As with any enduring fairy tale, children will want to listen to Four Seasons with the Poppets again and again, to revisit the charming world of the Poppets. The seasonal stories speak to a child’s senses, describing picturesque scenes. In spring, how pretty the forest looked when the flowers were in bloom; in summer, the animals would come visit to hear Margie’s and Millie’s songs; in fall, gathering pine cones for Mother Poppet’s fires; in winter, ‘The roasted acorn smelled just like Christmas dinner should smell.’ Throughout the story are life lessons: appreciation for and conservation of the world around them, inclusion and encouragement of others, teamwork, and neighbourliness. Children are comforted, learning about the continuity of the seasons. “When Father Poppet saw how the sun made the frozen creek look like a sparkling white path, he decided to whittle ice skates for the children next spring, out of soft green wood, that would dry and harden in time for Christmas next winter.” When children use their imagination, it develops their ability to problem solve.
