The Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water (Teaching Stories) Paperback – September 1, 2015

Idries Shah is a master storyteller and his version of this ancient fable is wonderful to read with young children, especially with the lovely illustrations. Youngsters often respond vividly to the dilemma of the lion who is stricken with fear when surprised by his reflection in a pool of water. For an adult, like myself, the sincerity and intensity of the child can be a wake up reminder that this core element of the narrative is not just a cute plot device but a rich metaphor of a kind of fear that gets in the way of understanding.

I purchased several Idries Shah books for my five year old granddaughter. We both enjoy the stories, and you can see mentally processing the ideas put forth. This book provided an excellent introduction to the idea of not jumping to conclusions about things.

We read a lot of books in this household both because as a parent, I love the relationship that is formed with my child as a learning reader and because as an educator I know the power that every book and every story holds.The day this book arrived, I ripped open the package trying to remember what I had ordered from Amazon this time, and saw the book. I left the book poking out the bubble sleeve. When my child got home from school, the glossy cover caught her attention. She immediately pulled the book out of the sleeve and asked if we could read it. I said we would read it together before bedtime and she went on to try and read on her own. I then proceeded to read it with her to get a good read on how impactful the story was upon first reading.Highlights: beautiful artistry by Ingrid Rodriguez totally enraptured my animal-loverSimple, easy to follow “story line”* that easily allowed for open conversation about parallels between the lion/animals in the jungle and self/feelingsIs a good length (not too long/short)This book is available in an e-versionThis book is also available in SpanishWe really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone who raising or caring for children who they want to be emotionally intelligent.*I use quotes around storyline because inside the book it’s states that it is an adaptation written by a 13th century Sufi poet.#ReadYourWorld

This, as with the other children's books from theHoopoe Series, is a marvelous story for young children.The lion in the story discovers something aboutfear and being afraid that is truly valuable.

Wonderfully lively retelling of Rumi's story. The illustrations are very expressive, showing a wide range of the Lion's and the other jungle animals' emotions. The lion struggles with what he truly *needs* and his *unfounded* fears of taking action, with a resolution of his problem that brings a new understanding. The various voices of all the characters make for a fun read aloud.

I was gifted a copy of The Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water by Hoopoe Books as a part of Multicultural Children's Book Day. I enjoyed reading this book with my Kindergarten students and watching as their faces lit up while making connections to the idea of confronting your fears. This lovely story written by Idries Shah and illustrated by Ingrid Rodriguez is a beautiful example of a teaching-story, which is a tool that helps teach specific universal concepts or emotions. I find that read alouds are an excellent way to address themes or emotions occurring in young students. These stories provide them with strategies and an understanding of these concepts, allowing them to problem-solve or confront feelings more independently.The writing in The Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water is very accessible for young children as it is written in a very matter of fact tone. My students immediately fell in love with the colorful images on each page. They also smiled and laughed along as they saw the vivid expressions of the animals running away from the lion. As the lion demonstrated his fear, they thought of their own fears. And when the lion, with encouragement from the other animals, nervously approached drinking the water, my students felt relief and excitement. They shared how they, too, could try something they were scared of, but it was important to have the encouragement and support of those around them. This book served as a wonderful conversation starter for talking about fears and feeling comfortable to share them. I was definitely a fan of this book and would use it again with my students in the future!#ReadYourWorld

The Lion Who Saw Himself In The Water.This charming tale, is for all ages, not just two year olds.A butterfly whispers in the ear of a thirsty lion, while the other animals in the jungle look on and the lion sees that what is frightening him, is merely a reflection, and a reflection of himself at that.One may wonder about mirrors and reflections and the symbolism of butterflies but if you are five years old, you will fall in love with this tale and the colours and the drawings, and that will be enough.

I found this tale a great help as a child and still do as an adult. Its straight forward metaphorical explanation of how are fears are often self generated, stays with you. Love the illustrations too.

This is an incredibly powerful rendering of an ancient tale by the 13th-century Sufi poet Jalaluddin Rumi that will spellbind any child.

Beautiful book

'The Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water' is a meaningful story, beautifully illustrated.

the best