SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Manga
  • All Ages
  • Young Adult
  • Interviews
  • News

May 22, 2018 by Johanna

Review: ‘Zen Pencils: Inspirational Quotes for Kids’

May 22, 2018 by Johanna   1 comments

Zen Pencils: Inspirational Quotes for Kids header

Zen Pencils: Inspirational Quotes for Kids
by Gavin Aung Than
Andrews McMeel, $9.99
Ages 7-12 years

The quotes in Zen Pencils: Inspirational Quotes for Kids are oddly chosen. The second is about training to avoid bleeding in battle, attributed to an Armed Forces motto, a strange choice to lead off a book of advice for youngsters. The meanings of several are still argued over by adults, so the “inspirational” nature is questionable. And several are mini-essays, trying the patience of a younger reader trying to understand the point.

Zen Pencils: Inspirational Quotes for Kids

While a few of those quoted will be known—Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Amelia Earhart, Marie Curie—the majority rate a “who?” There are a few short sentences in a back section that explain who the speakers were, but the quotes seem to have been selected based on what they say instead of who said it, perhaps to spur further reading and research.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Many seem to have been chosen so Than would have a chance to draw action scenes, regardless of how well-suited that art is for the material. I found the quote about doing what makes you come alive appropriate, but the accompanying sequence about an unhappy attorney visualizing herself as a female wrestler executing an elbow drop on her opponent seems to reveal more about Than’s interests than insight into the quote. (This character returns a couple more times to struggle against continuing adversity.) Similarly, a Jack London quote about not wasting days is inappropriately illustrated by a Green Lantern rip-off. Later, there’s a Batman copy as well.

If not mismatched, then the sequences are full of the most predictable choices possible, such that they could have been paired with any of several texts. Or they have messages that I’m not sure were intended, as with the one about a little girl with unibrow who, after being taunted, is just fine after learning of the existence of Frida Kahlo. So we shouldn’t take simple strides, such as using tweezers, to make ourselves feel prettier or more comfortable? And if Frida is such an inspiration, shouldn’t her last name have been included in the script, so other kids would know who’s being referred to? (The table of contents and back matter do give the full name.)

Too many of these quotes are about determination in doing what you love. Some more balance would have been appreciated. Kids are already fed so much “just keep on and you’ll be rewarded” that it becomes misleading, causing some to become discouraged when they have to make more practical choices.

This book is sloppy, repetitive, and feels slapped together to extend the brand. The quotes are poorly chosen, often too wordy, predictable in topic, unbalanced in perspective, and not well served by the mismatched art.

Filed under: All Ages, Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
Andrews McMeelartGavin Aung ThanZen Pencils

About Johanna

Johanna Draper Carlson has been reviewing comics for over 20 years. She manages ComicsWorthReading.com, the longest-running independent review site online that covers all genres of comic books, graphic novels, and manga. She has an MA in popular culture, studying online fandom, and was previously, among many other things, webmaster for DC Comics. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

June 2022

Banana Fox and The Gummy Monster Mess | Review

by Johanna

June 2022

Review | Red and Rover: Fun's Never Over

by Johanna

June 2022

Review | Mickey Mouse: Zombie Coffee

by Johanna

March 2022

DC Super Hero Girls: At Metropolis High | Review

by Johanna

March 2022

DC Super Hero Girls: Spaced Out | Review

by Johanna

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Children’s Books in the Amazon Top 100

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: The Amazing Bone by William Steig

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Banana Fox and The Gummy Monster Mess | Review

by J. Caleb Mozzocco

Heavy Medal

Continuing the Mock Newbery Process: Time for July Suggestions

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

by

The Classroom Bookshelf

by

The Yarn

Shark Week, Vanilla Ice Cream, and the Honda CRV: Bob Shea and Brian Won Team Up for ADURABLE

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Six Manga About People with Disabilities

First Second Launches History Comics | Stellar Panels

Laurie Halse Anderson Announces "Wonder Women in History," a YA Graphic Novel Anthology

YA Books Reflect the Activism of Real-Life Teens

More and More Manga: An Updated Primer on Japanese Comic Books and Graphic Novels

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Zen Pencils: Inspirational Quotes for Kids – Comics Worth Reading says:
    May 31, 2019 at 1:33 pm

    […] This book is sloppy, repetitive, and feels slapped together to extend the brand. The quotes are poorly chosen, often too wordy, predictable in topic, unbalanced in perspective, and not well served by the mismatched art. (The publisher provided a review copy. Review originally posted at Good Comics for Kids.) […]

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2022


COPYRIGHT © 2022