Three Samurai Cats shows young readers that wisdom can take an unexpected form. A powerful lord believes that physical power and skill will solve his problem. When two imposing samurai fail to remove an abominable rat from his castle, the daimyo accepts the help of Neko Roshi, the most decrepit samurai cat he'd ever seen. Neko Roshi appears to do nothing but eat and sleep--until precisely the right moment.
Eric A. Kimmel's author's note explains that "The samurai were the knights of medieval Japan. Most followed the practices and teachings of Zen Buddhism, which emphasized stillness, meditation, and harmony with nature." Mordicai Gerstein's illustrations are colorful and active, often depicting a sequence of actions on a single page.
Organized Art Chaos has an Origami - Samurai Hat. TeachingWithSavvy has a Japan Worksheet Bundle. Academic Sparkle has Zen Zone Task Cards and The Sunflower has ZEN Zone box - editable letter to Teachers and Staff.
