Books like 'Zen Shorts'
Readers who enjoyed Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
fantasy religion animals spirituality children friendship poc-mc family myths humor
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I Broke My Trunk! by Mo Willems
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsGerald is careful. Piggie is not.Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.Gerald and Piggie are best friends.In I Broke My Trunk! Gerald tells Piggie the long, crazy story about breaking his trunk. Will Piggie end up with a long, crazy story of her own?Once again, Mo Willems creates another hilarious escapade starring the Geisel Award-winning duo... -
The Journal of the Two Sisters: The Official Chronicles of Princesses Celestia and Luna by Amy Keating Rogers
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAs seen on the hit animated series My Little Friendship is Magic !Learn the history of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna by reading the diary they kept when they were younger. PLUS, hidden inside, readers will discover the pages of a bonus book-- The Journal of Friendship... -
My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsWhen a delicious-looking piglet knocks on Mr. Fox's door "accidentally," the fox can hardly believe his good luck. It's not every day that dinner just shows up on your doorstep. It must be his lucky day! Or is it?Before Mr. Fox can say grace, the piglet has manipulated him into giving him a fabulously tasty meal, the full spa treatment (with bath and massage), and . . . freedom... -
Der gute Riese by David Litchfield
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThere is a Secret Giant in Gableview who has hands the size of tabletops, legs as long as drainpipes, and feet as big as rowing boats. But little Billy thinks the Giant is just a tall tale that his grandad likes to tell. According to Grandad, the Giant keeps the bears away when they go camping and rescues Billy’s favorite kite when it gets tangled up in the tallest tree... -
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Petite Rouge by Mike Artell
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhen her grand-mère comes down wit' de flu, this Cajun Little Red knows what she has to do. With her witty cat, TeJean, she sets off in a pirogue to bring Grand-mère some gumbo. Who should she meet upon the way, but that big ol' swamp gator, Claude! Mean ol' Claude may want to gobble up Petite Rouge, but she and TeJean have a better idea... -
Help Wanted, Must Love Books by Janet Sumner Johnson
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhen Shailey's dad gets a new job, she loses her bedtime reading partner. She immediately starts interviews to fill the position and is thrilled when her favorite fairy tale characters line up to apply. But Sleeping Beauty can't stay awake, the Gingerbread Man steals her book, and Snow White brings her whole team. Shailey is running out of options... -
The Mysterious Tadpole by Steven Kellogg
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt's Louis's birthday and Uncle McAllister has brought him a very special gift&150a tadpole all the way from Scotland! Louis can hardly wait for Alphonse to grow into a frog. But it soon becomes clear that Alphonse is not turning into any ordinary frog... -
Found by Salina Yoon
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAn NPR Best Book * Winner of the SCIBA Book Award for Best Picture Book Geisel Honor-winning author/illustrator Salina Yoon introduces adorable duo Bear and his bunny Floppy in Found --a charming board book that celebrates love and friendship in its many forms. When Bear finds a lost stuffed toy bunny in the forest, he begins to worry... -
Mustache Baby by Bridget Heos, Joy Ang
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWhen Baby Billy is born with a mustache, his parents have to figure out if it's a good-guy mustache or a bad-guy mustache in this hilarious oversized board book perfect for reading aloud at storytime. When Baby Billy is born with a mustache, his family takes it in stride... -
Arthur's Eyes by Marc Brown
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsNone of Arthur's friends wear glasses and his classmates tease him! But when he stops wearing them, he gets in all kinds of trouble. Maybe four eyes really are better than two... -
Three Little Cajun Pigs by Mike Artell
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTrosclair, Thibodeaux, and Ulysse are three pigs with a whole lot to do. Their mom has just kicked them out of the house and it's time they make their own way and start constructing new homes in the heart of the swamp... -
The Tale of Custard the Dragon by Ogden Nash
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIn this humorous poem, Custard the cowardly dragon saves the day when a pirate threatens Belinda and her pet animals... -
If... by Sarah Perry
