Through twisted, loopy pictures Rocco teaches a life long lesson. It takes patience and courage to find the way. ( )

A careless boy learns the way of purposefulness through the art of the tea ceremony. A lovely book about taking the time to do things right. ( )

Fu is moving too quickly while planting rice and his father tells him to redo it. But when he jerks out the patties and flings them off the cliff one hits a warrior riding through. The warrior tells him to meet him the next day for a duel. Fu goes to a warrior Master who says he'll train him to fight. But Fu ends up pouring tea the right way all day/night. Fu awakes and runs to the duel but asks the warrior if they can have tea first. The warrior is so impressed by his ceremonial tea service that the warrior said he will not fight him for he has the "Way."

I love John Rocco but I think this is the least favorite of my books. I do see his point in being in Japan and experiencing a tea ceremony and wanting to write about it. I just thought there could be more depth into the life lesson of the "Way" and maybe more character development.... Something just seems to be missing for me... ( )

I love this book.
Some years ago, I would have jumped on details like Gong fu Girl did. (Thanks to her review: I ordered the book as soon as I read it.)
Now my inner child simply relishes the story, the illustrations, the lesson.
I close the book.
And open it again.