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The Three Questions

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With his stunning watercolors -- and text that resounds with universal truths, award-winning artist Jon J Muth has transformed a story by Tolstoy into a timeless fable for young readers.

What is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do? Nikolai knows that he wants to be the best person he can be, but often he is unsure if he is doing the right thing. So he goes to ask Leo, the wise turtle. But it is Nikolai's own response to a stranger's cry for help that leads him directly to the answers he is looking for.Jon J Muth combined his studies of Zen with his love for Tolstoy to create this profound, yet simple book about compassion and living in the moment.

43 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2002

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2872 people want to read

About the author

Jon J. Muth

141 books344 followers
Jon J. Muth is an American comic artist. His works include J. M. DeMatteis' graphic novel Moonshadow, Neil Gaiman's The Sandman: The Wake (along with Michael Zulli, Charles Vess), Mike Carey's Lucifer: Nirvana and Swamp Thing: Roots. Muth has gone on to an award-winning career as a children's book writer and illustrator. He received a Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators for his illustrations in Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse.

He has also created a version of the Stone soup fable set in China.

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5 stars
2,804 (55%)
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3 stars
625 (12%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 600 reviews
Profile Image for Jonathan Lin.
110 reviews10 followers
September 27, 2011
Never read Tolstoy's Three Questions. I bought this book at Callan Books in Stratford Ontario.

It strikes me as a very thoughtful book with a constant interplay between light and dark. Cute animals talk to each other, but there is a streak of selfishness, strife, conflict, and fear running through the pages. The illustrations are expansive and uses weather as a main indicator of light and dark. The main emotive line is questioning brought by fear - what if I miss the right time, what if I miss the right person, what if I'm doing the wrong things?

Each progressive wave of answers bring new viewpoints and they are all quite valid and easily understandable and visible in the world of a young child. But the turtle and the panda together show different ways of reasoning and feeling the world - by looking at why it is the boy asks these questions. Perhaps the boy is insecure with where he is in the world?

The right time is now. The right person is the one right by you. The right thing to do is to help others as you help yourself.

This book requires a bit of guidance from the adult when read by a child. It is a great book to read together with both parents and the child/children. The more people who read it together, the better, because the different viewpoints presented by the animals can be best illustrated by how different parents/adults think about the world. And kids learn from that.

It's a good book.
Profile Image for Viv JM.
730 reviews173 followers
January 25, 2018
A book to return to time after time. It's a wonderful and thought provoking story (based on one of Tolstoy's short stories) and is beautifully illustrated. It was a favourite with my kids when they were younger and is still a favourite of mine.
Profile Image for Lisa Vegan.
2,900 reviews1,308 followers
June 12, 2009
I have read this author/illustrator’s books Zen Shorts and Zen Ties. This is another book that can be used to introduce Zen philosophy to kids. In this story, which he takes from Leo Tolstoy’s story of the same name, I do appreciate how he adapted Tolstoy’s work and made up a tale of his own.

It’s got a good moral (basically that of living in the moment and doing good/helping others) but it seemed a little too moralistic to me, even though the story was entertaining so I guess I’m not really complaining. I loved how he used a boy and his animal friends. Pandas are back but so are other animals.

I so appreciated the author’s note at the end because he shares how he chose the names for each character (they’re all taken from real people) and he tells a bit about the original story by Tolstoy.

I really like his art. His style is one I might not appreciate in other artists, but I really enjoy his specific work, in this book and in the other two books mentioned above.

