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Zen Ties (Hardcover)

by Jon J Muth (Author)
Key Phrases: Miss Whitaker
4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)

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Zen Ties + Zen Shorts (Caldecott Honor Book) + The Three Questions
Price For All Three: $36.69

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  • Zen Shorts (Caldecott Honor Book) by Jon J Muth

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Stillwater, the giant panda who taught Zen parables to siblings Karl, Addy and Michael in Zen Shorts, continues to combine his slow-moving grace with genuine spiritual tranquility. This time, Michael faces a daunting spelling bee, and Stillwater, first seen wearing a necktie, introduces the three to Miss Whitaker, an elderly neighbor whose crabby outbursts have frightened them. Stillwater's inward eye sees through her anger to her fear and loneliness. She turns out to be a marvelous spelling coach (Just like plants, words have roots, she tells Michael. Roots of words can teach you to spell), and when Michael wins a red ribbon, the pictures show the whole group sharing his victory with their own red ribbons—the Zen ties of the title. (Zentai is Japanese for the whole or the entire, as in all of us together.) A subplot featuring Koo, Stillwater's nephew, drifts a bit; he's a cute little panda who punctuates the action with Zen-influenced haiku (and allows Muth another pun: Hi, Koo!). Muth's brush is as sure as ever; Stillwater's big, blunt paws and hunched-over listening posture are irresistible, and Miss Whitaker's delicate face and snow-white hair beautifully counterpoint the vignettes of youthful play. From a religious tradition that makes no theological demands and that will be unfamiliar to most readers, Stillwater offers a model of pure saintliness, and children will instantly respond to him. All ages. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Description
Summer has arrived -- and so has Koo, Stillwater's haiku-speaking young nephew. And when Stillwater encourages Koo, and his friends Addy, Michael, and Karl to help a grouchy old neighbor in need, their efforts are rewarded in unexpected ways.

Zen Ties is a disarming story of compassion and friendship that reaffirms the importance of our ties to one another.



See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

  • Reading level: Ages 4-8
  • Hardcover: 40 pages
  • Publisher: Scholastic Press (February 1, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0439634253
  • ISBN-13: 978-0439634250
  • Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 10.8 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #12,036 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category: (What's this?)

    #25 in  Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Family Life > Multigenerational > Fiction

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Zen Ties
58% buy the item featured on this page:
Zen Ties 4.8 out of 5 stars (18)
$12.23
Zen Shorts (Caldecott Honor Book)
25% buy
Zen Shorts (Caldecott Honor Book) 4.9 out of 5 stars (86)
$12.23
The Three Questions
10% buy
The Three Questions 4.8 out of 5 stars (65)
$12.23
Stone Soup
4% buy
Stone Soup 4.7 out of 5 stars (12)
$12.23

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Customer Reviews

18 Reviews
5 star:
 (16)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (18 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking, February 8, 2008
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.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, January 27, 2008
Zen Ties is soothing / like breathing in yoga class / forgetting worries

Animate readers / with soft, light watercolors / and careful phrases

Rewards are greatest / when we help one another / teaches Stillwater

Be kind to planet / remember not to destroy / learns our young wee Koo

Happier today / for reading this picture book / Many thanks to Muth
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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Zen!, March 13, 2008
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Gentle Zen Wisdom for the Young Listner
Zen Ties is a lovely, beautifully illustrated book that any adult will enjoy reading to the thoughtful young listener. Read more
Published 1 month ago by S. Swanson

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but no Zen Shorts
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. Read more
Published 1 month ago by T. R. Smith

5.0 out of 5 stars Such a beautifully illustrated and thoughtful book
This book is so beautifully illustrated - much like the previous book Zen Shorts. It is also beautifully written. Read more
Published 1 month ago by S. Lundy

5.0 out of 5 stars Zen Ties
Jon J. Muth offers a gentle reminder that loneliness diminishes our ability to respond to the world with love ... beautiful book ... I got a kick from the pun ... Read more
Published 4 months ago by James R. Stigall

5.0 out of 5 stars Zen Ties
My son and I have enjoyed this book so much. The illustrations and story are moving and memorable. It is one of those books you never get tired of reading, over and over and over... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Tracy France

5.0 out of 5 stars Zen lessons perfect for young picturebook readers.
Summer has arrived and so has Koo, Stillwater Panda's haiku-speaking young nephew. When Stillwater encourages Koo and friends to help a grouchy neighbor in need, their efforts are... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Midwest Book Review

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant and Beautiful
This book has a story that draws my 3 year old in, is wonderful to look at and hold.
Published 10 months ago by Edward M. Melendez

3.0 out of 5 stars A lot short of Zen Shorts
I am a big fan of Jon Muth, both of his art and his Zen based stories. The Three Questions and Zen Shorts were great. They make you think, feel, understand, and love. Read more
Published 12 months ago by L. Brooks

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!
This is a wonderful book. I have a 5 and a 3 year old and they ask for this book every night. There is not an awful lot of action, befitting a Zen Panda, but the kids love it... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Kelly Yandell

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Jon Muth Book
I bought this after receiving Zen Shorts. Jon Muth leaves the reader with a sense of calm. Great lessons for children of all ages.
Published 14 months ago by VA Reader

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