Reddit reviews Zen Shorts (Caldecott Honor Book)

This is in one of my daughter's story books, called Zen Shorts, by Jon J. Muth, and it features Stillwater, a giant zen panda who entertains three children, siblings, with this and a couple other well-known koans. It won Caldecott honors. One of the most beautiful, gentle books I've seen for kids who understand.

Try "Zen Shorts" by Junh Muth. http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Shorts-Caldecott-Honor-Book/dp/0439339111/ref=la_B001H6UCHW_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1367845573&sr=1-4

I love the book. i read it to my kids so much the cover wore off and I had to buy another copy.

Great questions! (from both you and your kiddo!). I came across this article - http://www.washington.edu/news/2013/01/08/the-philosophical-child-a-book-for-when-your-child-asks-why-are-we-here/ - which recommends a book for parents, but that doesn't sound like exactly what you're looking for.

In terms of philosophical picture books, the closest thing I can think of would be I Wonder by Annaka Harris. You might also check out the Zen Shorts series, though I don't think any of them really address "nature of reality" type questions directly. Also, while not exactly a picture book, the book Is Nothing Something? might give you some good starting points for discussion. Big Questions for Little People is similar but aimed at slightly older kids. You're Here For A Reason could also be relevant, although maybe not philosophical in quite the way you're looking for.

You could also take "How am I alive?" in a more scientific direction - you might enjoy You Are Stardust and Older Than the Stars, or a simple introduction to evolution such as Our Family Tree. You could also explore simple books about the human body and discuss how her heart, lungs, brain, etc allow her to walk and talk and stay alive - something like See Inside Your Body or Outside-In - or even go into a bit more detail about how she got "in mom's tummy" with a book like Who Am I? Where Did I Come From? or Before You Were Born - or talk about past generations (i.e. mom came from HER mom's tummy!) with a book like Me and My Family Tree

Hope some of that is helpful - of course this is a discussion you can continue as she gets older, and there are lots of great books for older kids that more directly tackle different beliefs and ideas about why we are here.

Sure there are. But probably with a different name.

Zen Shorts are one. It's a series of books with short Zen stories and illustrations for kids:
https://www.amazon.com/Zen-Shorts-Caldecott-Honor-Book/dp/0439339111/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486130149&sr=8-1&keywords=zen+shorts

Have You Filled a Bucket Today:
https://www.amazon.com/Have-Filled-Bucket-Today-Bucketfilling/dp/099609993X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1486129860&sr=1-3&keywords=fill+a+bucket
lets kids know that it feels bad to others to bully, but that you can "fill others' buckets" by giving compliments and saying nice things.

Heck, most kids can even understand The 4 Agreements: https://www.amazon.com/Four-Agreements-Practical-Personal-Freedom/dp/1878424319/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486130060&sr=8-1&keywords=the+4+agreements

I'm sure there are quite a few others, but they are not coming to mind right now.

That story is actually part of one of my son's favorite bedtime stories, Zen Shorts.

it's also in Zen Shorts if yo want to share it with children of any age that way.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_Shorts
http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Shorts-Caldecott-Honor-Book/dp/0439339111/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

:)

Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth

And it's squeals.

In the children's book Zen Shorts, there are short meditations that come from Zen Buddhist literature. One of them is called Uncle Ry and the Moon. It is about a man who robs Stillwater's (the main character) uncles house. During the robbery, the uncle comes home and sees the house guest. Wanting to give something to the visitor, but being poor and having nothing he offers him his only robe. After the robber leaves the uncle says, "Poor man, all I had to give him was my tattered robe, If only I could have given him this wonderful moon." After the short meditation in the middle of the book, Stillwater is talking to a Addy, a little girl, who makes a comment about how if she had a robber come into her house she doesn't think she could have given up her only robe and Stillwater replies, "I know how that is, But there always the moon."

So there it is, TheresAlwaysTheMoon.