Rhode Island Children's Book Award    

Student Comments

Zen Shorts

by
Jon J. Muth
Grades 2-6

 I have been reading a book called Zen Shorts for the past week. It is written and illustrated by Jon.J. Muth. It is a Fantasy Fiction book. It is at a children’s house.  Their names are Addy, Michael, Karl, and Stillwater. This book is very interesting and it gives good advice. There is a moral to every story that Stillwater helps. He helps these kids with every day problems and he will never say no. He will tell you to have lots of fun. I would say to give this book a 4.I think this book is good for you and family. I would recommend this book because it can help you with every day problems

Alexis A, Grade 5,W.L. Callahan School , Harrisville

I read the book Zen Shorts. This book was written and Illustrated by Jon .J. Muth. It is a fiction book and a fantasy the setting is at these children’s house. The children’s names are Michael, Karl, and Addy. They meet a Panda bear named Stillwater. Stillwater helps the children by telling stories and, them figuring out the moral to his stories. I recommend this book because it can help you with everyday problems. It’s a Caldecott. If you want to find out more you will just have to read this book.

Sarina H, W.L.Callahan School, Harrisville

I read the book because it was funny and gave good advice. The story is about three kids that find Stillwater the panda in the backyard one day. Stillwater tells all the kids stories about his family and other people. The stories that Stillwater tells them makes the children learn about everything in the world. This book won a Caldecott Medal.

Robert L, Grade 5, WL Callahan School, Harrisville

I would recommend the book Zen Shorts written and Illustrated by Jon J. Muth, because every story showed a message of kindness. This book is a fantasy book and I love fantasy books. What about you? This book is about a Panda named Stillwater who reads short stories to Micheal, Addy, and Carl. This story takes place in a backyard. There were lots of Illustrations and they were water color painted. Read this book if you like fantasy.

Northern Lincoln Elementary Dana Grade 5

I recommend the book Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth, illustrated by Jon J. Muth. This book is a fantasy fiction book. I like the book Zen Shots because the author was really creative and it had very good illustrations. It made me feel like I was there. The four main characters are Still Water, Addy, Michael and Carl. I recommend this book for ages seven and up. This book is about a bear named Still Water who takes three little kids Addy , Michael and Carl on an adventure to places they have never seen before.

Northern Lincoln Elementary Chianne Grade 5

I recommend the book Zen Sorts written by John J Muth. It is a great fiction book. The main characters are Stillwater, Michael, Addy, and Karl. The setting is out side in the kids’ back yard. The fantastic black & white pictures are by John J. Muth. One of the best things about this book is its very descriptive. In the beginning a bear comes to visit the kids. He tells short stories. His stories are about meditation. Zen shorts are short meditation. The stories make the readers think. This book really teaches lessons.

Erika Grade 4 Northern Lincoln Elementary

In this book Stillwater finds kids and tells them stories of where he came from. The reason I like this book is because it has three short stories this books genre is fantasy because panda’s don’t talk and they don’t come to life from a different world. This is why I recommend this book.

Northern Lincoln Elementary Nick Grade5

I strongly recommend the book Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth. He is also the illustrator. If you look closely you will find the real life of the children and Stillwater is black and white while the lessons are in colored. Stillwater, Michael, Addie, and Karl are the main characters. The book takes place in the children’s house, the children’s backyard, Stillwater’s house, and Stillwater’s Backyard. I liked this book because there are stories inside the story. Out of chaos, fights, and pure love, this book is awesome!! I promise you this book will teach you a lesson (three actually).

Northern Lincoln Elementary Drezek, E. 4th Grade.

One of my favorite picture books is Zen Shorts. It is by Jon Muth Zen Shorts is a fantasy book about a panda bear helping three children with their problems. I love this book because it is teaching a lesson in a fun way!! I especially like this book because it’s a panda bear teaching the lesson instead of a human. I recommend this book to any one who likes panda bears and a good theme. I rate this book ***** stars.