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA diving board to creative wordplay, the fascinating picture book If... offers a surrealistic view of the natural world. The two-page spreads present artful watercolors paired with such strange possibilities as "If zebras had stars and stripes...," "If the moon were square...," and "If worms had wheels... -
Dragon Gets By by Dav Pilkey
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAward-winning author/illustrator of the Captain Underpants series, Dav Pilkey's gentle blue Dragon (from the hit TV series) will charm beginning readers with the adventures of a mixed-up... -
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Little Red Gliding Hood by Tara Lazar, Troy Cummings
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLittle Red Riding Hood straps on ice skates in this fractured fairy tale! A figure-skating enthusiast, Little Red has worn out her skates and must win a pairs competition to earn new ones. But who will be her partner? The Dish is already skating with the Spoon, and Hansel has Gretel. You won’t believe what big eyes, sharp teeth, and furry paws her partner has . . -
Dear Dragon by Josh Funk
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA sweet and clever friendship story in rhyme, about looking past physical differences to appreciate the person (or dragon) underneath.George and Blaise are pen pals, and they write letters to each other about everything: their pets, birthdays, favorite sports, and science fair projects... -
Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock by Eric A. Kimmel
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA classic trickster folktale told with humor and charm, this is a perfect read along book both parents and children will love.When Anansi the Spider finds a strange moss-covered rock in the forest, he uses it to trick all his animal friends. But Little Bush Deer is onto Anansi's scheme, and hatches a plan to beat him at his own game... -
A Bedtime for Bear by Bonny Becker
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsBear must have absolute quiet when he goes to bed. But the effervescent Mouse, small and grey and bright-eyed, finds it terribly hard to be quiet. 'A Bedtime for Bear' sees the curmudgeonly Bear and his irrepressible friend Mouse return in a third wry adventure that will be familiar to many... -
10 Minutes till Bedtime by Peggy Rathmann
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAt One Hoppin' Place, the countdown to bedtime is about to begin when a family of hamsters -- a mother and father with nine kids and a baby all wearing numbered striped jerseys -- arrive at the front door."All aboard!" the child's pet hamster, dressed as a tour guide, shouts, directing them to his bus... -
Gossie & Gertie by Olivier Dunrea
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsGossie and Gertie are best friends. They splash in the rain, play hide-and-seek, and they dive in the pond together. Everywhere Gossie goes, Gertie does too. Or does she? With charming illustrations and gentle text, Olivier Dunrea has created two lovable, sweet characters that will appeal to the youngest listeners... -
The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Lowell
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsEveryone knows the story of the three little pigs, but now you're going to meet the three little javelinas (pronounced ha-ve-LEE-nas)--loveable, wild, southwestern cousins of pigs. Living in homes built out of tumbleweeds and saguaro ribs (from the fallen giant cacti), the first two javelinas are soon running from the hungry coyote, who had hoped to eat them with red chile sauce... -
Zen Ties by Jon J. Muth
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsSummer has arrived -- and so has Koo, Stillwater's haiku-speaking young nephew. And when Stillwater encourages Koo, and his friends Addy, Michael, and Karl to help a grouchy old neighbor in need, their efforts are rewarded in unexpected ways. Zen Ties is a disarming story of compassion and friendship that reaffirms the importance of our ties to one another... -
It Could Always Be Worse: A Yiddish Folk Tale by Margot Zemach
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsOnce upon a time a poor unfortunate man lived with his mother, his wife, and his six children in a one-room hut.Because they were so crowded, the children often fought and the man and his wife argued. When the poor man was unable to stand it any longer, he ran to the Rabbi for help... -
The Crayon Box That Talked by Shane DeRolf
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratings"While walking through a toy store, the day before today, I overheard acrayon box with many things to say..."Once upon a time, Shane DeRolf wrote a poem. It was a deceptively simple poem, a charming little piece that celebrates the creation of harmony through diversity... -
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Arthur's Tooth by Marc Brown
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsFor use in schools and libraries only. Arthur, tired of being the only one in his class who still has all his baby teeth, waits impatiently for his loose tooth to fall out... -
