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A Great Picture Book

 "Hazel's Amazing Mother" is centered on a raccoon, Hazel, who is like a new version of Little Red Ridinghood. She has cash from her mom; her goal is to find goodies for an upcoming picnic. She sets out with her doll, Eleanor, but she keeps getting waylaid.


In a dark wood, Hazel encounters a nasty chipmunk--Doris, an agent of chaos. Without explanation, Doris and her minions assault the doll Eleanor. The carriage-toy gets disemboweled. Eleanor is dropped in a puddle.

Through the power of filial love, Hazel is able to summon her mother. A great gust of wind carries Mom's picnic blanket-cum-airplane--carries this item way, way, way across the countryside. In the dark wood, Mom rescues Hazel. She puts Doris through a "natural-consequence" workout. ("Fix the doll. Fix the carriage.") And the picnic occurs--just as envisioned.

I like Rosemary Wells's sense of freedom. She does not have to "explain" the root cause of Doris's nastiness. She does not need to confine herself to the laws of nature--if a magic thunderstorm is required, then a magic thunderstorm can occur. Also, there isn't anything overly syrupy in the book; Hazel has a rough time and finds her way through the rain, and there isn't a need for a full, booming orchestra or a sermon about learning and growing. This is just a simple fairy tale.

Wells's light touch is a master class for other writers. For example, she is a favorite of Judy Blume's.




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