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    Three Questions and Other Tales
    Three Questions and Other Tales
    Three Questions and Other Tales
    Ebook35 pages43 minutes

    Three Questions and Other Tales

    By Leo Tolstoy

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    It once occurred to a King that if he knew the right moment when to begin on any work and the right kind of people to have or not to have dealings with and the thing to do that was more important than any other thing, he would always be successful. And he proclaimed throughout his kingdom that he would give a great reward to any one who could tell him what was the right moment for any action, and who were the most essential of all people, and what was the most essential thing of all to do.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSovereign
    Release dateApr 15, 2016
    ISBN9781911263746
    Three Questions and Other Tales
    Author

    Leo Tolstoy

    Count Lev (Leo) Nikolaevich Tolstoy was born at Vasnaya Polyana in the Russian province of Tula in 1828. He inherited the family title aged nineteen, quit university and after a period of the kind of dissolute aristocratic life so convincingly portrayed in his later novels, joined the army, where he started to write. Travels in Europe opened him to western ideas, and he returned to his family estates to live as a benign landowner. In 1862 he married Sofia Behr, who bore him thirteen children. He expressed his increasingly subversive, but devout, views through prolific work that culminated in the immortal novels of his middle years, War and Peace and Anna Karenina. Beloved in Russia and with a worldwide following, but feared by the Tsarist state and excommunicated by the Russian Orthodox church, he died in 1910.

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    Reviews for Three Questions and Other Tales

    4.5/5

    249 ratings48 reviews

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    • 4/5
      The illustrations themselves are almost worth a higher rating--beautiful water colors for a childrens book! The story itself is a philosophical one; if I were reading it to a child or to a class, I'd want to broaden the discussion immediately after reading it. Still, a neat (and beautiful) book!
    • 5/5
      Jon Muth was successful in his ability to take a story by a prolific writer Tolstoy and retell it in a children's storybook. He simplified the story by giving us a young boy and animals as the characters, using illustrations from watercolors and grayed out colors except for the red kite. The character Nikolai uses his curiosity and desire to wanting to be a better person, showing children that in times they will put aside their own wants for the benefit of others.
    • 5/5
      Beautiful watercolors by Jon Muth, A thoughtful story with a boy wondering how to deal with what is the best time to do things, who to help, and who is most important. Based on stories from Tolstoy.
    • 5/5
      This is a compelling fable that teaches readers to be be your best. I liked his book because of this overall message that was delivered in an imaginative and effective way.
    • 5/5
      Beautifully illustrated story based on one written by Leo Tolstoy. Muth's interpretation and artistic style leaves me speechless and reflective every time.
    • 4/5
      Genre: FolktaleAge: IntermediateMedia: WatercolorReview: The life lesson given at the end of the story is about living in the now, which is an important aspect for folktales. Also, the boy helping the panda and her baby appeals to the child's sense of justice. Setting: Since there is a panda in the story, the reader can assume the story takes place in China. However, the setting is not necessarily described by the author; it is more set by the illustrator.
    • 4/5
      The pictures are gorgeous. I fundamentally disagree with the message of the text and am not convinced by this presentation of it. Sorry.

      edit - after enjoying Zen Ties a *lot* I want to give Muth's other works another try, especially this one.

      edit the second - re-read. I still disagree with the implication that that one doesn't need to reach out or plan ahead, that living in the moment is sufficient. But, unto itself, the moral of the Now is important, and it is also true that fretting is fruitless. So, a re-read gave me more insight. I also read more works of eastern philosophy between reads of this, and that probably helped. A companion with whom to discuss this would help me appreciate it more, too, I'm sure.

