Arnold Lobel gave the world many beloved illustrated stories, including the “Frog and Toad” series, “Fables,” and the side-splitting hilarious “Mouse Tales.” Beyond these well-known titles there is a gem worth making part of the permanent collection. Relegated to the genre of “Early Reader,” Lobel’s 1978 “Grasshopper on the Road” is anything but juvenile.
Going on a Journey
The story begins with our hero, known only as “Grasshopper.” He says, “I will find a road. I will follow that road wherever it goes.” And that is exactly what he does. Grasshopper is not a passive observer, though. Along a road of continuous change and variation, he meets an array of interesting characters. While to the child the characters may be simply quirky and intriguing, to the adult reading the book aloud the characters are recognizable types, people we meet wherever we go.
Especially relevant for our day and age is the lesson in tribalism Grasshopper receives with the “We Love Morning Club.” Grasshopper is mistakenly taken to be a member with his polite greeting of “Good morning.” From there things go quickly from excited partisans in call-and-response (“When does the clover sparkle with dew?” “In the morning!” When is the sunshine yellow and new?” “In the morning!”) to the beetles banishing Grasshopper for his unacceptable approval of evening. It’s a harsh lesson, but one we all learn sooner or later. A group of people brought together by shared passion can quickly spiral to irrational heights of fanaticism. In the midst of such insanity, the best response is to carry on down the road. Which is, of course, exactly what Grasshopper does.
Characters on the Road
In each short chapter that follows, Grasshopper encounters another eccentric character. “The Sweeper” is the busybody who has set out to remove every speck of dust from the entire world. “The Voyage” introduces the tiny mosquito who is convinced that passage across his puddle requires everyone to journey in his comically small ferry boat. The three butterflies of “Always” insist that Grasshopper must join them in recreating every detail of their day in an endless succession of identical days rehearsed with meticulous repetition. The bullying dragonflies of the closing chapter ridicule Grasshopper for moving slowly down the road instead of swooping and zooming as they do.
In each encounter with a new character, Lobel’s Grasshopper displays great dignity. Grasshopper calmly observes the characters he meets and joins them until their eccentricities impinge on his level-headed moderation. He is not opposed to celebrating the morning and joins the energetic mob. However, when he is forbidden from expressing his admiration for other times of day, he moves along. He accommodates the interloping mosquito and figures out a way to accompany the ferry across the puddle. He is happy to join the butterflies and learn about their life but moves on when their uncompromising routine threatens his liberty.
In his unflappable calm, Grasshopper embodies a kind of stoicism on the journey of life. Lobel offers readers a timeless wisdom about the world and how we can learn to move through it. We should learn from people along the way but maintain our independence of mind. People are motivated by different ideas in life, and our role as pilgrims is to pay attention to the way ahead, taking with us good and helpful ideas, leaving behind those that burden us.
According to one source, Lobel said that illustrated books are “capable of suggesting everything that is good about feeling well and having positive thoughts about being alive.” This is certainly the case for “Grasshopper on the Road,” which is a riotous celebration of the journey we are all on.
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