Badger's Gift

Author: (English) Varley, S. (Author), Yang Lingling, Peng Yi (Translators)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: Badger is a trustworthy friend who is always willing to help. He is very old, almost omniscient, and knows he is about to die. That night, he said goodnight to the moon and pulled up the curtains. He slowly walked into his underground cave, where there was a fireplace. After dinner, he wrote a letter and then fell asleep in his rocking chair. He dreamed he was running, ahead of him was a long tunnel. The faster he ran, the more he felt his feet leave the ground, feeling free, no longer needing his body. The next day, the fox read the letter left by the badger: "I've gone to the other end of the long tunnel. Goodbye!" Snow fell, covering the earth, but not the sorrow of everyone. As spring approached, the animals started visiting each other, and they began to talk about the days when the badger was still alive. The mole told everyone how the badger taught him to cut paper, the frog told everyone how he learned to ice-skate from the badger, and the fox remembered how the badger taught him to tie a tie—these were the gifts left by the badger for them, gifts that helped them support each other. The last snow melted, and so did their sorrow. On a warm spring day, the mole climbed the hill where he had last seen the badger, wanting to thank him for the gifts he had given them. He whispered softly, "Badger, thank you." In this touching story, the badger's friends learned to accept his death. Susan Varley's children's picture book made its debut and immediately made a stunning impression. Her charming illustrations perfectly complemented the poignant text.