I have to say I’m not thrilled with how the dog’s personality was portrayed; I thought he was too aggressive.
Profile Image for Krista the Krazy Kataloguer.
3,873 reviews325 followers
February 1, 2018
This is a gentle story, for thoughtful children, about living in the moment. The watercolor illustrations nicely echoed the mood of the text. I especially liked the humor in the picture of the boy walking in the water with the stork walking in exactly the same pose behind him. Now I must read the original story by Tolstoy upon which the book was based!
Profile Image for Abigail.
7,891 reviews250 followers
March 21, 2019
Based upon a story of the same name, written by the celebrated 19th-century Russian novelist and moral philosopher, Leo Tolstoy, this lovely picture-book from author/illustrator Jon J. Muth imagines a young boy named Nikolai and his quest to answer the three eponymous questions: What is the best time to do things?, Who is the most important one?, and What is the right thing to do? When Nikolai's animal friends - Sonya the heron, Gogol the monkey and Pushkin the dog - cannot give him satisfactory answers, he sets out to the mountain home of Leo the turtle. Once there, his actions in helping Leo to garden, and in rescuing a panda mother and son from a storm, preclude him from getting his answers. Or do they...?

Although I am sorry to say that I have never read the original by Tolstoy - I certainly hope to, now! - I nevertheless enjoyed The Three Questions immensely. Having read author/illustrator Jon J. Muth's books about Stillwater the panda ( Zen Shorts , etc.), it came as no surprise to discover that this was a teaching tale. As is so often the case in stories such as this, the hero's journey is what provides him with the answers in the end, and through the aid he offers others, Nikolai does indeed get the answers he's seeking. Simple but profound - the time to do things is now, the most important people are the ones you are with now, and the right thing to do is to help those people - these answers feel right, and have the feeling almost of self-evidence, once one has read them. A thoughtful book, one that satisfies both as a story and a teaching tale, this is one that can be used to strike up a more philosophical discussion with children. The artwork, done in watercolor, is vintage Muth: beautiful and light-infused. Highly recommended, both to Muth fans and to anyone seeking more philosophical children's books.
Profile Image for Atziri.
69 reviews7 followers
November 26, 2011
This is a great book that can be used to introduce Zen Philosophy to young children and teenagers. The book is an adaptation from Leo Tolstoy's short story "The Three Questions" published in 1903.

The story is about young Nikolai and his quest to answer the following three questions: What is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do? He asks several of his animal friends who consider the questions carefully and all answer differently. Nikolai then decides to consult with Leo, the old turtle who was digging a garden. Nikolai helped him and then walked to Leo's cottage for shelter. Along the way Nikolai heard a cry and ran down the path to find an injured panda. He carried the panda to Leo's cottage and later on found out that the panda had a baby that was lost in the woods. Nikolai went to the rescue and found the little one. The next morning, Nikolai felt great peace within himself, but thought he still hadn't found the answers to his questions. Leo corrected him and said he had and explained.

Beautiful!!!
Profile Image for Saleh MoonWalker.
1,801 reviews275 followers
December 6, 2017
Onvan : The Three Questions - Nevisande : Jon J. Muth - ISBN : 439537630 - ISBN13 : 9780439537636 - Dar 32 Safhe - Saal e Chap : 2002
Profile Image for Kamal.
722 reviews1,954 followers
August 23, 2024
The Three Questions is a beautiful, thoughtful tale that gently nudges you to reflect on 3 important questions:

When is the best time to do things?
Who is the most important one?
What is the right thing to do?

Watching Meryl Streep read it felt like being wrapped in a warm, wise hug.
Her voice adds a layer of magic to an already profound story, making it feel both sweet and smart.

It’s one of those books that quietly reminding you that the answers to life’s big questions are often simpler—and more heartfelt—than we imagine.
Profile Image for Moving to Storygraph zoieo.
16 reviews2 followers
November 5, 2011
I vaguely remember reading the original Tolstoy short story in college and found it to be plodding and heavy-handed, but that was my rebellious, immature self. I did adore his novel-lengths works. If I ever decide to delve into Russian lit again, I may have a different reaction. But, I share this with you as it may color this review.

The Three Questions tells the story of a boy, named Nikolai, and his three questions,

When is the best time to do things?
Who is the most important one?
What is the right thing to do?

