Haiku and gentle fun

Posted in Kid-friendly products
by besttech

Judy Green McClatchy Newspapers

Jon J Muth’s cleverness emerges gradually in “Zen Ties,” a glowing companion to his Caldecott Honor book, “Zen Shorts.” Stillwater, the gentle giant of a panda, greets his nephew at the train station with “Hi, Koo!” His welcome includes a gift of helium-filled balloons.

“An uplifting gift!” responds young Koo in haiku, the Japanese poetry form of three lines and 17 syllables. It launches Muth’s wordplay.

But Muth’s story is much more. At its core are Stillwater’s affection and concern for an elderly neighbor whose angry words have frightened the neighborhood children. Among them are Addy, Michael and Karl, who first appeared in “Zen Shorts.”

After lots of joyful romping in the park with tickles and skateboarding, Stillwater tells the children that he and Koo need to visit Miss Whitaker. He invites the young trio along. They demur. “She hates us! … She scares me,” Karl, the youngest, says. Stillwater explains that Miss Whitaker isn’t feeling well, and he must take her some food. He senses her loneliness.

They all pitch in to prepare her soup and deliver it. At first, she’s put off by the children on her front porch. They back out of sight but quietly dust and sweep up her home. Karl and Koo paint pictures for her. They see how frail she is. She’s much smaller up close than when she’s shouting from her porch.

When they return the next day, Michael finds out that Miss Whitaker used to teach English. Soon she’s coaching him for his spelling bee.

Muth’s colorful watercolor and ink illustrations are as luminous as his text. Spare in details, they capture facial emotions and body language. They include subtle bits of humor, like Karl, in the background, squirting whipped cream into his mouth. Other details link to the title. Everyone wears red ties while they sip apple tea in Miss Whitaker’s dining room after the spelling bee.

Older readers will gain insight from the author’s note, where Muth explains haiku and gives credit for the idea to have Koo use the same disposable cup during his visit.

“Zen Ties” is one cool read-aloud for hot summer days.