“The Three Questions”
Jon J. Muth, writer and illustrator.
Scholastic Press, New York, 2002, 32 pages, Grades 1-3.
When people search for meaning in their lives, they ask important questions about life. But it is necessary to understand what we are searching for and what life is offering us. Opportunities need to be acted upon when they arise. This demands prudent judgment by people. If we don’t act with prudence, we can easily make bad decisions.
Jon Muth writes and draws about the important questions in life that we all face. He adapts this story from a famous short story by Leo Tolstoy. The title of Muth’s book is “The Three Questions.”
Nikolai is a young boy trying to figure out the best way to behave. He wonders how someone becomes a good person. But he doesn’t really know the best way to become virtuous. Somewhat confused, he decides to ask his animal friends’ opinions on the matter.
Sonya, the heron, tells him the importance of planning in advance. Gogol, the monkey, encourages him to always pay attention. Pushkin, the dog, states that Nikolai can’t see everything and therefore needs a pack of friends to help.
None of this seems satisfactory to the boy. After thinking about their suggestions, he decides to go into the mountains and ask the ancient turtle the secrets of life.
The trip is long and when he finally arrives, he finds the turtle working in his garden. He then asks three questions: First, when is the best time to do things? Second, who is the most important one? Third, what is the right thing to do?
The ancient turtle is tiring as he digs the soil in the garden. Nikolai asks the turtle to rest and finishes turning over the earth in the garden. He is no sooner finished than a storm breaks out and he hears a trapped panda crying. He rushes to her aid and carries her back to turtle’s house.
When the panda wakes, she asks what happened to her baby. Not knowing, Nikolai rushes back into the storm and finds the half-frozen baby panda. He carries the little panda back to the mother.
Later, Nikolai feels very happy to have saved the mother and baby panda. But he doesn’t feel he has discovered the answer to the three original questions. Troubled, he tells the turtle he still doesn’t know the answers. The turtle turns his wise eyes to Nikolai and reveals to him that he has already discovered the answers to the three questions. He then explains the answers to the surprised boy.
What does the old turtle tell the child? How did the digging and the storm play major roles in answering the question? How did the panda and the cub help teach Nikolai the answers he was looking for? What does Nikolai learn about making loving decisions in this powerful story? To find the answers to these and other questions, go to the library and check out “The Three Questions” by Jon J. Muth.
The author bases this story from a short story by the great Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy. The story is filled with wisdom. The beautiful watercolors used by Muth add much to the book. Children will enjoy looking at the pictures and would enjoy having this book read to them.
As with most great stories, adults can gain just as much as children from the tale. I hope you get a chance to read this lovely story, “The Three Questions,” by Jon J. Muth.
