Our Favorites of 2007

This week in the spirit of the hurried holidays, the reviewers of Props and Pans will be posting our favorite reviews of 2007. We’ll be back in 2008 with lots of opinions.

So begins Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth, which is currently our favorite children’s book. It tells the story of Stillwater, a giant panda who suddenly shows up in the backyard of Michael, Addy, and Karl and is quickly befriended by the them.

First, Addy goes to tea with Stillwater; then Michael goes over to visit, and finally Karl goes over to go swimming with Stillwater. At each visit, Stillwater tells the visiting child a story that has some specific relation to the child who hears it.

It turns out these stories are the titled Zen Shorts, or short meditations, designed to challenge the listener (or reader) to think about various ideas, fears, habits, or desires. You don’t have to take my word for it – there is a very helpful author’s note at the back of the book that explains that, as well as the derivation of Stillwater’s name, and other information about the zen philosophy.

We LOVE this book. It is a fun storyline – who wouldn’t love a large panda who politely retrieves his umbrella when the wind carries it to your backyard, and then lets you come over for tea and friendship and tells you wonderful little stories? The illustrations are charming, and the zen stories are easily understood and enjoyed by young audiences and adults alike.

The recommended reading level is ages 4-8, but I think it would be enjoyed by children as old as ten. My seven year old was not able to read it all by herself, but when I read it to all of my children, even the almost-three year old was entertained enough to sit and listen instead of making me stop and read White Rabbits Color Book for the eleventy thousandth time.

Bottom line, this Caldecott Honor Book award winner is one you won’t mind reading every night at bedtime for months on end.

Written by Mary, who is a thirty-something SAHM of four under the age of eight. She is a lousy housekeeper, a voracious reader, and dabbles in art and music in various forms. She blogs to maintain her writing skills and her sanity in The Fish Pond.