Sometimes you can only do a small, small thing. And that can make all the difference.

Sometimes you can only do a small, small thing. And that can make all the difference. The gentle world created in this enchanting fable features three characters inspired by the three pillars of Chinese philosophical thought. A young boy exudes the Taoist love of nature, his family ox embodies the Buddhist compassion for others, and a garden rabbit demonstrates the Confucian practice of mutual respect. The friends thoughtfully converse as they navigate everyday tasks like planting in the garden, caring for an injured bird, and comforting a grieving neighbor: "The friends didn't always agree, so they learned from each other instead." With contemporary illustrations painted in gongbi style (one of the oldest art forms in the world), these timeless and deceptively simple "parables of love, compassion, and community" make life-affirming fare for contemplative souls ages 10 to 110.