Thimbleberry Stories is a Drowsy Delight

This year, I have become a big fan of Cynthia Rylant. I've gotten a kick out of the daily adventures of young Henry and his big dog Mudge, been warmed by the tender tales of elderly Mr. Putter and his creaky cat Tabby, giggled at the antics of portly Poppleton the pig and his furry friends. But I never encountered the charming chipmunk Nigel until my friend Beth pointed me in his direction. Thimbleberry Stories is a collection of four tales about this agreeable rodent and his friends, who live in a very English-looking countryside brought to life through the illustrations of Maggie Kneen. A few small details, like the fact that all the species represented in the book are native to America but not all are found in England, make me think that Nigel and his friends are actually living in America, but the overall feel is very British and reminiscent of The Wind in the Willows, Winnie-the-Pooh and other such dreamy anthropomorphic animal stories.

In Nigel Meets Dipper, the chipmunk takes a break from gardening to get to know his new neighbor, a hummingbird. Dipper is a friendly fellow, but he experiences the world very differently than Nigel, being so much smaller and speedier. His unusual perspective does not prevent him from experiencing life deeply, however, as he demonstrates to his new friend when he shows him the landscapes he has been painting. I love Kneen's soft pictures of the hummingbird and chipmunk homes, daintily settled amongst lush grass and bright flowers. They look like lovely places to live. While each story in the book features Nigel, each of the friends is restricted to one story, aside from passing references, so we don't see Dipper again, but meeting such a cheerful, imaginative creature is a great way to start the book.

Little Owl Redecorates is both silly and sweet. Little Owl is a fastidious bachelor, and his sense of balance is thrown all out of whack when he welcomes a new plant into his home. His attempts to make room for it escalate into the overwhelming undertaking of rearranging all of his furniture. Nigel has a project of his own to work on when Little Owl comes to him for help, but he abandons it in favor of assisting his friend. Nigel's level-headedness is welcome in the midst of his friend's frenzied chaos, and the patient chipmunk is able to hit upon just the right solution to the owl's problem.

Claudius Plants a Garden introduces us to Claudius and Copper, a snake and butterfly who live in the meadow and are the best of friends. One day, Nigel decides to visit them, bringing along a gift of strawberries, which Claudius has never tasted before. He is so taken with the berries that he decides to grow some of his own, and even though Nigel knows that Claudius is a very lethargic creature, not at all inclined to make extra work for himself, he provides him with plants and helps him prepare his garden. But can Claudius keep the garden up when Nigel goes back home?

Mudpuppy's Picnic reminds me very much of The Wind in the Willows and makes me long for an afternoon out in the lagoon with an overflowing picnic basket. Nigel's boating companion is Mudpuppy, a very health-conscious salamander. Because Nigel is such a considerate chipmunk, he never tells Mudpuppy that he does not find his health food tasty. When Mudpuppy invites him on a boat ride culminating in a picnic, he agrees, but secretly wonders what unpleasant food he'll have to force down. Mudpuppy is such a skilled navigator and Nigel such a willing passenger that dread of the impending food is soon forgotten. But what will happen when the time comes to eat?

All four of these stories have a lovely, drowsy feeling to them. They encourage readers to embrace life's simple pleasures and to value their friends and accommodate them despite personal differences. Nigel is slower than Dipper, less fussy than Owl, less lazy than Claudius, less health-conscious than Mudpuppy. Each of his friends has quirks; Nigel has his own. But he always strives to meet his friends halfway, and his friendships flourish as a result of his willingness to put their feelings first. While I am an established Rylant fan, and her prose here is lyrical and engaging, Kneen's illustrations are just as delightful as the text, full of soft color and tiny details. The borders atop the pages that change with the story add an extra nice touch. For a perfectly cozy anytime read, give Thimbleberry Stories a try. It's enchanting.