      So, bottom line, I actually bumped the rating of this two stars, and I do recommend it to people who are ready to hear the message, especially if they have some sort of foundation, scaffold, or support to help them do so.
    • 5/5
      I love the story, love the illustrator, love the Tolstoy, especially love the gorgeous watercolors. I just can't get enough of Jon Muth's stuff.
    • 5/5
      This is a wonderful picture book for older students. While it is a beautiful picture book for all viewers, its true audience should be older readers. In it, Nikolai is a young boy who asks his animal friends for help with his "big" questions. Each brings a different perspective to the questions, but Nikolai is unsatisfied with their answers. Things change when he visits Leo the Turtle, where circumstances and a crisis help Nikolai to find the answers he seeks. This is an important book.
    • 5/5
      I have been thinking about this book long after I read it. I enjoyed the peaceful pictures that fit the contemplative questions. I am not sure of why the image of the boy's red kite is so engrained in my head but it is. I will have to think about that more later. I am so impressed with the boy's helpful nature. He does not stop to ponder or wait for someone to ask for help, he just leaps into action. This is a book that all children could use as an example of kindness.
    • 4/5
      This is a child's retelling of Leo Tolstoy's Three Questions. Its about a boy, Nikolai, who is wondering the three questions: When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do? He asks his three friends who are a heron, a monkey and a dog all who have human characteristics. The answers they give him are unsatisfying and he goes to see a wise turtle. While there he helps save a panda and her baby. The next day he is still unsatisfied and doesn't have his answers. The turtle tells him that he does and goes on to explain that the important time is now, the important one is the one you are with and the most important thing is to do good for the one you is standing next to you. This book is very deep and I would probably use it in older grades. It expresses living in the moment and having compassion. The illustration is very peaceful and the boy is always carrying a red kite. I'm not sure what the kite symbolizes...maybe his three questions. In the author's note he explains Tolstoy's original Three Questions and how Muth, the author, modeled his characters. This book may not be appropriate in church schools because it has many zen-like qualities. I think this book would be very interesting to have students discuss.
    • 5/5
      This is a very heartfelt and warm book for any age to read. It tells the story of a boy who has three important questions that he wants answered. The firs is when is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? and lastly, What is the right thing to do? The boy gets opinions from his friends; dog, monkey and crane. They all give him different views so he decides to go to the wisest he knows, the turtle. When he gets to the turtle he doesn't answer his question right away. A storm then comes and the boy ends up saving a panda and her cub. Throughout the book however the boy finds out the answer to all his questions. This is a great book to use for all ages with the connections that children can make with it on all levels. Great book :)
    • 5/5
      Marvelous message!
    • 5/5
      There are several reasons I like this book. First, the illustrations serve to enhance and make the story more interesting. Second, I really liked the lesson/big message of the story which was that the most important time is the present, the most important one is the one you are with, and the most important thing to do is to help the one standing by your side. The main character, Nikolai, is trying to figure out the answer to three important questions: who is the most important one, what is the right thing to do, and what is the best time to do something. I also really liked how the book featured many different animals including a dog, a crane, and a monkey. I liked how Nikolai's character was very well-developed and engaging to the reader. I also think that the plot was very well-timed and that Nikolai's questions were answered in an appropriate amount of time (and by helping the injured panda).
    • 3/5
      This book is about a young boy who searches for answers from a wise source to three questions he has about life. I would read this book to middle elementary students, this book has great illustrations and makes you think and learn about life lessons.
    • 5/5
      I enjoyed this book. It could be used in an elementary classroom during a lesson on friendship, morals, and helping others. I especially like the ending ove the book, "There is only one important time, and that time is now. The most important one is always the one you are with. And the most important thing is to do good for the one who is standing at your side (Muth.)"
    • 4/5
      My kids and I enjoyed this book quite a bit. The illustrations are, of course, wonderful. I especially love the way the kite tail flies through the air.

      My kids' favorite character was Pushkin the dog, although their favorite part is when the monkey gets hit on the head with the coconut. It's possible they're missing the point of the story, but they did have some insights into why each friend was giving the answers he or she was giving ("Pushkin says that because he likes fighting," observed my daughter).

