Editorial Reviews  
Book Description  
A monkey, caught in a monsoon, finds shelter in a cave amid the rubble of a temple. The monkey is not alone. A lion, a jackal, a turtle, and a dove bicker in the cramped space, until a statue of Buddha comes to life. "Hush, children, hush," Buddha says. "I will tell you a story to pass the time." From the tale of the clever monkey outwitting a hungry crocodile to that of a bird and turtle rescuing a friend, the six amusing parables told by the Buddha will introduce young readers to the famous cycle of fables in Buddhist literature known as the Jatakas, or birth stories, which Buddha originally told to his disciples to illustrate his teachings. Joined with stunning linocut illustrations, Jeanne M. Lee's retellings form a book notable for both its beauty and its wisdom. 

Synopsis  
Known as Jatakas, or birth stories, these six fables are those Buddha originally told to his disciples when occasion arose to illustrate his teachings. Each retelling features animal characters and an incarnation of the Buddha from an earlier life, usually as an animal himself. From the tale of the clever monkey outwitting a crocodile to that of a bird and turtle rescuing a friend, these amusing parables embody some of the central tenets of Buddha's philosophy. Young Adult. 

About the Author  
Jeanne M. Lee has written and illustrated many picture books, including The Song of Mu Lan, which Publishers Weekly, in a starred review, proclaimed "powerful and understated." She lives in Brookline, Massachusetts.