This collection of stories explores themes of hard work, perseverance, and the consequences of laziness, drawn from various cultural and folklore traditions. Each story presents different characters who experience the rewards or challenges of their efforts, or lack thereof.
The stories are divided into several categories based on their central themes:
Hard Work and Rewards
Many stories emphasize the benefits of diligence and effort. In The Unicorn From The Stars, Martin Hearne learns the value of generosity, transforming his village into one of kindness. Similarly, The Great Ant Brigade follows young Tony, who contributes ideas to improve efficiency in his colony’s harvest. How The Home Was Built depicts a family working together to build their own house, with each member playing a role in the creation of their shared home.
The Consequences of Laziness
A number of stories focus on the perils of laziness and the outcomes that arise from avoiding work. How The Camel Got His Hump tells of a camel who refuses to work and is punished by a Djinn, who gives him a hump to force him to labor. In Lazy Jack, the title character’s foolish mistakes lead him to accidentally win fortune after making others laugh. The Ass and His Masters presents an ass who moves from master to master, each time finding his situation worsens, until he faces an inevitable, harsh fate.
Justice and Punishment
Several stories involve characters who face justice, often for their mistreatment of others. In Why The Owl Flies At Night, Pedro’s stepmother’s cruelty is punished by St. Anthony, who transforms her into an owl. The Heifer and the Ox shows how an idle heifer’s fate is sealed by its lack of hard work, contrasted with the ox’s dedication. The Mule tells of a mule who, after boasting about his speed and strength, learns humility after a long and exhausting journey.
Magic and Transformation
A recurring theme is the role of magic in changing the fates of characters, often as a result of their actions. In Vasilisa The Beauty, Vasilisa uses the magical help of a doll to complete impossible tasks set by the fearsome Baba Yaga. In The Sea King’s Gift, Maie’s greed for more leads to a confrontation with the sea king, who restores balance by taking back the riches he had granted her. The Magic Corn shows a girl learning the secrets of growing an abundant corn harvest, only for her son to fail when he tries to surpass her methods by relying solely on technology.
Working Together
Several stories highlight the power of cooperation and collaboration in achieving goals. In Mrs. Puddle’s New Driveway, Rolly the steamroller and his construction friends work together to finish a project despite setbacks. The Brownie Of The Lake follows a girl whose family benefits from the magical help of a brownie, but she later suffers when she fails to treat him kindly. Similarly, The Brown Birds shows how two birds work together to build their nest, relying on gifts from various animals to complete the task.
Imagination over knowledge
