The Three Questions

Retold by Jon J. Muth

Grade:

1-4

ISBN-13:

978-0439199964

Publisher:

Scholastic Press (2002)

This beautifully illustrated retelling of a Leo Tolstoy story puts forth a child-like, yet profound look at some of life’s most important questions. Young Nikolai desires to be good and to know and understand things. Specifically, he yearns to know the answer to three questions: What is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do? Unsatisfied by the answers that some of his closest friends provide, he seeks the wisdom from the old turtle up the mountain. While on the mountain, Nikolai discovers his answers while helping those who need it the most. Nikolai, even in his youth and his uncertainty, demonstrates courage, magnanimity, prudence, and friendship, and his pursuit of truth speaks to the shared human experience that even a young reader can understand.