Zen Shorts is a refreshing little book with a Japanese influence. In the story, three siblings, Addy, Michael and Karl notice that there is a giant panda in their backyard. His name is Stillwater, and he has come to rescue his umbrella. The three quickly make friends, and as they come to visit him, Stillwater tells each a story. Addy hears a story of a man who gives gifts to the man who was trying to rob him, Michael learns that luck can't be relied on or predicted, and and Karl hears a story of a monk who learns to lay down his troubles. Stillwater becomes a great friend to each child, and teaches them through his humor and wisdom about living peacefully.
Zen Shorts can be summed up in one word: refreshing. In a child's world of violence on TV, video game baddies and struggles, an ever changing and more complex childhood, Zen Shorts teaches kids that thinking calmly and objectively about your situation may be the key to understanding one another. I also had a soft spot for big, furry Stillwater, who acted like a grandfather figure to the children in the book. He was a role model of kindness and quietness, and managed to come off endearing rather than boring or dusty.
In my life, I do try to be a peaceful, positive person, and a role model of those characteristics. However, in a stressful situation, taking master's courses, trying to find a teaching job after graduating in December, trying to keep peace between my family members and myself as we live packed together and in one another's pockets, trying to hold down and maintain a long-distance relationship with my boyfriend as he works on his master's degree, and also maintain the personal friendships and professional contacts I cultivated in college that have now been scattered to every corner of the county, I don't always do my best. The constant uncertainty combined with deadlines, job hunting, two other courses, and a thousand other daily stress triggers that simply come with life usually take their toll and I am not as Stillwater-esque as I'd like to be. I'm sure that's why I personally found Zen Shorts to be so appealing. Stillwater's attitude and matter-of-fact kindness are admirable and a role model even for me, at twenty two years old.
I'm not sure that I've ever read any other children's books By Jon J. Muth, nor can I remember reading any children's literature that exemplified the values of Zen culture. I did think that as a book that presented different cultural viewpoints to students, this book was relatable and likable, rather than being forgein or too 'weird' for kids. In the past when I've read books that are meant to communicate cultural messages to children, many are either too sterile or politically correct to be memorable, or too focused on making parts of a different culture relate to a vast number of cultures, which can be confusing and overwhelming and often only serves to make the new culture seem even more estranged from a child's personal way of life. Zen Shorts cultivates a feeling with the reader, of acceptance and harmony, without putting a lot of labels and definitions on the Zen perspective. Jon Muth managed to write a story that was familiar, comfortable and endearing that communicates Zen philosophy effortlessly and in a way that is easy for children to understand and internalize.
I hadn't heard any of the stories, told by Stillwater almost like parables to the children in the book. Each story had a moral, much like Aesop's fables, that the characters in the story came to realize on their own, making it easy for them to accept, rather than taking a lecture from big, cuddly Stillwater. I loved each of these stories, and was especially touched by the story of two monks, one older, whom had carried an arrogant woman over a puddle. When the lady did not thank him, but pushed him aside haughtily and carried on her way, the monks walked for a time before the younger spoke up. '"That woman back there was very selfish and rude, but you picked her up on your back and carried her! Then she didn't even thank you!" "I set the woman down hours ago," the older monk replied. "Why are you still carrying her?"' Well! Who among us can't learn from that older monk, whose water-off-the-back philosophy, paired with kindness for kindness' sake, makes for a contented, unruffled man, secure in his own happiness. Everyone, adults particularly in this case, can learn something from Zen Shorts. The Author's Note in the back of the book says that Zen Shorts was so named for "short meditations- ideas to puzzle over- tools to hone our ability to act with intuition. They have no goal, but often challenge us to reexamine our habits, desires, concepts, and fears." This books does just that, and remains adorable and great for children.
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