Written and Illustrated by Jon J. Muth
This book is a Children’s book, but it is so well written and meaningful that I recommend it for people of all ages. It has gorgeous water colors that support the text.
The story is of young Nikolai who has three questions burning in his soul –
1. When is the best time to do things?
2. Who is the most important one?
3. What is the right thing to do?
He has animal friends (kids love animals!) – Sonya, the heron, Gogol, the monkey, and Pushkin, the dog. They share their answers, but none satisfies him, so he decides to go ask Leo the turtle, who has lived a very long time.
One of the things I like about this book is that Nikolai is thinking about what is important in life. He asks his friends first, as most kids do. Then he decides to go to an older person – one who has wisdom that comes from a long and full life. (Grandparents – this is a great idea to promote!!!)
He has a series of adventures, and then Leo points out that he has his answers already – SPOILER ALERT – and here they are:
1. There is only one important time and that time is now.
2. The most important one is always the one you are with.
3. The most important thing is to do good for the one who is standing at your side.
We could have philosophical discussions that might provide other answers. This doesn’t directly teach the place of Faith in your life. But one book doesn’t have to have all the answers. What this book does is open the door for discussions. For a youngster, it focuses on importance of service and good deeds. For teens, it could spark a discussion concerning cell phones and the need to focus on the people in the room, not the people in your virtual world. For adults, it is a reminder to put down our electronics and our work and focus on our families. The antidote to multi-tasking is focus. Enjoy!
Blessings,
Barb
2. Who is the most important one?
3. What is the right thing to do?
He has animal friends (kids love animals!) – Sonya, the heron, Gogol, the monkey, and Pushkin, the dog. They share their answers, but none satisfies him, so he decides to go ask Leo the turtle, who has lived a very long time.
One of the things I like about this book is that Nikolai is thinking about what is important in life. He asks his friends first, as most kids do. Then he decides to go to an older person – one who has wisdom that comes from a long and full life. (Grandparents – this is a great idea to promote!!!)
He has a series of adventures, and then Leo points out that he has his answers already – SPOILER ALERT – and here they are:
1. There is only one important time and that time is now.
2. The most important one is always the one you are with.
3. The most important thing is to do good for the one who is standing at your side.
We could have philosophical discussions that might provide other answers. This doesn’t directly teach the place of Faith in your life. But one book doesn’t have to have all the answers. What this book does is open the door for discussions. For a youngster, it focuses on importance of service and good deeds. For teens, it could spark a discussion concerning cell phones and the need to focus on the people in the room, not the people in your virtual world. For adults, it is a reminder to put down our electronics and our work and focus on our families. The antidote to multi-tasking is focus. Enjoy!
Blessings,
Barb
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