Muth, Jon. Zen Shorts, New York: Published by Scholastic Press, 2005.
Zen Shorts is a fictional/folklore picture book that challenges the human mind and forces it to reexamine every aspect of our lives: The habits, desires, and uncertainties. The story involves three children (Michael, Addy, and Karl) who form an unlikely friendship with a panda bear named Stillwater who happens to be their new next door neighbor. The days that follow have each of the children visiting Stillwater, where he provides stories that challenge and encourage the children to think in ways that never occurred to them before.
Using water color and ink was a fitting approach in constructing the artwork of the picture book. The pale colors create an atmosphere that is calm and relaxing. Despite the use of water color the features are oddly complex and realistic, every detail penetrating the reader’s senses. The story is placed in the pictures, instead of a separate section of the page. If the text had been a separate section it would have shown incohesion, and moved away from the serenity of the book.
“When you look into a pool of water there is a clear reflection. If the water is agitated the reflection is unclear.”[1] Our minds are like that. When we are agitated, we cannot see the truth. Jon Muth effectively demonstrates his ability to challenge the human mind. The story reflects how we consistently examine our own personal behavior and learn from our experiences. The story is appropriate for ages 5-10.
[1] Quote found in back of Zen Shorts
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What did you think of the way that the styles of art changed at different points in the book?
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