He won an Eisner Award for his paintings in the graphic novel, The Mystery Play by Grant Morrison. Muth draws inspiration from his life-long interest in Asian Studies, including tai chi chuan, sumi ink drawing, and chado, 'the way of tea.' Muth is also renowned in the world of graphic novels. Muth's many enchanting picture books include his Caldecott Honor Book Zen Shorts, Addy's Cup of Sugar, Stone Soup, and The Three Questions, which the New York Times Book Review called 'quietly life-changing.' His books have been translated into more than 23 languages and are cherished by readers of all ages. Jon J Muth is beloved all over the world for his seven books featuring Stillwater the Panda, whose love and balanced approach to life always serve to make the world a better place for his young friends. The book functions on many levels, from seasonal Halloween story to ghost yarn to deep philosophy, and succeeds spectacularly on all of them.- Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission. Muth's artistic gifts are so breathtaking that they will draw in even those whose attention spans are not at first up to the demands of the text. The children and readers are left to consider this and other mysteries as both tales come to a close. When the story ends and the illustrations return to the earlier complex, evocative watercolors, it isn't clear whether Stillwater and the storyteller are two entities or one. reality, and is at the same time a wonderfully haunting tale that's perfect for Halloween. It invites listeners to consider duality, or perception vs. His story, which is told in words and brush-and-ink drawings, is based on an old Zen koan, or puzzle, about a young woman who is with her husband in a faraway land and yet very ill and at home with her parents.

Inside his house is another panda who looks exactly like Stillwater. Stillwater himself-who said he would be a ghost this Halloween-is at times almost transparent, and his round, white bamboo lantern mimics the full moon. The walk through the forest is filled with mystery. The panda invites Addy, Michael, and Karl to meet him after trick-or-treating to hear a ghost story. It's Halloween, and the three siblings introduced in Muth's Zen Shorts (2005) and Zen Ties (2008, Scholastic) are working on their costumes when Stillwater appears at their door.

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Zen ghosts by jon j muth