The Wisdom of the Crows and Other Buddhist Tales [Paperback]

Sherab Chodzin (Author), Alexandra Kohn (Author), Marie Cameron (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Dragons, goddesses, fortune hunters, and talking animals populate these folktales and Zen parables gathered from Tibet, India, Burma, China, and Japan.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A collection of Buddhist moral tales from India, Burma, Tibet, China, and Japan, The Wisdom of the Crows and Other Buddhist Tales is as enchanting as it is exotic. Vivid illustrations from tales such as "The Foolish Boy" and "Useless Work" depict the characters in traditional dress, and the page margins of every story are decorated with distinctive, intricate designs. Some of these parables are as short as half a page, such as the Zen story of the four young monks who take a temporary vow of silence only to inadvertently violate it one after the other, with the last one declaring triumphantly, "I am the only one who hasn't talked." Others are several pages long and full of magic and adventure, like "Goodheart and the Goddess of the Forest." In this story, a boy with an excessive penchant for generosity is sent away by his father. On his travels his meddle is tested by a giant, a witch, and a conniving uncle, and his forthright sincerity carries him through each episode until he is able to live happily ever after with his bride, the goddess of the forest, as stars in the sky. All of these stories are lightheartedly retold for children and a delight to read. --Brian Bruya

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up?A collection of folktales from several Asian cultures?Burmese, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Tibetan?that illustrate values associated with Buddhist tradition, mainly Zen. A foreword discusses the founding of Buddhism and describes the life of the Buddha and the growth of the religion in Asia and more recently in the West. The stories explore the human predicament and often examine the power of the mind as a force for overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles. "Angulimala the Brigand" is a well-known canonical story of the Buddha, who also appears in "The Stone Ape." The title story expresses the sentiment that true wisdom sees beyond superficial events. Familiar folkloric motifs appear throughout?various types of tests and deceptions, reversals of fortune, sibling rivalries, predictions of the future, and solutions to puzzles. These motifs set in nonwestern locations and accompanied by enchanting full-color illustrations make this a unique and attractive offering. On occasion, especially in the foreword, the authors assume that their audience will have a rather sophisticated grasp of Buddhist culture and philosophy. The intended messages of some of these parablelike selections will be over the heads of many young people unfamiliar with the faith. Although this title may not have a wide audience, the briefer stories can be used successfully as read-alouds.?Libby K. White, Schenectady County Public Library, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Tricycle Press (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883672686
• ISBN-13: 978-1883672683
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 0.3 x 10.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #764,645 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #41 in Books > Children's Books > Religions > Eastern

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for 4 year olds, July 1, 2001

By 

Nathaniel T. Parsons "[e-mail]" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Wisdom of the Crows and Other Buddhist Tales (Paperback)

I got this for my 4 year old daughter. I would suggest waiting a year or two longer. Some of the stories are long and overly complex and minimally illustrated. The short ones are often hard to interpret to a young child (the story of the two monks carrying the young woman across the water for example, my child is a little young to get much out of a story who's moral is something along the lines of 'obey the spirit of the rule, not the rule').

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Diverse stories of Zen parables with varying lengths., September 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Wisdom of the Crows and Other Buddhist Tales (Paperback)

The book includes 13 Zen parables and folktales from Japan, India, China, Tibet and Burma. It is interesting but the length and complexity vary a lot from story to story. Smaller children (4-6 years old) may be ready for the shorter ones while this book needs more illustration to attract their attention. A good book overall.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book to read to your children about buddhism, June 9, 2008

By 

Rosa M. Salazar "MOONJOPLINSUN" (WISCONSIN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Wisdom of the Crows and Other Buddhist Tales (Paperback)

this book is great and easy for me to explain to my child why we practice buddhism and she gets idea on how buddhism is and respect it