Given our love for Zen Shorts, we ordered Zen Ties as soon as it was released and the book does not disappoint. Jon Muth crafts another gorgeous book, in which sage panda Stillwater teaches his children friends and nephew Koo about empathy and the unexpected ties that people have to one another. I especially love that this book weaves in multigenerational connections; the elderly Miss Whitaker is Laurel’s favorite character. Now I’m just trying to mentally will Muth into creating a poster version of the fabulous kung fu panda stances from the inside cover.