The Mouse & the Buddha
PreSchool-Grade 1–This gentle tale combines basic teachings of the Buddha with a knowing appreciation of the love most children have for small animals, in this case a mouse. Tsi Tsi enters a Buddhist temple by night and finds a wealth of food offerings left there. As he eats, the Buddha, via the temple statue, shares with him the essence of his wisdom: Be kind to others, Be forgiving, Have compassion for those less fortunate than you, and so on. Tsi Tsi takes the teachings to heart and begins to help older mice, those who are lonely and sick, and so forth. The Buddha, in return, receives the mouses tickling of his stomach and the gift of laughter. Openly didactic, the tale serves as a simple introduction to Buddhism in an easily digestible form. Most of the teachings are given in a series of spreads. The illustrations are simply drawn, featuring black outlines and rich colors. Children might pay more attention to Tsi Tsis activities than to the teachings, which are central to all religions, but since the mouse decides to act upon the instruction, the lessons are likely to make an impression.–Coop Renner, Hillside Elementary, El Paso, TXCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.