Review: Maybe A Little Zen for Little Ones

Title: Maybe: A Little Zen for Little Ones
Author: Sanjay Nambiar
Publisher: Umiya Publishing
Release Date: November 2011
Length: 32 pages
Ages?: 3-9
Genre: Children’s Literature

Find the book: Goodreads | Amazon

Based on an ancient and beloved Zen fable, “Maybe (A Little Zen for Little Ones)” is about a wise girl who experiences a series of events that at first seem lucky (or unlucky) but then turn out to be quite the opposite. A bike disappears, but then she gets a new one. She hurts herself, but then she enjoys a nice day at home. For each incident, was what happened good luck? Maybe. Was it bad luck? Maybe. Or, perhaps the girl simply does not get caught up in the emotion of the moment, because she can never know what that event might lead to, good or bad . . .

***** Review *****

This book is based on an ancient Zen fable where a farmer experiences a series of lucky and unlucky events, but then turn out to be the opposite. The focus is that we never know what’s going to happen next, so some unlucky things could turn out to be blessings.

This story centralizes on the fact that the little girl doesn’t get caught up in the emotion and drama of each event in the story, from her bike getting stolen to injuring her arm to missing a birthday party at school.