Publishers Weekly
★ 12/19/2022
In this first of a planned four-book series, Zen panda Stillwater and nephew Koo spend a day together, working in small steps to “save the world” after Koo awakens with a zeal to do “something important! Fix all the things that are wrong.” Following breakfast, Stillwater suggests that Koo start by tidying, and the two feed and brush the cat, clear the leaves outside, and feed the pond fish. (“I wonder, do fish swim knowing how very big the vast ocean is?” Koo asks. “That’s a wonderful question,” Stillwater responds.) They next bake and deliver a cake to welcome new neighbors (a human family portrayed with brown skin), take a moment to sit with big feelings, then stop a truck so that a duck family can cross the road safely. Watercolors by Muth (Zen Shorts) provide an intriguing, intimate-feeling peek into the pandas’ household goings-on, while abundant white space and a generous trim size contribute to an atmosphere of tranquility. The two pandas do more than love each other throughout this deliberate read; they show respect for each other, their surroundings, and all living beings, in an effort “to take care of the world and each other.” Ages 4–8. (Feb.)
From the Publisher
Praise for Stillwater and Koo Save the World:A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection * “Powerful words indeed, and mission accomplished! This beautifully told story makes clear that, with patient guidance, praise, and role modeling from loving grown-ups, children can learn to be kind and caring and to “save the world” in small, doable ways.… A stunning, tender testament to the idea that small acts of kindness, one by one, make a huge impact.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review * “The illustrations, done in delicate watercolors and pencil, lend both beauty and comic detail to the story. The resolution ‘each time you do something good, you save the world a little bit,’ is inspiring.” — Booklist, starred review
* “[Muth’s] watercolors provide an intriguing, intimate-feeling peek into the pandas’ household goings-on, while abundant white space and a generous trim size contribute to an atmosphere of tranquility. . . . they show respect for each other, their surroundings, and all living beings, in an effort ‘to take care of the world and each other.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
Praise for Addy's Cup of Sugar: NAIBA's 2021 Books of the Year Winner! 2021 Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year List * "With simple, direct storytelling, Muth reveals the immanence within everyday life, a theme underscored by the perfect watercolor illustrations.... This gracefully told story will comfort readers who have experienced death with its healthy truth while the gorgeous illustrations will uplift them... a master class of picture-book storytelling." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Distinctions and Praise for Zen Shorts: A Caldecott Honor Book Book Sense Book of the Year Award NAIBA Book of the Year Award A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing * "Both an accessible, strikingly illustrated story and a thought-provoking meditation." — Booklist, starred review * "Every word and image comes to make as perfect a picture book as can be." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Appealing enough for a group read-aloud, but also begging to be shared and discussed by caregiver and child, Zen Shorts is a notable achievement." — School Library Journal
Distinctions and Praise for Zen Ties: NAIBA Book of the Year Award Children's and Teen Choice Book Award Winner Cybils Picture Book Award Finalist A Washington Post Best Children's Book of the Year * "Muth's brush is as sure as ever; Stillwater's big, blunt paws and hunched-over listening posture are irresistible, and Miss Whitaker's delicate face and snow-white hair beautifully counterpoint the vignettes of youthful play." — Publishers Weekly, starred review "The pleasure, as always, is with Muth's irresistible storytelling, both visual and textual... The story's theme of intergenerational kindness is tender, and the text is infused with bits of haiku, wordplay and small lessons that charmingly avoid didacticism. A welcome return." — Kirkus Reviews "A rich and wonderful offering." — School Library Journal
Distinctions and Praise for Zen Ghosts: A Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People * "Muth's art remains strikingly beautiful, and Stillwater is perennially charming." — Publishers Weekly, starred review "A beautiful, contemplative offering." — Booklist Breathtaking... The book functions on many levels... and succeeds spectacularly on all of them." — School Library Journal
Distinctions and Praise for Zen Socks: An Amazon Editors' Children's Book of the Year * "Strikingly beautiful... perennially charming." — Publishers Weekly, starred review "Lessons of patience, compassion, and sharing, delivered gently." — Kirkus Reviews
Distinctions and Praise for Hi, Koo!: New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing A Parents' Choice Award Gold Medal Winner A Cybils Award Poetry Finalist * "It's a joyous addendum to the Stillwater books, and it overflows with the same characteristic tenderness." — Publishers Weekly, starred review * "Yields huge effect; in a word, magical." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Even readers who are not typically interested in poetry will be captivated by Muth's artistry in both words and images." — School Library Journal
Praise for The Three Questions: "Quietly life changing..." — The New York Times Book Review * "A soaring achievement." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review * "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." — Publishers Weekly, starred review
School Library Journal
03/01/2023
PreS-Gr 2—Panda Stillwater and his nephew Koo appear in the first of a four-book series. Koo awakens one bright morning and decides he would like to spend the day doing something important: "Fix all the things that are wrong. Let us save the world!" His uncle is agreeable but understands that, in order to engage in a very large undertaking, it is best to take it in little pieces. Therefore, saving the world can be accomplished bit by bit, by performing such tasks as picking up one's bedroom, brushing the cat, feeding the fish in the pond, and raking leaves. Welcoming a human family to the neighborhood by baking them a cake is a kind way to bring people together and help create a more perfect world. Muth's soothing illustrations in pencil and soft-hued watercolors feature plenty of white space and present a peaceful mood. Contemplation and reflection, words which define Zen, are demonstrated as the two discuss what fish understand and the desire to end hunger. VERDICT For the SEL shelves, here's a feel-good book full of thoughtfulness and empathy about the small things we can each do to make the world a better place.—Maryann H. Owen
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2022-12-14
To save the world, first start small.
Koo the panda tells Uncle Stillwater they want to save the world. “That’s a very big idea,” the adult panda muses, not discouraging Koo but quietly suggesting the two of them attempt more manageable goals first. They do, beginning by tidying Koo’s messy bedroom, which Koo enjoys because putting things where they belong makes them feel “not so jumbled up.” The pair proceed with other small tasks: attending to their cat’s needs; baking a cake to welcome new, brown-skinned neighbors; riding bikes; and halting an oncoming truck to allow a duck family to safely cross a road. They also discuss big questions throughout the day (do fish understand the vastness of the ocean? How do we deal with worries about the fate of the world?). Afterward, Stillwater rejoices in what Koo has accomplished, telling the little one, “Each time you do something good, you save the world a little bit.” Powerful words indeed, and mission accomplished! This beautifully told story makes clear that, with patient guidance, praise, and role modeling from loving grown-ups, children can learn to be kind and caring and to “save the world” in small, doable ways. The delicate watercolor-and-pencil illustrations suit the lovely message and perfectly capture the bond between adult and child. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A stunning, tender testament to the idea that small acts of kindness, one by one, make a huge impact. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-7)
