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My son LOVES LOVES Tsi Tsi, and writes his name and has memorized parts of the book. He so enjoys the part where Tsi Tsi eats the treats and plants the garden. It is very touching to hear him read aloud the wisdom of the Buddha about how to live one's life, and he is starting to connect that Tsi Tsi even showed love to the cat...I tell him it's like forgiving his sister and doing something nice for her. We're still working on that.
Just wanted you to know that he asks for Tsi Tsi every night.
A. Williams
I purchased this book as birthday present for my best friend's daughter, but it's tempting to keep just for the beautiful artwork and story.. So much color! Such nice universal teachings. Very accessible to kids (and adults) of all religions.
S. Bryant
Like many other parents, I find myself constantly reinforcing right vs. wrong to my young boy - especially since my family isn't overly religious. This is the best morality lesson I've found in a children's book, communicated very simply and illustrated beautifully, which both captivates my son's attention and helps him understand how to be a good person in this world. I would highly recommend it to any parent looking for effective ways to teach good behavior to their child.
A. Mitchell
Students, Ricardo Richards Elementary School
St. Croix, USVI
School Library Journal
Reviewed 2006-09-01
PreS-Gr 1 -This gentle tale combines basic teachings of the Buddha with a knowing appreciation of the love most children have for small animals, in this case a mouse. Tsi Tsi enters a Buddhist temple by night and finds a wealth of food offerings left there. As he eats, the Buddha, via the temple statue, shares with him the essence of his wisdom: -Be kind to others,- -Be forgiving,- -Have compassion for those less fortunate than you,- and so on. Tsi Tsi takes the teachings to heart and begins to help older mice, those who are lonely and sick, and so forth. The Buddha, in return, receives the mouse-s tickling of his stomach and the gift of laughter. Openly didactic, the tale serves as a simple introduction to Buddhism in an easily digestible form. Most of the teachings are given in a series of spreads. The illustrations are simply drawn, featuring black outlines and rich colors. Children might pay more attention to Tsi Tsi-s activities than to the teachings, which are central to all religions, but since the mouse decides to act upon the instruction, the lessons are likely to make an impression.-Coop Renner, Hillside Elementary, El Paso, TX
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Children of the New Earth
June 2006
Reviewed by Erin Kelly-Allshouse
This is a delightful story about a curious and hungry little mouse named Tsi Tsi (which is Tibetan for mouse). Tsi Tsi learns universal truths while sneaking a late night snack in Buddha’s temple in the high mountains of Dharmasala, India. He sneaks past the sleeping children and enters the temple to find a feast fit for, well, Buddha. Tsi Tsi is so happy about her new discovery! She sits and eats the treats and watches the candles and incense burn to nothing but ashes, until one day the Buddha spoke to this hungry little creature and lovingly shared his wisdom. Read about this funny mouse that learns some great lessons of truth from Buddha. Tsi Tsi took Buddha’s advice and notices how her life transforms. She knew when she was able to be nice to a cat that she was a changed mouse! For insights and entertainment I recommend you add this simple story with a great lesson to your children’s library.
