Skiddycock Pond

Skiddycock Pond
by Bethany Tudor/ published 1965 by J.B. Lippincott

Written and illustrated by one of Tasha's two daughters, apparently Bethany penned a whole series on the little plush ducklings, Samuel and Samantha, back in the 60s. Calling this wee tale "cute" would be an understatement. I mean, it's a book about the misadventures of some cuddly toy ducks for heaven's sake. How much trouble can they get into? Her mother's influence overflows here, with a major difference being a somewhat dark turn that happens toward the end of the story.

So, the ducks and their friends are mildly freaked when a strange toy boat lands on their pond. They come up with a plan to extract the boat and commander it for their own. When some friendly frogs tell them to steer clear of the center of the pond, the warnings go unheeded and near-tragedy ensues.

All at once Samantha saw something moving along through the waterweeds. Gweek grabbed Samuel's telescope and rushed to the side of the boat. "It's an enormous snapping turtle coming right toward us," he squeaked. Everyone was terrified. Samuel didn't know what to do. Samantha was in tears and nobody was helping.

I've always imagined what it must have been like to grow up with Tasha Tudor as your mother ~ throwing lavish birthday parties for dolls and living off the earth. Now having seen this book, I'll bet it was a life spend storytelling and drawing and creating wonderful worlds of imagination, duh. So dear and unique is this family, it is nice to get introduced to some of the extended clan. For those who care to learn a little more about Tasha and her brood, Bethany also authored Tasha's biography Drawn from New England. Too, check out the memorial website the family set up after her passing. The memory book is signed by over 2000 people and has some pretty moving moments.