toads in a teapot

She lay in her pretty little bed one night when there came jumping at the window, through a broken pane, an ugly toad.  It was such a horrid toad - big and wet - and it jumped right onto the table where Thumbelina lay fast asleep beneath the red rose petal.

"She'll make my son a lovely wife!" said the toad.  And, picking up the walnut shell with Thumbelina asleep inside it, she hopped away through the window and into the garden.

A big, wide stream flowed through the garden.  The edge of this was all swampy and muddy, and there lived the toad with her son.  Ugh, he too was ugly, just like his mother!  "Ko-ax, ko-ax, brek-ek-ek!" was all he could say when he saw the pretty girl in the walnut shell.

"Don't talk too loud, or she'll wake up!' said the old toad.  "She'll run away from us yet, she's as light as swan's down.  We'll put her out on the stream, on one of those water-lily leaves; light and tiny as she is it'll make an island for her.  She won't be able to run away from there, and meanwhile we'll get ready the front room under the mud, where you'll be making you're home!"
                                                         - from Thumbelina by H.C. Andersen
                                                            translated from the original by Reginald Spinks
                                                                                       (courtesy of Alfred Knopf, Inc.)

Comments

[linda harre]

your watercolors blow me away....so delicate and full of life! i have painted with watercolor all my life and have never achieved your tender touch.....great work!

[Enid]

You have such a delicate touch. Beautiful as always.

[Sweet pea]

Once again, a lovely piece! have you ever submitted your work to publishers? It would be so lovely to see your paintings in books.

[ULLA]

Truly Inspired! Inside a teapot, oh its delightful... I love how you have left 1/2 the space free - breathing room. and the fishing rod swirl... Your truly have a gift girl!

[Mrs.Staggs]

I keep thinking Lulu that one of these days I'm going to recognize one of your artworks from a children's book and say; "Aha she really is a famous artist after all!" This is, like all of your work, truly lovely. One of the things that I love most about your pieces is your ability to convey the most glorious "light".

[Heather]

I love this one! I especially like the teapot for the toads' home. What an inspired touch. And Thumbelina is so sweet and lovely that I would be tempted to carry her away with me, too! I love the way the light spills from the teapot and lights her up until she almost glows. Simply beautiful!

[amy rue]

This is so beautiful! I love the muted colors with the pops of orange and red.
My favorite children's artist is Lisbeth Zwerger and your paintings have the same energy and feeling to them for me.

[lauren Mumford]

ooooh, how wonderful to read excerpts from childhood books! I hope you continue with doing this, it brings back warm fuzzy feelings of childhood reading done in a tree! Actually, I'm waiting for YOUR stories that go along with your watercolors!!

;o)

[Anastasia]

are you a childrens book author?? you should be - your work brings so much joy!