I came across a book I think many of you might find helpful. It is called, The Cow Of No Color: Riddle Stories and Justice Tales from Around the World.
As far as I can tell, it is a fairly obscure book (Amazon rankings don’t always mean a book is or isn’t obscure — #423,247 as of right now). It is a simple book really, but it isn’t an easy book. In fact, the riddles and stories are quite thought provoking and very challenging. Each story in the book sent me through a mixed range of emotions and led me into deep thought.
(Artwork from HERE)
I think it might provide you and your students with similar experiences. Not to mention, I am quite sure it will get your students talking about issues of love, compassion, forgiveness, greed, peace, burden, ethics, equality, etc.
Here is an excerpt from the back cover of the book…
Two men are traveling through the desert. One of them carries a flask filled with water. The desert stretches out before them. Both men know that the closest oasis is a hunred miles away. They also know there is only enough water to keep one man alive until he can reach the watering hole. If the owner of the flask keeps the water for himself, he will reach the oasis with the spring water. If he gives the flask to his companion, he friend will live and he will die. If they share the water, both will die. (The Cow of No Color, by Jaffe and Zeitlin.)
Who should drink the water?