Stonecutter [Hardcover]

Jon J. Muth (Author), John Kuramoto (Author), Jon J Muth (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

This adaptation of a Chinese folktale begins with a man's dissatisfaction with his life. Weary of being a stonecutter, he becomes many things in his quest for authority, each time finding that greater power lies elsewhere. Rooted in Taoist principles, Stonecutter is a story about the nature of power and the value of accepting who you are.

 

Originally published in a limited, fine art edition and long out of print, this is one of Jon J Muth's most heartfelt and exquisite works, and a book he entrusted to Feiwel and Friends to reach a wide new audience.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Jon J Muth:

“Moral without being moralistic, the tale sends a simple and direct message unfreighted by pomp or pedantry. Muth’s art is as carefully distilled as his prose. A series of misty, evocative watercolors in muted tones suggests the figures and their changing relationships to the landscape.”—Publishers Weekly, review of The Three Questions

 

“. . . Both an accessible, strikingly illustrated story and a thought-provoking meditation. Here Muth incorporates short Buddhist tales. . . . the peaceful, uncluttered pictures, like the story itself, will encourage children to dream and fill in their own answers.”—Booklist, starred review of Zen Shorts

About the Author

JON J MUTH has written and illustrated many acclaimed picture books including his Caldecott Honor title, Zen Shorts, which Kirkus proclaimed, “As perfect a picture as can be”; and The Three Questions, which the New York Times Book Review called “quietly life-changing.” His newest book, Zen Ties, debuted this spring and immediately landed on the New York Times bestseller list. He lives in New York State with his wife and four children.

 

JOHN KURAMOTO has collaborated on the text for many comic books and graphic novels, including The Crow. He lives in New York State.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 136 pages
• Publisher: Feiwel & Friends; First Edition edition (April 14, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312554567
• ISBN-13: 978-0312554569
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #236,106 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

The career of Jon J Muth spans three decades, beginning with Wilmington College hosting his first one-man show as a painter at the age of eighteen. He now exhibits his work internationally. He is a musician and a best-selling writer, and for over twenty years put pictures and words together in comics and graphic novels; culminating in the industry's highest honor, an Eisner Award for "The Mystery Play".

Siting that becoming a father was a profoundly life changing experience, Mr. Muth became aware of the need to explore subjects that spoke to a younger audience. He remarks, "My oldest is eighteen and now we have four year old twins. I love writing for children. Drawing for them. Children see the world in a bright, curious and immediate way. Most of my work in children's publishing has been in watercolor which speaks to that vibrancy.... Being a parent to me reveals something about being alive and a responsibility that is really shattering... An artist is a very selfish position to occupy, but being a parent just throws all that out the window. Becoming a father in my case, did something I can't really explain and it has influenced my creative process."

In 1999 Mr. Muth started what has been over a decade in children's books, first illustrating "Come On Rain!", which won a Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators. He has received numerous awards and critical acclaim and worked with many talented people, including Neil Gaiman and Mo Willems. He is the author and illustrator of "Zen Shorts" a Caldecott Honor book, which Kirkus Review described as "Every word and image comes to make as perfect a picture book as can be". He is the illustrator of the anthology, "A Family of Poems", with Caroline Kennedy. His book "The Three Questions" has been described as "quietly life-changing" by The New York Times.

In an interview with the Paris Review, E.B. White once said, "You don't write down for children. You write up." Muth wholeheartedly agrees. "Children are completely capable of intuiting wisdom as readily as adults are... they just may not have the ability to put it into words ... [but] they get this stuff very quickly. Even the kids who come to the book (Zen Shorts) because it has this giant panda tend to come back because there's some itch that's set off -- in their minds or in their hearts -- to re-examine what's going on."

Mr. Muth has had a life long interest in Asian Studies, including tai chi chuan, sumi ink drawing and chado, "the way of tea". His work has been translated into more than a dozen languages and he lives with his wife Bonnie and their four children in New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not a kids' book, and not inspiring, January 3, 2010

By 

Amy Bruckman (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Stonecutter (Hardcover)

I'm a huge fan of Muth's work. His stories are fun and profound at the same time. So I ordered this little book too. I was really disappointed--actually actively disliked it. It's not a kids book--it's packaged as a tale about life to give to someone at graduation or a similar milestone. I don't agree with the message it's sending, and found it neither entertaining nor thoughtful. Which is surprising because I normally find Muth inspirational.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Gift!, November 4, 2009

By 

Maria (nyc) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stonecutter (Hardcover)

This book is my go-to gift for all ages, occasions, and milestones---housewarmings, graduations, birthdays, and just-because. The beautiful ink washes are cool enough for my artsy friends. The text is meditative and thought-provoking enough for my yoga friends. And the story provides a healthy perspective on expectations and ambition so I can give it to my younger cousins as a graduation gift. Best of all, the package is both accessible and elegant making it right for just about anyone and everything. Perfect, perfect!

Stonecutter is a beautiful reminder that no matter what my T-shirt may say, it's not "all about me."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars another gem from Jon Muth, February 5, 2010

By 

VA Reader "VA Reader" (Virginia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Stonecutter (Hardcover)

My children LOVE this book. He has such a great way of getting children to think outside of their own little world.