First, Nikolai asks his questions of his friends, Sonya the Heron, Gogol the Monkey, and Pushkin the Dog. Their answers are centered around their specific worldview and are dissatisfying for Nikolai. So, he climbs a mountain to ask the the wise old turtle, Leo. Nikolai ask his questions, but puts them aside as he sees Leo is struggling to dig in his garden. He takes over digging in the garden to help Leo.

Then, a storm blows in and Nikolai rushes to help an injured panda. He carries her from the woods to Leo’s house, where he warms her and tends her leg. When she wakes, she cries for her baby and Leo rushes back to the woods to bring the baby panda back to the warm safety of his mother. The pandas are happy and Leo has been helped.

Nikolai feels at peace, even though he has not found the answers to his three questions. Then, Leo points out that Nikolai’s actions gave him the answers to his questions on their own:

When is the best time to do things? Answer: Now.
Who is the most important one? Answer: The one you are with.
What is the right thing to do? Answer: To do good for the one you are with.

At the end, Leo says, “This is why we are here.”

I agree with the central message of this book and it sparked some interesting discussions with my sons about the three questions and what is the right thing to do. I found it interesting that the message Nat wanted driven home to me was that I would be doing the right thing by giving him everything he wants right now. We may disagree over the word “need” versus “want.” But, in essence, he is correct.

Having a yogini mother, they’ve heard about being present, that now is the only reality, and how relationships with others are our reasons for living lets say, a few times. They were familiar with the central themes enough that it held their interest a few times. But, it hasn’t been a highly requested book compared to the series by Muth with Stillwater.

When I checked this out from the library, I didn’t realize it was another Jon J. Muth book until the page with the panda illustration. I recognized his hand from the Zen Ties series with Stillwater the panda. Sadly, I found most of the illustrations in this book to be too washed out to impress my sons. They noticed the pops of color, such as the red kite and the darkness on the page with the storm in the forest.

I do think this book is worth checking out from the library to see whether your children will connect with it. I also suggest Jon Muth’s other books highly. My kids especially enjoyed Zen Ties which has a very similar message to this book (including the red motif.)

Note: I copied my review from my blog. My review on my blog includes activities we did for homeschool. Please feel free to stop by.
Profile Image for Gláucia Renata.
1,297 reviews41 followers
September 8, 2019
Escrito e ilustrado para o leitor infanto-juvenil, baseia-se num conto de Léon Tolstói.
Nikolai é um menino que busca a melhor forma de se tornar uma boa pessoa e para isso pretende encontrar respostas para 3 perguntas:
1) Qual o melhor momento para fazer as coisa?
2) Quem é mais importante?
3) Qual é a coisa certa a ser feita?
E sai pela sua vila perguntando a vários animais que encontra pelo caminho, encontrando as mais diferentes respostas e nenhuma o convence de verdade. Até que encontra uma tartaruga que o leva à sua casa e, através da vivência de um acontecimento o garoto consegue descobrir as respostas através dessa experiência.
Uma bela lição, um aprendizado que devemos adotar pra vida.



Histórico de leitura
25/08/2019

"Era um menino chamado Nikolai que às vezes não sabia muito bem como agir. - Quero ser uma boa pessoa, mas nem sempre sei a melhor maneira de fazer isso. - ele dizia aos amigos."
Profile Image for Gohnar23.
952 reviews28 followers
October 18, 2024
Actually kinda better than What men live by cause it's not just a "everything is made of love" philosophy. I mean all philosophies are valid, I respect them but that also means that you should respect my own opinions and philosophies. bai
Profile Image for Jane Freund.
Author 35 books19 followers
January 20, 2023
I was immediately intrigued when my friend Ramona told me about The Three Questions (Based on a story by Leo Tolstoy). Although I had read some of Tolstoy’s work, I was not familiar with the short story on which this book is based.

However, as is often the case with children’s books, The Three Questions provided a great deal of simple wisdom. I read the book three consecutive times and marveled at the uncomplicated answers within. I have begun using the wisdom in my daily life and have felt a great difference when I do so.

