Cress Watercress

Description

A lavishly illustrated woodland tale with a classic sensibility and modern flair—from the fertile imagination behind Wicked

Gregory Maguire turns his trademark wit and wisdom to an animal adventure about growing up, moving on, and finding community. When Papa doesn’t return from a nocturnal honey-gathering expedition, Cress holds out hope, but her mother assumes the worst. It’s a dangerous world for rabbits, after all. Mama moves what’s left of the Watercress family to the basement unit of the Broken Arms, a run-down apartment oak with a suspect owl landlord, a nosy mouse super, a rowdy family of squirrels, and a pair of songbirds who broadcast everyone’s business. Can a dead tree full of annoying neighbors, and no Papa, ever be home? In the timeless spirit of E. B. White and The Wind and the Willows—yet thoroughly of its time—this read-aloud and read-alone gem for animal lovers of all ages features an unforgettable cast that leaps off the page in glowing illustrations by David Litchfield. This tender meditation on coming-of-age invites us to flourish wherever we find ourselves.David Litchfield’s luminous illustrations beautifully flesh out these characters. . . Maguire’s descriptions of [Cress’s] dark moods, bursts of anger and fear that she will end up like her father are piercing and sensitively written. . . . the story strikes a resonant chord: Like Cress, we must all continue to seek pleasure and connections in a dangerous and uncertain world.
—The New York Times Book Review

Maguire’s narrative offers wry puns, rich vocabulary, and entertaining dialogue, and Litchfield’s glowing, slightly stylized, full-color illustrations present an enchanting, magical peek into this woodland world. . . . Warmhearted and utterly charming.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

In this richly imagined woodland adventure, a grieving rabbit family—Mama, Cress, and baby Kip (with stuffed carrot “Rotty” always in tow)—must leave their comfortable warren to start over without their lost Papa. . . . Dark and shimmery full-color digital illustrations build on the text’s singular atmosphere. . . . With its brisk plot, witty details, and thought-provoking concepts, this gloriously illustrated chapter book makes an ideal family read-aloud.
—The Horn Book (starred review)

A hungry fox, a sneaky snake, a blundering bear, and “human beanpoles” add drama and suspense to Cress’ mini adventures, which are luminously depicted in Litchfield’s color illustrations. . . this novel of family and friendship will please fans of animal fantasies.
—Booklist

A surreal episodic narrative. . . . Maguire channels multiple children’s literary golden ages, with allusions to Beatrix Potter and Kenneth Grahame alongside nonsense notes of Norton Juster and Russell Hoban. Theatrical situations abound. . . . Suitable for sharing and reading aloud, this exuberant tale revels in the performative and the flavor of language.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

This coming-of-age story with a female rabbit as the main character will appeal to readers who enjoy gentle adventure stories with an emphasis on character development. . . . Themes of family, friends, relationships, and independence abound in this novel.
—School Library Connection

David Litchfield’s illustrations (see right) have such bright, glowing colors that even the nocturnal scenes seem bathed in light.
—The Wall Street Journal

‘Wicked’ creator Gregory Maguire offers a marvelously eccentric cast of animal characters and vivid poetry celebrating the wonders of the natural world in this beautifully written coming-of-age tale of a young rabbit. . . The glorious full-color illustrations, with the dramatic use of light reminiscent of the best movie animated classics, are by English artist David Litchfield.
—The Buffalo News

Charming. . . There’s plenty to chew on here, with Cress’ story never preachy but sure to resonate in all kinds of ways with young readers. David Litchfield’s illustrations — many full-page — glow with the colors of the forest and the faces of its critters.
—The Star Tribune

The book is rife with similes and metaphors, and the chapters are short, which makes it a wonderful read-aloud. It is a tale of moving on, while remembering the past.
—The Denton-Record Chronicle

Who knew that rabbits and squirrels had so much to teach us about both the hard and tender times of life? Gregory Maguire, that’s who. Cress Watercress is a clear-eyed lesson in picking up and moving forward, living with unanswered questions, and making new friends. I will recommend this beautifully written (and perfectly illustrated!) book to everyone.
—Ann Patchett, New York Times best-selling author of The Dutch HouseGregory Maguire is the author of the incredibly popular books in the Wicked Years series, including Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which inspired the musical. He is also the author of several books for children, including What-the-Dickens, a New York Times bestseller, and Egg & Spoon, a New York Times Book Review Notable Children’s Book of the Year. Gregory Maguire lives outside Boston.

David Litchfield started to draw when he was very young, creating comics for his older brother and sister. Since then his work has appeared in magazines, newspapers, and books and on T-shirts. His first picture book, The Bear and the Piano, won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. He is also the illustrator of Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Prasadam-Halls and War Is Over by David Almond. David Litchfield lives in England.1
The Bare Windows of Home
 
Mama yanked down her homemade drapes and stuffed them into the carryall. The windows stared
squarely out into the newness of how things were now. Mama said, “I think it is time.” She pulled her apron strings tighter. She didn’t look at her children. “Is everyone ready?”
   Cress shrugged. Her mouth was dry, her words locked silent.
   “You’ll need to carry him, Cress,” said Mama. “I have my arms full. Can you manage?”
   Kip was disagreeable, all sour milk on salty soap.
   “NO GO.”
   “Don’t fuss,” said Mama. “This is hard enough. Be a good little bunny for Mama.”
   Kip threw himself in the middle of the empty warren. Gone now, the rag carpet that had made the floor soft. When Kip kicked, he hurt his feet. He cried harder.
   Mama put down the map, the parcels tied in string, the carryall, the valise full of carrots. She picked up her little Kip. Since the rocking chair was gone, too, she rocked on her heels.
   “Why won’t you settle down, cuddles?” asked Mama. “I don’t know what to do with you.”
   “He wants his stuffed carrot,” said Cress.
   “Want ROTTY,” said Kip.
   “I must have packed it and sent it ahead,” said Mama.
   “No,” said Cress. “It’s stuck in the hood of his onesie. Look, Kip! Here’s your carrot.”
   “ROTTY,” said Kip. There were more tears, and from more than one pair of eyes.
   “And now we’re ready,” said Mama. Kip went into the snuggly. Cress grabbed Mama’s paw and held on tight.
   They left their home for the last time. No one bothered to lock the door or to look back at nobody waving goodbye.
 
