Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, December 2009
This lively collection with prefatory comments by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Richard Gere, is the second of its kind from author-illustrator Naomi Rose (Tibetan Tales for Little Buddhas). In bilingual text, translated into Tibetan by Tenzin Palsang, this 64-page collection includes three intriguing stories. “Prince Jampa’s Surprise” is about a prince who acts on his people’s assumptions about their neighboring kingdom, only to be taken aback at the reality he discovers. In “Sonam and the Stolen Cow,” a young nun is accused of stealing a calf. She flees in righteous indignation, until an encounter with an all-knowing monkey gives her perspective. “Tashi’s Gold” is a lesson about greed, involving wonderful dramatic elements such as a singing guardian spirit and atmospheric gusts of wind. A glossary with phonetic pronunciations and an author’s note are located in the front matter. Back matter includes captioned spot illustrations of the Tibetan wildlife featured in the art as part of the setting. Rose’s text is clear, simple, and direct. Briskly paced but lyrical in quality, the stories make their points without didacticism. They reflect the unique blend of thoughtful actions and deeply held values that characterize the Tibetan Buddhist lifeway. A photograph placed in front matter and then again in the middle story complements the colorful paintings. A rare bilingual offering and a wonderful gift to young readers. REVIEWER: Uma Krishnaswami
