The Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water

[....] It's clear that we need to provide our kids - especially boys - with tools to counter the violence and knee-jerk aggression ubiquitous in popular culture. These children's stories by Idries Shah are just this kind of tool. They're not preachy. They don't offer simplistic lessons or moral platitudes. They're more like exercises for "mental muscle groups" grossly underdeveloped in this culture: A strong sense of one's own value. Empathy. Flexibility in thinking and responding. Appreciating that not everyone is the same, not every outcome is predictable. Seeing that there are more than two sides to a situation. A sense that patience and perseverance can pay off, sometimes in unexpected ways. Not demanding easy answers. A sense that things are not always as they seem, that the viewpoint of "experts" - or even the whole community - is not always right. The experience of seeing something that even adults don't see, of creating clever solutions. The sense that taking positive action is possible and rewarding-even when one has to buck the tide. That help can come from where and when we least expect it. The sense that life has interesting "loose ends" for us to reflect on. And so much more. At least one of these books should be on every child's book shelf.

With illustrations that make you want to step right into the picture, this book is a great telling of great classic for little kids. Sometimes I think we forget or don't realize just how powerful certain images and impressions we get from our early childhood books really are, and just how much they can impact our lives. My 4-year old adores this book. And what a great image for her to take through life - the realization that she might be hindered by fear of her own reflection.

For 20 years I've delighted in the story collections of Idries Shah. I'm very pleased with his entire new series of children's books especially, "The Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water". As my wife and I read this story to young children in our family, we can see their eyes light up. The kids strongly identify with all of the animals in the book, especially the lion as he overcomes his fears and learns something about his own individual identity. I have to confess that I've picked up the book several times and read it for my own enjoyment. It somehow soothes my mind after a tough day at the office.

I have used this tale with many children ages 6 to 12 in schools around the United States. It is a terrific vehicle for asking higher order questions and for teaching thinking and questioning strategies. In Central Asian educational systems, the "teaching story" is a vehicle for indirectly teaching concepts that are not always possible to get across in more direct, intellectual ways. They also have a deconditioning effect, that is, they prepare the listener or reader so that when faced with difficult circumstances he/she can chose a less automatic, more conscious solution. My students have thoroughly enjoyed this tale and easily understand the concepts that many adults have trouble getting. It's a great discussion starter for helping children understand the differences between irrational and beneficial fears.

My daughter is two, and she really enjoyed this book. Did she understand it? Perhaps not; but she loved all the animals, especially Share the Lion. Cheerful illustrations, and yet underneath it all an important message. This book fills a tremendous gap in our children's literature in that it is a fun and light-hearted look at the ways in which we understand or misunderstand both people and events. For conscientous parents who are neither moralistic nor trendy. This charming book deals with problem solving in an innovative way.