2
Dinner by Moonlight
 
The setting sun was a lumpy clementine in a net bag of string clouds. The air, so cool and damp. A few birds moaned in falling tones. “Where are we going?” asked Cress.
   “You’ll see when we get there,” said Mama crisply.
   Cress knew that was the end of talking for now.
   Kip, sucking on the tip of his stuffed carrot, fell silent. But Cress thought she heard him murmur, “Papa?”
   She couldn’t bring herself  to say, “No Papa,” so she said, “Look, Kip. There’s a little broken circle in the sky. Mama, is that the moon?”
   “You’ve seen the moon before,” said Mama. “You know the moon.”
   “I don’t remember,” said Cress. “You never let me go out at night.”
   They didn’t talk any more. The grass looked like dinner and then it tasted like dinner. Dinner by moonlight, thought Cress. Papa would love this.
   Papa would have loved this.
 
3
Where We’re Going
 
Mama had lost her map.
   On the other side of the water, the ducks slept. They were too far away to wake up for directions.
   Nearby, thorny branches tangled, a dark sword fight profiled against cliffs of silvery moon-cloud.
   The family froze when Monsieur Reynard came by with a mouthful of hen, but his jaws were busy. He couldn’t bother with Mama and her children tonight.
   “We made it,” said Cress as they hurried by, trying not to stare.
   “Just luck,” said Mama. “The fox had already chosen his meal.”
   “Do you think we should have helped that poor hen?” asked Cress.
   “She was too dead, I’m afraid,” replied Mama.
   “Oh.” Cress thought about it. “Did a fox get Papa?”
   “Hush your lips!” Mama glanced at the baby. But Kip was asleep, dreaming of dipping carrots in honey.
   Mama put her paw on Cress’s shoulder. “We may never know what happened to Papa,” she said. “But here we are, and the forest is home to more than one fox. So we must take care. If only I hadn’t lost the map.”
   “Do you know where we’re going?” asked Cress.
   “Of course I know where we’re going.” Mama paused to stroke her whiskers and look around. “I just don’t know the way.”
 
4
Agatha Cabbage
 
I wish I knew what I did with the map,” said Mama for the third time that night.
   Cress said, “You left it on the floor when you were cuddling Kip.”
   “Why didn’t you pick it up if you saw it lying there?” asked Mama.
   “I wasn’t in charge of the map,” said Cress. “I can’t be in charge of everything. I have the towels and the teaspoons. Not to mention Kip on my back.” Cress didn’t add that she had been too close to tears to speak.
   “You should have pointed out that I dropped it.” Mama tutted. Cress readied for a sound scolding. However, just then, a figure crossed their path in the moonlight, striping the horizon with black and white.
   “Oh, my pearls and pistols. What do we have here? Humble country folk out for an evening stroll?” asked a lady skunk, peering through a lorgnette. “And far from home, by the look of your shabby luggage.”
   “Good evening, madame,” said Mama.
   “The little ones are out late,” said the skunk. “I disapprove.”
   “Oh, do you?” asked Mama blandly. “Well, it can’t be helped tonight.”
   “Not how I’d raise children, if I had any,” replied the skunk. “But don’t let me keep you. I’m off to the opera. Notice my lorgnette. Notice my chinchilla.”
   Wrapped around the skunk’s neck, the chinchilla shyly lifted her head and murmured, “Howdy-do.”
   “Lady Agatha Cabbage is my name,” said the skunk. She squinted through her eyepiece at Cress. “My, what a charming little girl you are. Little frou-frou, little bunnykins, would you like to become my lady’s maid? My last maid ran off. Useless. It’s so hard to keep good help. Do come, child. I need help.”
   Cress was pretty brave but no way, no way. She pouted.
   “Oh, she couldn’t possibly,” said her mother.
   Lady Cabbage frowned and said, “I would give her sound training in manners, something you haven’t managed to do yet.”
   Cress pressed her face into her mother’s apron strings and held her breath.
   “She’s getting an education already,” said Cress’s mother. “She is homeschooled. Very well, I might add.”
   Lady Cabbage sniffed. “What could you possibly teach her at home school?”
   “What home is,” said her mother. She glanced about. “And where.”
   The skunk pushed the point. “But where is your home?”
   “We were looking for a certain Mr. Owl who is said to have rooms to let,” admitted Mama. “But we’ve lost our way.”
   “Mr. Owl? I know where that old crankcase lives,” said the skunk. “I can show you. There are some nasty spiderwebs on the path. I suppose the opera can wait.”
   “You’re too kind,” said Cress’s mother to Lady Cabbage.
   The chinchilla twisted her head and whispered to Cress, “She’s not that kind. She doesn’t even like opera. She just likes to dress up and parade about.”
   “By the way,” said Cress’s mother, “a word to the wise. We just saw a fox go by with a mouthful of hen.”
   “I am scared of no fox,” replied the skunk. “I have a powerful cologne that drives predators wild. You’ll be safe with me. Come along.”
   “Just don’t get on her stinky side,” whispered the
chinchilla.CN

Additional information