When Dinosaurs Came with Everything by Elise Broach
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsFrom beloved duo Elise Broach and David Small comes an adorable picture book about a little boy who gets a free dino with purchase!Free gift with purchase: Dinosaurs! Wait—free what?! Just when a little boy thinks he’s going to die of boredom from running errands with his mom, the most remarkable, the most stupendous thing happens... -
Super Slug of Doom: A Super Happy Magic Forest Story by Matty Long
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe Super Happy Magic Forest is once again thrown into disruption and chaos when Blossom the unicorn accidentally releases the super slug of doom from his hibernation beneath an ordinary rock. Can our five reluctant heroes -- Hoofius, Blossom, Twinkle, Trevor, and Herbert -- once again save their beloved forest from slimy, sludgy, yucky evil? We sure hope so. . -
Dear Peter Rabbit by Alma Flor Ada
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsChildren and their parents will be delighted with this witty collection of letters written by famous storybook characters eagerly anticipating Goldilocks's birthday party and the Three Little Pigs' housewarming (which keeps getting postponed as the wicked wolves wreak havoc on first a straw and then a stick house)... -
My Mom Is Magical by Sabrina Moyle
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMy Mom Is Magical, featuring a magical unicorn, and My Dad Is Amazing, featuring a mythical yeti, are joyful tributes to just how amazing parents (and their kids!) are... -
Brothers of the Knight by Debbie Allen
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIn this contemporary retelling of the fairy tale "Twelve Dancing Princesses", an African-American reverend in Harlem endeavors to discover why the shoes ofhis 12 sons are worn to pieces every morning. Full color... -
Almost Everybody Farts by Marty Kelley
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“A playful, punchy paean to the pervasive poot.” —Kirkus Reviews (Starred review) Grandmas fart. Teachers fart. Terrifying creatures fart. But . . . is there someone who DOESN’T fart? With sly humor, this fun board book looks at a subject that’s sure to make children laugh: farting... -
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly! by Lucille Colandro
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe bestselling Old Lady series finally delivers its own version of the original, classic song: THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY!It's the Old Lady as you've never seen her before! Now she's swallowing animals from the classic story .. -
And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon by Janet Stevens, Susan Stevens Crummel
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsEvery night the rhyme gets read. Every night Dish and Spoon run away. And every night they return--until tonight! Where can Dish and Spoon be? The rhyme can't go on without them, so Cat, Cow, and Dog set out to search for their missing friends... -
Charlotte and the Rock by Stephen W. Martin, Samantha Cotterill
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAn unexpected friendship forms between a girl and her pet rock in this charming story that's perfect for fans of What Pet Should I Get? Charlotte has always really wanted a pet, so when her parents present her with one for her birthday she expects a cat, dog, or maybe a bird. Instead, she receives a rock... -
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Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm by Jerdine Nolen
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHarvey Potter was a very strange fellow indeed. He was a farmer but not like any farmer you've ever met. He didn't grow corn, okra, or tomatoes. Harvey Potter grew balloons. No one knew exactly how he did it, but with the help of the light of a full moon, one friendly child catches a peek of just how Harvey Potter does it. And keeps some magic for herself... -
Little Red Riding Hood by Jerry Pinkney
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIn this inspired rendering of the classic Grimm Brothers folktale, five-time Caldecott Honor winning artist Jerry Pinkney introduced two favorite children's characters to a new generation: the sly, scary wolf and the sweet little girl in her famous red hood... -
Eduardo Guadardo, Elite Sheep by Anthony Pearson, Jennifer E. Morris
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsEduardo Guadardo may look fluffy. He may look cute. But he’s no little lamb. He’s about to graduate from the FBI—that’s the Fairytale Bureau of Investigations—as an Elite Sheep. He knows five forms of kung fu, and he can outfox the foxiest of foxes. In fact, he’s so good they put him on his own case: to keep the farmer’s daughter, Mary, safe from Wolf, Troll, and Witch... -
Cozy by Jan Brett
