Zen Shorts
Author/Illustrator: Jon J. Muth
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Year: 2005
Brief Summary: Three siblings visit their new neighbor Stillwater, a giant panda, and each learns a lesson about generosity, the randomness of luck, and forgiveness. This is a good introduction to the Zen approach to the world.
Awards, Honors and Prizes:
- Book Sense Book of the Year Award, 2006′ ‘ Winner’ ‘ Children”s Illustrated’ ‘ United States’ ” ‘
- Charlotte Zolotow Award, 2006′ ‘ Honor Book’ ” ‘ United States’ ” ‘
- Cuffies: Children”s Booksellers Choose Their Favorite (and not-so-favorite) Books of the Year, 2005′ ‘ Winner’ ‘ Our Vote to Win the Caldecott’ ‘ United States’ ” ‘
- Mitten Award, 2005′ ‘ Finalist’ ‘ Picture Book’ ‘ Michigan’ ” ‘
- NAIBA Book of the Year Awards, 2005′ ‘ Winner’ ‘ Picture Book’ ‘ United States’ ” ‘
- National Parenting Publications Award, 2005′ ‘ Honor’ ‘ Preschool and Kindergarten’ ‘ United States’ ” ‘
- Nautilus Book Award, 2007′ ‘ Finalist’ ‘ Children”s Illustrated’ ‘ United States’ ” ‘
- Parents” Choice Award, 2005′ ‘ Gold’ ‘ Picture Books’ ‘ United States’ ” ‘
- Quill Awards, 2005′ ‘ Nominee’ ‘ Children”s Illustrated Book’ ‘ United States’ ” ‘
- Randolph Caldecott Medal, 2006′ ‘ Honor Book’ ” ‘ United States’ ” ‘
- Storytelling World Award, 2006′ ‘ Honor Book’ ‘ Stories for Pre-Adolescent Listeners’ ‘ United States’ ” ‘
- Amazon Editors’ Picks: Top 10 Books, 2005
- Best Children’s Books of the Year, 2005 ; Bank Street College of Education
- Book Sense Children’s Picks, Summer 2005 ; American Booksellers Association
- Booklist Book Review Stars , Mar. 1, 2005 ; American Library Association
- Booklist Top 10 Religion Books for Youth, 2005 ; American Library Association
- Capitol Choices, 2006 ; The Capitol Choices Committee
- Children’s Books 2005: One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing, 2005 ; New York Public Library
- Children’s Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006 ; H.W. Wilson
- Children’s Editor’s Choice, 2005 ; Kirkus Reviews
- Choices, 2006 ; Cooperative Children’s Book Center
- Kirkus Best Children’s Books , 2005 ; Kirkus Reviews
- Kirkus Book Review Stars, February 1, 2005
- Notable Children’s Books, 2006 ; ALSC American Library Association
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2006 ; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS
Ideas for using this book in classroom or library and/or brief notes on curriculum connections/content learning standards/Common Core, etc.:
- What lessons do the children learn from Stillwater? What do these lessons tell us about the Zen way of thinking?
- Introduction to Zen and other Asian philosphies (Tao, Confusionism, etc.). Compare them to other major philosophies of the West…how are they similar/different?
- Scholastic teaching guide: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/zen-shorts-storia-teaching-guide
- Read Muth’s The Three Questions and Zen Ties.
Special features included (if applicable) — index; timeline; author’s notes; further reading; etc. Additional information about Zen is included in the back of the book.
Accessed at: Thrasher Elementary Library