Dreamers and Doers: Gnu and Shrew by Danny Schnitzlein

Gnu and Shrew meet early each morning to surveil the crocodiles who dominate their deep and wide river. Gnu says there is a cave full of diamonds somewhere on the other side and dreams of digging them out and using the fortunes to see the wide world.

SHREW NODDED POLITELY.

Each dawn Gnu tells Shrew about his nightly dream. One morning Gnu says he dreamed of using the riches from the diamonds to build a boat and sailing the world with his friend.

"HMMMM!" SAYS SHREW. "THAT GIVES ME AN IDEA!"

Gnu starts digging a tunnel under the river, but soon finds it too hard. Meanwhile Shrew begins to build a boat to cross the river.

Gnu pooh-poohs Shrew's boat, saying the crocodiles will chomp it and eat them. But the next morning he tells Shrew that he dreamed that when he is rich, he will build them a Ferris wheel. Shrew incorporates the idea into his plan and builds a paddle wheel behind his boat to make it faster.

THAT'S NICE!, SAYS GNU, WITH A CONDESCENDING SMILE.

"WHEN I HAVE THE DIAMONDS, I AM GOING TO BUY A BICYCLE AND PEDAL AROUND THE WORLD!"

That gives Shrew another idea and he added two sets of pedals to power his paddle wheel. But a heavy rain sets in, and Gnu dreams of building a tall, strong house with a tarred roof to keep the rain out. That gives Shrew the idea of tarring the bottom of his boat to prevent leaking. Finally he is ready to cross the river.

"I'M LEAVING TO GO GET SOME DIAMONDS! WANT TO COME?" SAYS SHREW.

"I COULD REALLY USE YOUR HELP."

Gnu elects to take a nap, and Shrew safely makes the river crossing solo, digs up plenty of diamonds, and goes out to see the world. One day he returns to see his old friend Gnu and invites him to see the world with him.

"NO, I'VE GOT SOME PROJECTS TO FINISH," SAID GNU.

Some are dreamers and some are doers, in Gnu and Shrew (Peachtree Publishing, 2020).

It takes all kinds to make a world, in Danny Schnitzlein's little parable of wish fulfillment. Rather than form a dynamic duo, Gnu would rather continue to "entertain" ideas, while Shrew chooses to bring those ideas to fruition. Shrew goes on to build a home, a family, and a business, while Gnu continues dreaming up big ideas, some of which come true. Who's to say which is the best way? In author Schnitzlein's telling, the characters wind up doing both, and artist Anca Sandu comes up with whimsical illustrations for this little fable of an offbeat friendship.