Stone Soup

A series of 26 poems, all haiku, mark each of the four seasons starting with autumn while highlighting the letters of the alphabet. Each short poem is accompanied by Koo, the young panda, who is joined by two children and illustrated in handsome, spare watercolors.

The race is on and Mama Lion and young Tigey are off! The Italian countryside provides the backdrop for this charming tale of friendship and monkey hijinks. Translucent watercolors illustrate the race with spiffy cars driven by toys come to life are worth reexamining.

Stillwater, a large panda, tells each child a story that illustrates a principle of Zen. Although the tales will captivate children, adults may recognize the philosophy imbedded in them. Delicate, handsome illustrations capture the mood and flow of the stories.