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The Three Questions (Hardcover)

by Jon J. Muth (Author) "There once was a boy named Nikolai who sometimes felt uncertain about the right way to act..." (more)

4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (65 customer reviews)

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Zen Shorts (Caldecott Honor Book) by Jon J Muth
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Nikolai is a boy who believes that if he can find the answers to his three questions, he will always know how to be a good person. His friends--a heron, a monkey, and a dog--try to help, but to no avail, so he asks Leo, the wise old turtle. "When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do?" Leo doesn't answer directly, but by the end of Nikolai's visit, the boy has discovered the answers himself.

Award-winning illustrator Jon J Muth's lovely watercolors are the most appealing aspect of this book about compassion and living in the moment. The simple Zen-based profundity of the boy's philosophical exploration may escape young readers, but they will enjoy the tale of a child who, in doing good deeds (for a panda and her baby, no less!), finds inner peace. Muth based his story on a short story of the same title by Leo Tolstoy. (Ages 5 to 9) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly
Muth (Come On, Rain!) recasts a short story by Tolstoy into picture-book format, substituting a boy and his animal friends for the czar and his human companions. Yearning to be a good person, Nikolai asks, "When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do?" Sonya the heron, Gogol the monkey and Pushkin the dog offer their opinions, but their answers do not satisfy Nikolai. He visits Leo, an old turtle who lives in the mountains. While there, he helps Leo with his garden and rescues an injured panda and her cub, and in so doing, finds the answers he seeks. As Leo explains, "There is only one important time, and that time is now. The most important one is always the one you are with. And the most important thing is to do good for the one who is standing at your side." 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. Judicious flashes of color quicken the compositions, as in the red of Nikolai's kite (the kite, released at the end, takes on symbolic value). An afterword describes Tolstoy and his work. Ages 6-up.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1 edition (April 1, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0439199964
ISBN-13: 978-0439199964
Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 9.9 x 0.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (65 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,223 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in these categories: (What's this?)
#5 in Books > Children's Books > Issues > Social Skills
#9 in Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Social Situations > Values > Fiction
#21 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Fiction

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
There once was a boy named Nikolai who sometimes felt uncertain about the right way to act. Read the first page

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 6 books:

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy in Back Matter
Anna Karenina (Oprah's Book Club) by Leo Tolstoy in Back Matter
War and Peace (Penguin Classics) by Leo Tolstoy in Back Matter
Anna Karenina (Norton Critical Editions) by L.N. Tolstoy in Back Matter
War and Peace by Lev Tolstoy in Back Matter

See all 6 books this book cites

26 books cite this book:

Fire in the Soul: A New Psychology of Spiritual optimism by Joan Borysenko in Front Matter, and page 60
Comprehension Process Instruction: Creating Reading Success in Grades K-3 (Solving Problems in the Teaching of Literacy) by Cathy Collins Block on page 38, and page 111
Constructing Meaning Through Kid-Friendly Comprehension Strategy Instruction by Nancy N. Boyles on page 35, and Back Matter
Quotes to Inspire Great Reading Teachers: A Reflective Tool for Advancing Students' Literacy by Cathy Collins Block on page 10, and page 28
Quotes to Inspire Great Reading Teachers: A Reflective Tool for Advancing Students' Literacy by Cathy Collins Block on page 10, and page 28

See all 26 books citing this book

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	76% buy the item featured on this page: The Three Questions 4.8 out of 5 stars (65) $12.23
	12% buy Zen Shorts (Caldecott Honor Book) 4.9 out of 5 stars (86) $12.23
	5% buy Zen Ties 4.8 out of 5 stars (18) $12.23
	4% buy Because of You 4.8 out of 5 stars (11) $10.87

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Customer Reviews

65 Reviews

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
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Average Customer Review

4.8 out of 5 stars (65 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

78 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "This Is Why We Are Here", May 28, 2002