Jon J Muth creates beautiful imagery with both his words and illustrations! I highly recommend reading this book as well as the original Tolstoy short story that inspired it.
Profile Image for Relyn.
4,054 reviews71 followers
March 14, 2023
UGH. Unpopular opinion, I imagine. But - UGH. This book is more than a bit heavy-handed for kids. No thanks.
Profile Image for Karli Eller.
309 reviews2 followers
February 19, 2019
The Three Questions is the story of a boy named Nikolai who desires to be a good person and yet is unsure of how to become what he desires. This book would be perfect for a read aloud for middle grades elementary classes. It provides so many questions that could be pondered without the need for a “right answer”. What do you think it takes to be a good person? Is it enough to want to be a good person or should you have to act on those principles? Are good people always good?

Nikolai’s quest to determine the answer to his three questions teaches him about the importance of intentions, the power of being present in the lives of those around him and the necessity of not always following the advice of friends. Had Nikolai followed the advice of his three friends Sonya, Gogol and Pushkin, he would not have been able to help the turtle nor the pandas. His intentions were good as was his desire to assist those around him that needed help, ultimately showing him the answers to the most important questions in the world.

I can’t wait to share this book with my students and hear their insight as they also ponder the same questions Nikolai had. Do they agree with the answers provided to the three questions or do they have some answers of their own? I can’t wait to find out.
Profile Image for Skylar Burris.
Author 20 books278 followers
December 14, 2008
The book is based on a story by Leo Tolstoy and, not surprisingly, it therefore has some depth. However, the author unnecessarily altered the story, presumably to make it more accessible to children. This shows a lack of appreciation for a child's ability to appreciate more serious and somewhat darker themes, and replacing an enemy who wishes to harm with a panda in need of help also completely circumvents the message of the virtue of loving one's enemies. As for my daughter's reaction to the story, she was certain she knew the answers to two of the three questions from the very beginning. "I know, I know already! The most important thing is God and the most important thing to do is to love each other." Good answers, and better ones, I think, than the book itself gave (although the latter was similar to the help the one your with answer).

I was thrilled to see a children's book based on the work of a great writer, but I was disappointed that it did not do as much as it could have.

Great illustrations.
Profile Image for Judy.
3,527 reviews66 followers
January 13, 2016
What a nice way to encourage children to think about what's important in life! I haven't read this with a child, but I look forward to doing so. As we read, we will pause, and together, we will think of our own answers to the three questions. I will try to probe the child's thinking to clarify the answers. Then we may take the time to look at how each of Nikolai's friends answer all 3 questions. E.g., how does the heron answer the questions? the monkey? the dog? Which set of answers does the child seem to agree with?

