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Product Description
Product Description
On Halloween, Stillwater the panda, who dons a spooky costume and mask, promises his friends Addy, Michael, and Karl a spine-tingling ghost story to be told by a mysterious storyteller. The storyteller--who looks remarkably like Stillwater--tells the children an unforgettable ancient Zen story about a girl named Senjo who hopes to marry Ochu, the boy next door. But Senjo's parents have different plans for her future. They want her to marry a more prosperous man than Ochu--someone who will care for the family and her ailing father. Heartbroken by the prospect of being separated, the two run off to a far away village and marry. As the years pass, Senjo's regret for having left her family slowly eats away at her happiness, and she and Ocho return home to make amends. But a surprise ending is in store. For Senjo's father swears his daughter has been sick and living at home with him the entire time. Yet Ocho knows differently, for he has been living with Senjo for many years. What is the truth? Who is the real senjo? The story of Senjo was originally written down by a Chinese Buddhist Monk Master named Wu-men Hui-hai in the early 13th Century. This type of story, called a Koan, is used by students of Zen to attain enlightenment. It provokes thought and conversation--yet has no concrete answers. With Zen Ghosts, Muth has once again presented an original, beautifully crafted story, perfect for Halloween--or any time.
About the Author
Jon J Muth's high acclaimed picture books are beloved around the world and have been translated into more than ten languages. His Caldecott Honor Book, Zen Shorts, and the sequel, Zen Ties, were both long-running New York TImes betsellers. He lives in upstate New York with his wife and four children.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Doubly Frightful and Beautiful,
By Reflection Haiku "Lily Wang, Author" (California, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Zen Ghosts (Hardcover)
Muth's audience should expand to include adults as they are the ready audience to be spooked spiritually by this exquisite ZEN GHOSTS. Three books after (ZEN TIES, SHORTS & GHOSTS). STILLWATER the panda has become our family friend, a master storyteller who opens this book with a visit in his eerie Halloween mask to his young friends and through their discussion of costumes, Stillwater is inspired to tell a ghost story - the Japanese style. The enthralling illustrations make us feel present from the beginning to the end and the trick-or-treating street scene is extremely fascinating. The choice of the ghost story is a bold one for though the theme is common in the east, it could seem very stunning here. And since I never heard of this particular tale, it does did the trick of scaring the breath out of me for a few seconds as the page reveals the ghostly twist. But rest assured, there is no bloody, violent or gruesome scene involved, it is a sophisticated ghost story successfully revealed. The artwork in ZEN GHOSTS is comparable to Muth's Caldecott Honor winning ZEN SHORTS, except everyone is in costume for the mysterious Halloween and in the end Karl in his monster suit, Michael as a owl pirate, and Addie in ethereal white contemplate the theme of duality together as Panda's own bamboo-hanged round Lantern make the moon shines like two.Zen Ties Zen Shorts
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars (24 customer reviews) 26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
More Brilliance From Jon Muth, This Time Halloween-Themed,
By L. Erickson "Mommy Mystic" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Zen Ghosts (Hardcover)
I'm a fan of Jon Muth's books, and this one didn't disappoint. Stillwater, the beloved giant haiku-speaking panda also featured in Zen Shorts and Zen Ties, makes his reappearance here, this time accompanying Michael, Karl and Addy (the three children also featured in the prior books) on their Halloween trick-or-treating. The pictures are breathtaking as always, with the Halloween theme providing extra fun - one two-page spread features a beautiful full moon and dozens of children in a riot of different costumes. My almost-six year old couldn't stop looking at that page.The book features a story within a story, as Stillwater tells the children a ghost story set in ancient Japan. The theme is nothing less than 'what is real?', the heart of Zen - and Halloween, of course - but young children will simply be caught in the fantasy and beauty of it all. The zen of Muth's books is never pedantic or preachy - it's embedded in every word and picture. The Japanese ghost story Stillwater tells is based on a koan from The Gateless Gate: The Classic Book of Zen Koans, but don't let that intimidate you. In Muth's deft hands it's a riveting tale, and you don't need to have any interest in Buddhism or Zen to enjoy it (although if you do, you'll be over the moon.) So this is a lovely book for any child, and a particularly wonderful Halloween gift. **EDIT**: I came back to add this, after seeing some of the comments about the story-within-the-story being too sophisticated for young children. Although every parent has to make these kinds of decisions for themselves, I wanted to say that I don't think it is anymore difficult for children to process than fire-breathing dragons or lost princesses. It reads like a fable. Parents will need to explain a bit, but I like books that trigger discussion and questions. And of course young children won't get the 'what is real?' sub-text, but a little confusion is not always a bad thing (and is very Zen!) 19 of 22 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Different than the other ones,
By Amber - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Zen Ghosts (Hardcover)
Because we love Zen Ties & Zen Shorts so much, I bought this book even though I knew nothing about the story within. Well, the story totally threw me off, I found it very different than the others in this series. Beautiful pictures, I guess a well written story (I needed to read the Koan explanation @ the end of the book to "get" why Muth thought this was a good story for kids). I think it works well as a ghost story, but my kids (4& 6) didn't get the deeper meaning aspect on the first reading. They were so confused by the details of the story they were hung up on that (I'd have to give away the story to explain further).I like these books because of the spiritual message they impart to kids, but I don't think my kids are going to "get" that so much from this one. I had to go off book and explain it to them, and they still didn't relate it back to the story (unlike the other books in this series). Also, in the story a boy and a girl elope b/c the father wants the girl to marry someone else. I think that's too heavy for my kids at this age. They can handle it but why would I purposely expose them to eloping at this age ... I read it to them and modified that part of the story. I am giving it four stars because it is beautiful in look and intent, but I think it's not quite the fun and spiritual light read that my kids got out of the other two books. The stories in the other books had an immediate beautiful message for my kids, and yet still were stories that could teach further with further readings. Fyi, I have studied some buddhism and have exposed my kids to it a lot and we love Stillwater the Panda! 5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!,
By Eco Mama's Guide To Living Green "www.ecomama... - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Zen Ghosts (Hardcover)
My five year old son and I eagerly await John Muth's Stillwater books and I'm so thrilled to have this latest effort, ZEN GHOSTS, which takes place during my favorite time of year, Autumn and Halloween. Stillwater, the giant panda is my most adored contemporary children's book character. But these books are obviously not just for children.Addy, Michael and Karl, featured in the prior books, are getting ready for Halloween. Stillwater joins them for festivities and reads the children a story by candlelight. The vibe of the book is both cozy and mysterious. As you can tell from the cover, the illustrations are magical. There is a two page spread depicting trick or treating that is magnificent, so visually the book is incredible, and perhaps the most striking one of the series to date. The Buddhist theme is appropriate for young children as they can be even more receptive to subtle teachings than adults. In some ways, a koan is more accessible to a child. As with the other two Stillwater books, Zen Ties and Zen Shorts, this is a story within a story and this one goes pretty deep. What genius to contemplate illusion and duality in a Halloween setting! What is real and what is not real? "Which Senjo is the true one? Are they one or are they two?" This book works on many different levels and I can't get enough of it. |
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