By	Roz Levine (Virginia) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

"There was once a boy named Nikolai who sometimes felt uncertain about the right way to act..." He wanted to be a good person, but was unsure how to accomplish his goal. Nikolai had three important questions...When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do? "If only I could find the answers to my three questions... then I would always know what to do." So he decides to seek the counsel of Leo, the turtle. "He has lived a very long time. Surely he will know the answers I am looking for." But as he reaches Leo's home, high in the mountains, disaster strikes, and without even thinking Nikolai takes action, and in the process finds the answers he's been searching for..... Based on Leo Tolstoy's short story, Jon Muth has authored a reflective and inspired picture book retelling of The Three Questions. His simple and eloquent text, with its gentle message of compassion and living for each moment, is enhanced by lovely and evocative watercolor artwork in quiet and subdued tones. Together word and art answer Nikolai's questions in a captivating and engaging way..."Remember then that there is only one important time, and that time is now. The most important one is always the one you are with. And the most important thing is to do good for the one who is standing at your side. For these, my dear boy, are the answers to what is most important in this world." With an Author's Note at the end to augment the story and introduce Tolstoy and his works, The Three Questions is a perfect fable for youngsters 5-9, and is sure to open interesting and thoughtful discussions.

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27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Questions, Questions, Questions, February 14, 2005

By	M. Swinney "Marc My Words" (Flower Mound, TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What is the best time to do things? Who is the most important ones? What is the right thing to do? So I hope that doesn't give it away for you, but that's the book's central search...a boy Nikolai, his three friends Sonya the Heron, Gogol the Monkey, Pushkin the Dog, and the final answers are facilitated by Leo the wise Turtle. The watercolor art is the true gem in this book and the Zen-exercise in the meaning of life takes a close second.

"The Three Questions," is currently my two year old's nightly request...although he sometimes asks for the three questions and sometimes ask for the "Nikolai" book. The writing is really to engage children of older ages but something about the characters, language, and pictures connect with children and adults of all ages.

The esoteric Zen exercise may seem a little off-putting or prententious to some, but it gets kids thinking about morality and ethics at an early age. It gets kids thinking about what is the best approach to life and an approach to be mindful about the present and others.

A wonderful wonderful book with beautiful art throughout. This one comes recommended as a magical treatise on thinking about life.
--MMW

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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book: images and story, April 11, 2002

By	"shihtzux" (Forest Park, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This is a beautiful and very touching book with a special message of love, compassion and introspection. These themes could be deep for a child but they are conveyed with characters and images that captivate and draw in the reader, whether young and old. The story is very touching and nurturing and the themes are ones that a person is never to young to be introduced to. I collect children's books and count this one among one of my favorites.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars An unusual children's book
The greatest children's books speak to adults as well, on some deep level of meaning that encompasses all of us. "The Three Questions" is one of those books. Read more

Published 3 months ago by James Roberts

5.0 out of 5 stars Important lesson for young and old
I bought this based on reviews here. I don't want to diminish Muth's other work. They're all good. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Lisa

2.0 out of 5 stars a little too wordy
This book does have a nice message/moral at the end. However, I thought it was a bit long especially for younger readers. Read more

Published 3 months ago by L. Hardy

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful message with beautiful illustrations
This is a wonderful story about the very old question, What is most important in life?! told through the eyes of a child and through the animals and the situations that arise... Read more

Published 7 months ago by Lavonne Rhyneer

5.0 out of 5 stars Good timing, we needed something to help us sort out the most important things in our life, I also learned a lot from this book
We were having trouble at home being nice to one another, there seemed to be a lot of competiveness and arguing. Read more

Published 8 months ago by Delaney

5.0 out of 5 stars A gift for my goddaughter
The first time I read this book, I was babysitting and the child was only 11 months old. Needless to say, I appreciated the book more than the 11 month old :) I couldn't help but... Read more

Published 8 months ago by Kinsey Bodenburg

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming and Beautiful Story to Share
I was delighted by Muth's 'Zen Shorts' and when I read a review for 'The Three Questions' I looked for it immediately and was just thrilled. Read more

Published 8 months ago by Sherri Montgomery

5.0 out of 5 stars Good job, seller!
I was pleased with the delivery time and with the quality of the product. I cannot wait to give these 3 books as gifts: one to each of my adult children.

Published 11 months ago by C. G. Royal

2.0 out of 5 stars I question the message
This is a really cute book. But I have an issue with the idea that the most important person is whomever you happen to be with at the time. Read more

Published 12 months ago by M. Wade

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book - Good for any age
This would make a great present for any age. If we all followed the advice in this book, the world would be a much better place. So simple, yet so complex at the same time. Read more

Published 12 months ago by S. Rosato

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