In the midst of chaos, Thumbelina uses her keen observational skills—her unique gift—and the kind heart nurtured by her mother. She discovers Toddy’s sign patterns, Mr. Toad’s son, whose way of communicating is inspired by American Sign Language.
Her resilient spirit allows Thumbelina to befriend Toddy, leading to her first experience of true friendship and the discovery of various skills that will guide her in future challenges.
This project was inspired by the two illustrations I created below. At the time, I was grappling with the question, How can I make this world my home? Facing the daunting task of finding my place in the world, I felt overwhelmed—small, like Thumbelina.
To be honest, I was never particularly fond of the original story. Thumbelina seemed to drift through life, relying on luck rather than making her own choices. So, I wondered—what if she had the chance to discover her own strength? What if, instead of being carried along by fate, she realized she had the power to survive and thrive in the wild?
Through this project, I wanted to share a message with young readers (including myself): You have a strength within you, like a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered. No matter what choices you make, you will be okay!