Northern Lincoln Elementary Shirley Grade 5

In this great book, Zen Shorts, by Jon J. Muth, a talking bear named Stillwater stumbles upon three children named Michael, Addey, and Carl. Stillwater tells each child a story with great morals. This fantasy picture book has beautiful illustrations that, if you pay very close attention, will show you something. I don’t personally like this book; I say it’s a little boring. However, if you just want to sit back and relax with a book, then Zen Shorts is made for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Northern Lincoln Elementary, Alex Grade Five

I think this is a great book to read because of the detail and the illustrations because the detail and the illustrations have very good paintings. In this book Zen Shorts, there was a polar bear and three kids. Zen Shorts is the three kids pet. Zen loves the kids but he’s Just too big for everything. The outside pool, the house, the bathroom, even everything in the household! I’d say the recommendation for this book would be fourth graders only.

Northern Lincoln Elementary Micka Grade 4

Do you like fiction books and picture? Well, Zen Shorts is the book. It is by John J Muth and illustrated by John J Muth. The characters are Stillwater, Michael, Addy, and Carl. I like this book because the illustrator drew in color and black and white. This book has three stories to the kids. The Bear named Stillwater tells stories to kids. The bear and the children become friends. The setting is outside. If you want to hear the rest then read Zen Shorts!

Northern Lincoln Elementary Valeriya Grade 5

The book Zen Shorts I would definitely recommend. This book is by Jon Muth. This book is fantasy book. This book is about three kids, Michael, Addie, and Carl who meet a Panda named Stillwater. The Panda tells them stories that have morals to them. The setting is outside. I did like this book. If you’re interested, read this book.

Northern Lincoln Elementary Peter Grade 5

This book is about a Panda named Stillwater who tells stories to three children, Michael, Karl and Addy.  Stillwater told different stories to each child and ended up being friends with all of them.  One story he told was about a bear who gave his robe to a robber, another story was about a farmer who has good luck and bad luck and there is one about a spoiled mouse. 

Eliz, Grade 4, Northern Lincoln Elementary School

This book is about a panda named Stillwater who tells three children each a story.  The stories he tells them teach a lesson, very much like a fable.  This is a fiction book which is a series of fables.  I like this book because I think it makes me wiser.

Nicole, Grade 4, Northern Lincoln Elementary School

Zen Shorts is about a panda who moves to a neighborhood.  He tells stories to three kids, Addy, Michael and Karl.  The stories are marvelous because of the morals.  They are also very wise.  This book will make you laugh out of your skin.

Emily, Grade 4, Northern Lincoln Elementary School

The panda in Zen Shorts is wearing shorts.  The panda only wants to make friends.  There are pictures in this book.  I like this book because of the panda and his friends.  People should read this book because you learn better from the book.  The panda has found his friends now.

Amanda, Grade 4, Northern Lincoln Elementary School

Zen Shorts is about a panda named Stillwater who travels by an umbrella and gets blown off course.  He lands in a back yard.  He meets three children, Addy, Michael and Karl.  They become best friends and Stillwater tells them lots of stories.  I recommend this book because it is an amazing book with amazing illustrations and tells lots of amazing stories.  That’s why I like it.  And the illustrations really make this story come to life.

Danielle, Grade 4, Northern Lincoln Elementary School

Zen Shorts has a panda that follows two boys and a girl around.  The setting is in the children’s back yard.  I love the pictures in Zen Shorts.  I give the book 3 stars (***) but I give the pictures 5 stars (*****).  The panda tells stories to the kids.  One story is about a rat who is a thief stealing stuff.  I give that story 3 stars (***).

Alex, Grade 4, Northern Lincoln Elementary School

In this book a panda named Stillwater helps three children named Michael, Karl and their sister Addy.  Stillwater tells fables to the children.  Each day one of the children visited Stillwater and the panda told each one a story.  One of the stories was about a monk carrying a lady on his back.  The lady was mean and never said thank you.  Another monk asked if the first monk was angry because the lady never said thank.  If you want to find out what happens to the kids then read this book to find out!

Patrick, Grade 5, Northern Lincoln Elementary School

This page was created on May 1, 2006 and was last updated on March 10, 2007.