddhist and non-Buddhist.Book Review: Breathtaking
Summary: 5 Stars
This hardcover picture book took my breath away. Not since last summer's Walt Disney's Cinderella has a book so impressed me with its marriage of visuals and story.
The story is pretty simple. Huge panda Stillwater picks up his visiting nephew Koo -- who only speaks in haiku -- at the train station. They are joined by Stillwater's friends Addy, Michael and Karl. The pandas play with the kids, and Michael tells Stillwater his concerns about an upcoming Spelling Bee. Stillwater then takes them to Miss Whitaker's house, an elderly woman who lives on the kids' street. None of the three children can believe Stillwater would be friends with such a cranky, unpleasant person. Stillwater helps the siblings get to know Miss Whitaker, and they realize she is sad and bitter because she is alone, scared and not well. In the end the kids and the old lady learn to appreciate and help each other.
There is such depth here. Consider the wordplay. When Stillwater picks up his nephew, he says "Hi, Koo!" And then, of course, Koo only speaks in the 17-syllable haiku poetry form. The lovely and realistic watercolor renditions of people and pandas make the whole story seem dreamlike. Stillwater sometimes seems normal panda sized, sometimes as big as a house. The wordless -- and haunting -- image of Miss Whitaker, late at night, looking at a painting Karl and Koo made for her is worth the price of the book in itself.
Book Review: Brilliant and Beautiful
Summary: 5 Stars
This book has a story that draws my 3 year old in, is wonderful to look at and hold.Book Review: Fabulous Zen!
Summary: 5 Stars
I learn so much about life from this fabulous author!
He lovingly distills the wisdom of ancient Zen teachings into the most touching and practical stories about the things we all come up against in life and frequently do not, despite our best intentions, know how to handle.
I discovered his books while visiting my brother's family. My sister-in-law bought me 'Zen Shorts', and told me that while Muth writes for children, SHE had learned more about HER life from that one book than most adult books she had read.
I bought 'Zen Ties' immediately when it came out because it is one of those books that can just shift your reality enough that it allows you to see life from a completely different angle. It is a short, lovely read and re-read when you, an adult, need a shift in perspective.
I recommend his books very highly! And, if you enjoy his books as much as I do, I also highly recommend a book called Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment by Ariel and Shya Kane. It is easy to read and also based on stories of things that confront all of us in our everyday lives and offers, as Muth does in 'Zen Ties', a completely different angle on how to see life.