The Three Questions

Based upon a story of the same name, written by the celebrated 19th-century Russian novelist and moral philosopher, Leo Tolstoy, this lovely picture-book from author/illustrator Jon J. Muth imagines a young boy named Nikolai and his quest to answer the three eponymous questions: What is the best time to do things?, Who is the most important one?, and What is the right thing to do? When Nikolai's animal friends - Sonya the heron, Gogol the monkey and Pushkin the dog - cannot give him satisfactory answers, he sets out to the mountain home of Leo the turtle. Once there, his actions in helping Leo to garden, and in rescuing a panda mother and son from a storm, preclude him from getting his answers. Or do they...?

Although I am sorry to say show more that I have never read the original by Tolstoy - I certainly hope to, now! - I nevertheless enjoyed The Three Questions immensely. Having read author/illustrator Jon J. Muth's books about Stillwater the panda (Zen Shorts, etc.), it came as no surprise to discover that this was a teaching tale. As is so often the case in stories such as this, the hero's journey is what provides him with the answers in the end, and through the aid he offers others, Nikolai does indeed get the answers he's seeking. Simple but profound - the time to do things is now, the most important people are the ones you are with now, and the right thing to do is to help those people - these answers feel right, and have the feeling almost of self-evidence, once one has read them. A thoughtful book, one that satisfies both as a story and a teaching tale, this is one that can be used to strike up a more philosophical discussion with children. The artwork, done in watercolor, is vintage Muth: beautiful and light-infused. Highly recommended, both to Muth fans and to anyone seeking more philosophical children's books. show less

Gorgeous artwork illuminates this children's adaptation of Tolstoy's classic story. In truth, I find this version more powerful and more convincing.

That being said...

While this story isn't without decent advice, it's mostly facile. In general, I have three reactions to this story (both this children's version and also Tolstoy's original):

1) I inherently distrust anyone who claims easy and obvious answers to life's challenges and problems.

2) I inherently distrust wise hermits / men living alone on mountain tops. What do they know about living in a society, about being a member of a community of people?

3) My biggest concern is how this could be read:

"The most important person is the one you are with" and "The most important thing is to do show more good for the one who is standing at your side" could just as easily justify discounting everyone who isn't close to you, who isn't part of your group. It implies that most people in the world aren't important. It could just as easily imply that you shouldn't bother to care about people distant from you, who aren't a part of your immediate life and experience.

"The most important time is now" seems awfully short-sighted. Actions have consequences and we have a responsibility to the future. This piece of wisdom could just a easily justify carelessness and not thinking things through.

I know none of that is the intention of this story: indeed, it wants to teach lessons of compassion and caring. I just worry about how easily it can be read to justify solipsism and short-sightedness. show less

I have been thinking about this book long after I read it. I enjoyed the peaceful pictures that fit the contemplative questions. I am not sure of why the image of the boy's red kite is so engrained in my head but it is. I will have to think about that more later. I am so impressed with the boy's helpful nature. He does not stop to ponder or wait for someone to ask for help, he just leaps into action. This is a book that all children could use as an example of kindness.

Sometimes Nikolai was uncertain about the right way to act. He knew he wanted to be a good person, but he felt he didn’t always know the right way to go about it. He was certain that if he could just get the answers to three questions, he would always know what to do.

When is the best time to do things?
Who is the most important one?
What is the right thing to do?

Nikolai asks his friends . . . Sonya the Heron, Gogol the Monkey, Pushkin the Dog . . . but their answers don’t seem right. So he decides to ask Leo the Turtle who has lived a long time and will surely know the answers Nikolai seeks.

Leo is digging when Nikolai arrives; the boy does the job for him because the turtle is very old. When a storm blows in, Nikolai finds himself show more helping an injured panda. And, in the process, he finds the answers he seeks.

Based on a story by Leo Tolstoy, this touching tale speaks to compassion and concern for others. The soft watercolor illustrations are a perfect accompaniment to the story that helps a young boy discover why we are here.

Highly recommended. show less

This lovely modern work is inspired by a classic work of Leo Tolstoy's. Author and illustrator Jon Muth does a beautiful job of taking a universal concept and making it accessible to young children as they too ponder the importance of life and those they encounter.

Intelligent, Young Nikolai has three questions he wants answered, they are: When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do?

Calling upon his friends the heron, the monkey and the dog, each answer from their personal experience. Still, the answers are not satisfying to Nikolai Thus, he journeys high in the mountains seeking the wisdom of Leo the elder turtle.

While talking to turtle, and helping him dig, he hears a cry in the distance and finds a Panda bear with a broken leg. Returning in a storm to find the Panda's baby, he brings the baby to mama Panda. From this experience, the turtle tells Nikolai that the most important time is now, the most important one is the one by your side and show more the most important right thing to do is to be good to the one by your side.

Beautifully rendered illustrations draw the reader into the boy's life. show less

In my opinion this is a great book that sends an excellent message to young readers. The language is very descriptive and the story provides you with points of views from several different characters. The boy in the story wants answers to three important questions and the answers are provided from a bird, dog, monkey, and a turtle. The illustrations went along wonderfully with the story and kept me engaged while reading. I do think that this book has a more mature message for readers to understand so, younger readers may not get the point of the story. In the end the boys questions are answered and end up being the main message of the story. The most important time is now, the most important person is the one you are with, and the most show more important thing is what you do for the one by your side. The story sends an excellent message to always be there for your friends and to help others when needed. show less