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Six vibrant tales are presented in poetic form, with softly colorful illustrations by the poet. Wassmann presents her works as a sort of rare happenstance, each one depicting what could be viewed as an ordinary event, seen in the light of vivid imagination and yet always relevant to the reader or listener and grounded in recognizable realities. In the first work, “Tiptoe Through the Toadstools,” a human observer notes an encounter between a self-centered imp and a generous-natured dragonfly. The two are at odds over possession of a cozy mushroom home. The imp becomes more giving and the dragonfly more contented by talking it through.
Other equally intriguing tales follow, such as “Ballad of the Birdhouse,” which recounts the narrow rescue of a falling baby bird by a plastic owl. In this story, lessons are learned about how to approach new challenges. “Tale of a Tigger” follows the amusing explorations of a clever housecat who manages to save his owners by sounding an alarm when needed. Then in “Why Cry Butterfly?” a child takes time to watch a wounded insect gradually recover, helping it perhaps, through empathy and appreciation of the creature’s strengths and beauty. The author continues to expand the bounds of the imagination in “Flube-a-Dube.” Although merely an inanimate dog toy, the protagonist reacts to a genuine household crisis in a way that averts disaster: “Now I know it’s hard to believe that any stuffed animal could move or feel. / But maybe that day, Flube felt something, and he rescued our cockatiel!” Finally, in “Mice Works,” a group of feisty little rodents courageously dodge a cat who has decided to pounce on them, an effort that will have long-term positive consequences in their shared household.
Each story is brought to life by Wassman’s inventive paintings, such as when a child gently points a finger at an immobilized butterfly, the savvy housecat contemplates a balloon as a probable source of loud noise to awaken her master, and a delightful “inch high imp” relaxes in a mushroom cottage. The narrative is composed of intelligently fashioned rhyme, and each story has a point to prove, something that could be shared between reader and listener. Examples include the imp’s gradual understanding of the value of sharing, the baby bird’s realization that he is risking his life by following impulse instead of waiting and acquiring wisdom, and the cat, Tigger, part of but not always included in the human family, proving his worth in a crisis and getting an article in the local newspaper as a reward. Even Flube, a simple and often ignored bundle of cloth, makes a heroic effort on behalf of his shared community. Readers will likely speculate that Wassmann knows some of the characters she so deftly draws, so deep is her focus on them.
Wassmann has an academic background in art, art history, and cataloging and has contributed to the works of other authors through the Greenbelt Writing Group and elsewhere. Her story poems are simple enough for older children to read and grasp. Meanwhile, younger ones will find the tales and their inner meaning enhanced by the interaction with a parent, grandparent, or teacher, all of whom may marvel at her word and picture gifts so satisfyingly displayed in this collection.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review