      We all liked Muth's Zen Shorts better than this one, but that's one of our favorite books all around, so it's not surprising that this one didn't rise quite as high in our estimation as that one.
    • 5/5
      Beautifully honors diversity in the pursuit of truth, resulting in the conclusion that the most important person is the one you are with, the most important time is now, and the most important thing to do is to care for the people around you.
    • 4/5
      Great book, with a deep meaning that may be hard to grasp. I would use for older grades!
    • 5/5
      I liked this book for its value and the message. My 4-year old enjoyed the panda part.
    • 5/5
      I absolutely loved this book! I think the main message of this book is one that is very important for children to understand. The main character, Nikolai, wants answers to his three questions but ends up finding them through his own actions. The answers to his questions were that the most important time is now, the most important one is the person you're with, and that the most important thing is what you do for the one by your side. I think that is a great lesson for children to learn through this story! The writing was filled with detail and held my interest, especially when the big storm comes and Nikolai ends up saving a panda and her baby. The illustrations, done as watercolor paintings, helped enhance the story.
    • 4/5
      Great book!
    • 4/5
      In my opinion, this is a wonderful and insightful children's book. First of all, the illustrations throughout the story are water colors that beautifully compliment the story. I particularly enjoyed whenever Nikolai's, the main character, animal friends spoke. The corresponding animal's text was right next to the illustration so the reader could see which animal was speaking. The plot of the story was also very organized in answering each of the boy's questions, addressing them one by one in a subtle way. When the story ends, all of Nikolai's questions are answered in a way that pushes readers to examine their conscience and see when is the right time to do things, who is the most important one, and and what is the right thing to do? Jon Muth's main message he is trying to send out is that your own questions can be answered with your own actions. You need to not rely on others for answers when you are knowledgeable enough and can learn through experiences. This book would be a great asset in the classroom and could be a great read-along book for young children.
    • 4/5
      In my opinion this is a great book that sends an excellent message to young readers. The language is very descriptive and the story provides you with points of views from several different characters. The boy in the story wants answers to three important questions and the answers are provided from a bird, dog, monkey, and a turtle. The illustrations went along wonderfully with the story and kept me engaged while reading. I do think that this book has a more mature message for readers to understand so, younger readers may not get the point of the story. In the end the boys questions are answered and end up being the main message of the story. The most important time is now, the most important person is the one you are with, and the most important thing is what you do for the one by your side. The story sends an excellent message to always be there for your friends and to help others when needed.
    • 5/5
      In my opinion this is a wonderful book with a beautiful message. I really enjoyed the plot and progression of the story. Throughout the book the main character, Nikolai, is looking to answer three very important questions, "What is the best time to do things? Who is the most important? What is the right things to do?" creating suspense in the plot. Before these questions are answered, several conflicts come up with a variety of animals, such as a panda getting caught in a storm, which Nikolai resolves. After helping a many different animals and situations he discovers that the answer the the questions are, "The time is now, the most important one is the one you are with, and the most important thing is to do good for the one standing by your side." The message of the story is to live in the moment and do good to those around you and I believe that is a very important message many of us tend to forget.
    • 3/5
      Sometimes, you're right where you need to be
    • 4/5
      The story is about a boy who is trying to find the answer to three questions with deep meaning. He goes on to ask his friends the answers but they can't help him or he is not satisfied with the answers. Little did he know than by showing kindness and compassion to someone he would find the answers he has been looking for. A very nice story with a deep message to discuss in the classroom.
    • 3/5
      The boy wanted to know the answer to his three questions. He asked all of his friends for their answer. He even went up the mountain to his old wise friend and asked him. He never realized it until the end that only he could really answer the questions. He learned many lessons on his journey to find the answers. He also discovered the true meaning of friendship. He learned that the people he is with at the time are the most important ones. This book teaches children not to be selfish and to care about the other people who have entered their life.
    • 5/5
      This is a good book to induce self reflection. The theme is very moving gets you thinking about your own life. The illustrator also added some other elements that would get you wondering if you missed something. You could use it in any class with any group.
    • 4/5
      The story "The Three Questions" is a story of a boy trying to find the answers to three questions. He asked three different animals these questions and they all gave him, good but different answers. The boy is still confused, so if goes off to find his answers. As this is all going on the boy ends up helping a panda bear and her baby. What I got from the story is that there are no answers to the questions he was looking for, you live in the moment and when something does comes up you react to it. When there's a problem or something maybe comes up you decide at that moment how you should go about that situation. This story would be great for all children, they would really be able to relate to this book. I'm 21, and it's a great message for me.

    Book preview

    Three Questions and Other Tales - Leo Tolstoy

    Leo Tolstoy

    Leo Tolstoy

    Three Questions

    And Other Tales

    LONDON ∙ NEW YORK ∙ TORONTO ∙ SAO PAULO ∙ MOSCOW

    PARIS ∙ MADRID ∙ BERLIN ∙ ROME ∙ MEXICO CITY ∙ MUMBAI ∙ SEOUL ∙ DOHA

    TOKYO ∙ SYDNEY ∙ CAPE TOWN ∙ AUCKLAND ∙ BEIJING

    New Edition

    Published by Sovereign Classic

    sales@sovereignclassic.net

    www.sovereignclassic.net

    This Edition

    First published in 2016

    Copyright © 2016 Sovereign

    All Rights Reserved.

    Contents

    THREE QUESTIONS

    EMELIAN AND THE EMPTY DRUM

    WHERE THERE IS LOVE

    THREE QUESTIONS

    It once occurred to a King that if he knew the right moment when to begin on any work and the right kind of people to have or not to have dealings with and the thing to do that was more important than any other thing, he would always be successful.

    And he proclaimed throughout his kingdom that he would give a great reward to any one who could tell him what was the right moment for any action, and who were the most essential of all people, and what was the most essential thing of all to do.

    Many learned men came to the King and answered his questions in different ways.

    In answer to the first question some said that to know the right time for any action, one must draw up a time-table of all the days, months and years and observe it strictly, then one could do everything at the proper time. Others said that it was impossible to decide beforehand the proper time for any action; the only thing one could do was to waste no time in vain amusements, but to pay attention to what was going on around one, and to do the thing that came to hand. A third said that however attentive the King might be to what went on around him, one man alone could not decide the proper time for every action and that he needed a council of wise men to advise him. Still a fourth maintained that as certain action had to be decided at once and could not wait a council the proper thing to do was to find out beforehand what was going to happen so as to be always prepared. But as only magicians knew what was going to happen, then it followed that in order to find out the proper time for any action one must consult the magicians.

    The second question, too, was answered in various ways. Some said that the most essential people to the King were his helpers and ministers; others said priests; still others that the most essential people to the King were doctors; a fourth party said that the

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