The Angry Monk and the Fly: A Tale of Mindfulness for Children

by Tina Schneider

Overview

Discover the Power of Mindfulness with The Angry Monk and the Fly

This accessible picture book teaches the value of mindfulness in a delightful and engaging way.

Even monks can get angry sometimes. That's when it's time to pause and reflect.

The monk is usually calm and serene. But when a pesky fly keeps buzzing around his head and landing on his nose day after day, he becomes very angry. This unexpected anger makes him confused and sad. One day, he decides to take a closer look at the irritating fly, and that's when he sees something truly wonderful!

The Angry Monk and the Fly teaches children (and adults) to pause and reflect on the people and things that annoy us or make us angry—a valuable lesson for everyone. With bright, colorful illustrations, this book will leave readers feeling calm and more prepared to face everyday challenges. At the end of the book, various animals share simple instructions on how to meditate and breathe, adding an extra layer of mindfulness practice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780804858663
Publisher:	Tuttle Publishing
Publication date:	05/27/2025
Series:	Tuttle Specials
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	10.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.00(d)
Age Range:	4 - 9 Years

About the Author

Tina Schneider received a BFA from the School of Visual Arts and an MFA from Bard College before starting her career as a studio artist. She has taught at Vassar College and her work has been exhibited in the Drawing Center, Wave Hill, and the Bronx Museum. She is the author of Ninja Boy's Secret and Architecture of the Heart.

Editorial Reviews

2022-08-31
Even a disciplined monk can lose his cool.

A light-skinned, bald monk in orange robes sits for meditation each day in a field of morning glories. He sits so still that wild animals feel safe around him. “They knew this monk like nature, like weather and earth know each other.” He sits night and day, and all the animals are at peace with him except one: a fly. The fly buzzes around the monk’s head, angering him. His outbursts frighten the other animals away. Each day he vows to ignore the fly, but each day his anger gets the better of him. The monk uses breathing meditation to calm himself, but the annoying fly still gets to him. One day, the fly lands on the monk’s nose. The monk looks at the fly and really sees it. He sees himself in the fly’s eyes and feels a oneness with the fly and all creation. He sees the fly as “Buddha-Fly.” The fly is no longer an irritant; it’s a teacher. Subtitled “a tale of mindfulness for children,” Schneider’s story of awakening might work best for children who already have a passing knowledge of the teachings of Buddha since concepts such as oneness, “Buddha-Fly,” and meditation aren’t explained. The illustrations, a mix of folk art and abstraction, contain a few confusing moments. Simple meditation instructions are included at the close. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Better choices abound in the boom of mindfulness titles for kids. (Picture book. 5-9)

Kirkus Reviews