BOOM, SNOT, TWITTY

Three friends with different philosophies spend a companionable day together, crocheting and weathering storms.

Boom is a bear, Twitty a robin and Snot a snail. Boom and Snot lie on their stomachs near a tree, reading, while Twitty crochets with pink yarn. Presently, the decisions begin. Twitty suggests staying where they are; Boom suggests going somewhere; Snot suggests waiting. So they each do: Twitty stays put (up the tree, where she’d already gone), Boom goes somewhere (up the tree to join her), and Snot waits on the ground, gathering yarn. When storm clouds arrive, Boom—standing on the treetop—leans into the wind and yells “Jump!”; Twitty shelters her yarn and cries “Hold on!”; Snot closes her eyes and murmurs, “Wind!” Lightning and a downpour make Boom yell “Run!” and Twitty cry “Hide!,” while Snot smiles and sighs, “Rain!” Here’s the subtle magnificence: Nary a speck of alienation from one another mars their vastly different approaches, nor does the text portray Snot’s easily found pleasure as more enlightened. The pale, softly colored backgrounds are bare, highlighting the characters, tree, yarn and dynamic weather. Liwska’s crosshatchings, downy edges and bright animal eyes are entrancing and tranquil. The crochet project progresses finely, growing (it’s briefly a tree cozy), unraveling (Boom jumps off the tree wearing it as a cape) and ending up someplace perfect.

Serene, quietly joyous and utterly life-affirming.