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA group of animals find an unusual but warm and furry home during Alaska's long winter.Cozy is the softest musk ox in Alaska, with the warmest fur you ever did feel. When a storm hits while he's separated from his family, he starts to feel lonely--but not for long. As the snow piles up, animals start to notice just how warm and cozy Cozy really is! One mama lemming has a bright idea . . -
The Wolf's Chicken Stew by Keiko Kasza
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe wolf loves to eat more than anything in the world and one day he has a terrible craving for chicken stew. He spots a chicken who seems just right, but then he thinks how much more stew there will be if he fattens her up before dining himself. So he goes home and begins to cook all kinds of scrumptious food for the chicken to eat... -
Miss Mary Mack by Mary Ann Hoberman
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA lively picture book adaptation of the well-known children's hand-clapping rhyme, perfect for the whole family. Everyone knows some version of this popular children's hand-clapping rhyme, but in this adaptation, the elephant's fateful jump over the fence is just the beginning of the fun... -
The Three Little Pigs by James Marshall
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsJames Marshall, a 1989 Caldecott Honor winner for Goldilocks and the Three Bears, is witty and wily once again as he enchances The Three Little Pigs with ingenious details that will delight young readers... -
Shoo, Fly Guy! by Tedd Arnold
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThe third book in a humorous, easy-to-read series about a boy and his fly! Each book in the series has a different fun foil cover!Fly Guy returns home to discover that Buzz has gone on a picnic without him! Sad and hungry, Fly Guy takes off in search of his favorite food... -
Arthur and the Baby by Marc Brown
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsArthur's family is expecting a baby and everyone is excited... -
It Came in the Mail: With Audio Recording by Ben Clanton
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrom the author-illustrator of Something Extraordinary comes a tale filled with dragons, pickles, friendship, and lots of mail—perfect for fans of Mo Williams and Bob Shea.Liam really wants some mail, so he writes a letter to his mailbox asking for something in return... -
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Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku by Lee Wardlaw, Eugene Yelchin
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsNice place they got here. Bed. Bowl. Blankie. Just like home! Or so I've been told. Visiting hours! Yawn. I pretend not to care. Yet -- I sneak a peek. So begins this beguiling tale of a wary shelter cat and the boy who takes him home.Sometimes funny, sometimes touching, this adoption story, told entirely in haiku, is unforgettable... -
Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotton
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThis is Russell. Sometimes Russell is just a little bit out of step with the rest of the flock. All the sheep are falling asleep--except Russell. What's a sheep to do? Russell tries everything ...until, at last, he falls asleep... -
You Are Not Small by Anna Kang, Christopher Weyant
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWinner of the 2015 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Two fuzzy creatures can't agree on who is small and who is big, until a couple of surprise guests show up, settling it once and for all!The simple text of Anna Kang and bold illustrations of New Yorker cartoonist Christopher Weyant tell an original and very funny story about size—it all depends on who's standing next to you... -
Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great by Bob Shea
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsHi, I'm Goat. Things were just fine around here until UNICORN showed up.So what if he can fly?Or make it rain cupcakes?And turn stuff into gold?Big deal. I can do some cool stuff too, like...Hey! What are you doing? Why are you opening the book?He's just going to tell you how great he is. Blah, blah, blah.Go ahead. Just don't say I didn't warn you.Dopey Unicorn... -
Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator! by Mo Willems
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratings6½ stories about 2 surprising friends.Having a stuffed alligator for a best friend can be surprising.Sometimes Amanda surprises her alligator with books. Sometimes Alligator surprises Amanda by eating them.But what happens when Amanda brings home a special—and not entirely welcome—surprise? The result might be unexpected indeed... -
Fly Guy Meets Fly Girl! by Tedd Arnold
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsFly Guy has met his match, and her name is Fly Girl. Fly Guy is totally impressed, and totally smitten. Will Fly Guy and Fly Girl get married and leave Buzz without his dear pet? Full color...
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