Gnu and shrew by Danny Schnitzlein, illustrated by Anca Sandu

Gnu, a fierce-looking brown creature with curled horns and his friend shrew, an over-sized mouse-like creature with glasses and giant grey ears, like to sit at the side of the river on the savannah. In a blazing yellow landscape, they watch for the green crocodiles, some sporting fashionable shades, and talk about what they might do one day. Gnu dreams of crossing the river and finding a hidden cave of diamonds. Shrew is entranced by his tales and starts building a boat.

While Shrew works hard and Gnu dreams, time passes by. Eventually, Gnu's half-hearted efforts, during which he scorned Shrew's help, all fail. But Shrew's patience pays off and he finds the diamonds and sets out to tour the world. Meanwhile, Gnu, faced with an actual adventure, prefers to stay behind. Years later, Shrew returns to visit his old friend who has a new tale - one of emeralds at the top of a mountain. The story ends with Shrew, floating off in a hot air balloon, finally accompanied by Gnu.

This is a long, thought-provoking story. I can't see reading it aloud in a preschool or toddler storytime, due to the length and concepts, but it might be an interesting choice to discuss in an elementary classroom. The strong colors are attractive and the patient Shrew, taking Gnu's wild ideas and translating them to something practical, is an admirable creature. The ending is ambiguous; as an adult, I find Gnu exasperating and the idea that Shrew would return and take him on a trip (how did he finally talk him into actually doing something?) a little annoying.

Verdict: I don't see an audience for this modern take on the Ant and the Grasshoppers fable in my library, but some people may find it of interest and the art is attractive.

ISBN: 9781682631461; Published October 2020 by Peachtree; F&G provided by publisher for review