The Author's Note answered several of my questions. And the art is beautiful!
Profile Image for Dale.
970 reviews1 follower
December 29, 2016
based on a story by Leo Tolstoy (chi) young Nikolai seeks counsel from Leo, the wise old turtle who lives in the mountains to three (3) questions. Then Nicolai responds to a stranger’s cry, which answers the questions for himself. Profound, simple book that one could read and read again. 2002 hardback, found when our daughter was cleaning up our attic. Unnumbered pgs.; 5 out of 5 stars; finished Dec. 28, 2016/#59
Profile Image for Cheryl.
12.6k reviews479 followers
July 17, 2022
This gorgeous book must not collect dust in my closet on the off chance one of my sons decides to give me grandchildren. I'm giving it to a certain young family along with many other children's books that I've been saving.
Profile Image for Cynthia Egbert.
2,626 reviews37 followers
March 11, 2020
Of course I loved this one, I am such a fan of Tolstoy and I adore the original short story from which this story is derived. This is a beautiful retelling that allows a younger generation to learn great truths about what really matters.
Profile Image for Josh.
219 reviews18 followers
September 15, 2018
A great children's book based on Leo Tolstoy's Three Questions. The book has some beautiful artwork. My daughters loved it.
Profile Image for Rendi Hahn.
298 reviews10 followers
January 1, 2022
Beautiful message paired with beautiful illustrations: Be present to this moment, this person, this good work, for “this is why we are here.”
Profile Image for Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams.
2,587 reviews13 followers
April 15, 2021
The more books I read by Jon J Muth, the more I love his books. I love that he has the happy talent for taking classical stories and making them understandable to children - and too adults too! There are books that hold your interest and their are books that house lessons that you want everyone to learn. Jon Muth knows how to combine the two.
Profile Image for Christine Joy.
854 reviews9 followers
August 15, 2024
I like the message, and it made me want to read Tolstoy's story which this book was based on. I found the story clever and the art charming. The theme of the story was straightforward for its audience yet still profound.
Profile Image for Catherine.
96 reviews
November 16, 2024
Another lovely, thoughtful story for children AND adults. We could all learn something from this book! ❤️ And beautiful illustrations.
Profile Image for Narjes.
4 reviews
March 13, 2025
قصة مقتبسة من أحدى اعمال تولستوي، لطيفة تستحق التأمل
Profile Image for Deb.
1,550 reviews19 followers
January 4, 2021
Yeah, this one was technically "for Alena," but I really needed to read it. I love its lessons. I teared up over this one. I want to read the book by Leo Tolstoy on which this story is based.
5 reviews
March 21, 2016
The Three Questions tells a beautiful story of a young boy named Nikolai searching for answers to his questions: "When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do?" Nikolai asks some of his animal friends, but is not satisfied with their answers. He asks the wise old turtle Leo, and along the way helps a panda and her baby in need. Leo explains that Nikolai has found his answer, and he teaches a lesson about living in the now and doing good for those who are with you, that is important for not only Nikolai, but for all readers. The captivating illustrations in this story added so much to the story and it has become one of my favorite books I have read this year. Readers will feel as if they are on the journey with Nikolai, and will be just as eager to find the answers to the questions as he is.

This book can be used in a classroom to teach the importance of how you spend your time and what you choose to do with it. It reveals an important lesson about living in the present moment and helping those who are around us at any given time. Students can also take away a lesson that sometimes when we don't know the answer or a solution to a problem, we need to take a look at ourselves and see that it was there all along.

This book was a WOW book for me because of the profound lesson and beautiful watercolor illustrations. The story was told in a interesting, yet simple manner that kept me very engaged. Stories about animals have also always captured my attention, so the interaction among Nikolai and his animal friends added another element of interest for me.
Profile Image for Dolly.
Author 1 book671 followers
August 30, 2015
Jon J. Muth has an uncanny way of being able to bring philosophy into the reach of children of all ages. His stories are fun, but they impart a message that is wise and timeless. I loved, loved, loved this book. It's a short tale, but really says it all.

"Remember then, that there is only one important time, and that time is now. The most important one is always the one you are with. And the most important thing to do is to do good for the one who is standing at your side. For these, my dear boy, are the answers to what is most important in this world. This is why we are here." (p. 29)

The watercolor illustrations are very nice - softly rendered, but with nice details and expressions. I also love how he incorporated the animals into the story.

August 2015 update: I discovered this book in a box of books after our recent move. As much as I love this book, we decided to donate it to our local library to be given to another child.
99 reviews4 followers
September 30, 2013
Title / Author / Publication Date:
The Three Questions. / Jon Muth. / 2002.

Genre: Fiction.

Format: Picturebook - print.

Plot summary:
Based on a story by Leo Tolstoy, "Nikolai asks his animal friends to help him answer three important questions: 'When is the best time to do things?' 'Who is the most important?' and 'What is the right thing to do?'" (NoveList).

Considerations or precautions for readers advisory:
friendship, spirituality, questions & answers

Review citation:
"Muth's large-size pictures are open and beautiful. Some of the soft-toned landscapes are like Japanese paintings, with sharply defined characters against blurry views of water, mountain, and sky. Children will want to talk about the questions and answers..." (Hazel Rochman: Booklist).

Section source used to find the material:
Best Books for Children Preschool through Grade 6 (9th ed.)

Recommended age: Ages 4 - 8.
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