The Cow of No Color: Riddle Stories and Justice Tales from Around the World

I read the first half of a story every morning to my middle schoolers. I let them offer any "solutions" they think of, and they can ponder the story for the rest of the day. Then I read the ending of the story, where the problem is resolved, before they go home. This book gets across important life lessons in a very clever, non-preachy way. I've found it to be the perfect activity to start off our day, in the few minutes we have between the students' arrival and their first class. The stories are terrific, in a multi-cultural "folk tale" mode. You can read the additional commentary on the stories or skip it.

I have read this book more than I can count, and I learn from it every time. It really helps me with life's choices and how not everything is found in front of your face.

This book is great-the first time you read it. It's wonderful for the first time but you won't read it twice because the stories are riddles and once you know the answer it's boring. Just be prepared when you pay.