Zen Ties by Jon J. Muth Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Zen Ties
Book Review: Gentle Zen Wisdom for the Young Listner
Summary: 5 Stars
Zen Ties is a lovely, beautifully illustrated book that any adult will enjoy reading to the thoughtful young listener. The companion books, "Zen Shorts" and "The Three Questions" will become family favorites. Stillwater, the bear who tells stories, inspires gentle affection. His re-telling of ancient Zen Buddhist stories inspire thinking, and looking at 'problems' with a new eye. Reading these books to children at bedtime brings a lovely, quiet enlightenment. The watercolor and Japanese-inspired ink-wash paintings are perfect.Book Review: Good, but no Zen Shorts
Summary: 3 Stars
We purchased this for our son based on our deep and abiding love of Zen Shorts. Zen Ties is not as fun or deep as Zen Shorts. We didn't fall in love with it like Zen Shorts. It's not bad, but we don't come back to it over and over like we did Zen Shorts.
I miss the embedded Zen stories - I preferred them to the framing bits in the first one. The haiku are cute, but not as spiritually fulfilling for me.
If you don't have Zen Shorts, get that immediately. If you love Zen Shorts, this isn't a bad idea but isn't a must-have.
Book Review: Haikus for Life
Summary: 5 Stars
In `Zen Ties' Jon J. Muth revisits his delightful story of the friendship between siblings Addy, Michael, and Karl with Zen master panda bear Stillwater. Yet, here Muth adds a wonderful surprise - Stillwater's haiku-talking nephew Koo comes over from Japan to visit and in one week they will discover that many times what seems is not always what is.
When Stillwater makes friends with an angry neighbor, the siblings are speechless. They can not understand how Stillwater could ever want to spend a day with the bitter old lady who is always screaming at them to not play on her yard. Combining his peaceful messages with Koo's simple haikus, Stillwater shows Addy, Michael, and Karl that being alone and scared often makes people angry, but with a little love, patience, and care a person's true personality will come shining through.
'Zen Ties' is a wonderful story, beautifully illustrated by Muth's watercolors. It a great read in classes and in the home if you are teaching a lesson on morality and caring for grandparents and the elderly. Muth's addition of Koo's character also adds a creative journey into different forms of poetry - you can pair this up with a lesson on Japanese culture and a `write your own haiku' exercise with the class. (Literature teachers of older students can use this too!) This book is a great addition to your Muth collection and could be read before or after reading `Zen Shorts'.
Book Review: Lovely Story
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this book first because I fell in love with the story and artwork. It's about how the panda and kids help a older woman with chores and what they learn from it. Very beautiful. After I got it, I had to go and buy the other two : Zen Shorts (Collector's Edition) (Zen) & Zen Ghosts. This one is still my favorite though!Book Review: More Stillwater Lessons
Summary: 5 Stars
Themes: friendship, community, perspective, connections, forgiveness
Content areas: Early reading to upper elementary, Writing- metaphor, haiku, Art- visual expression, Guidance- perspective/forgiveness
Excellent story (even better than the first) filled with word play, and metaphor that challenge upper elementary students to find meaning beyond the first reading. Muth's beautiful watercolors add a quiet reflective air to the story.
The author's note at the back of the book is a must read. Memorable line: "It is easy to believe we are each waves and forget we are also the ocean".