Donut Pond (A Tiny World of Wonder)
"Donut Pond" is a series based on
Rose, Benny, and Tadpole are siblings living in a suburban (New England) town on a dead-end street. At the end of the street is a dirt path, and Donut Pond is a quick jaunt down the path. It’s the kids’ favorite place to go, after school, on the weekends, etc., to have fun and volunteer. Rose loves adventure, and getting dirty. Benny likes to “play ball” (think lawyer-type personality), and Tadpole is a 2 year old sensitive communicator who doesn't know how to speak yet (but maybe knows a little sign language??!).
Their best friends at the pond include Fraug (the frog), Walter (the catfish), and Mr. Grey (the heron), among others. Fraug, Walter, and Mr. Grey more or less manage the community at Donut Pond. They run a translation service, wherein animals or kids can come and get their help to relay messages they wouldn't otherwise be able to do for themselves. This might include a simple face-to-face translation, like from English to Spanish, or from Catfish to English. Or perhaps it is a longer, more involved, emotionally-charged message that someone needs assistance in formulating (think "Violet Evergarden" anime).
“The Verm” are a pair of antagonistic dragonflies that hate having humans around the pond… and always creating trouble and mischief for the kids. The worst is when they are able to interfere with a message. It can cause HUGE misunderstandings that the kids then need to help resolve!
… there are many other friends, humans and animals alike, that meet up, visit, and otherwise live around Donut Pond.
The shape of the pond gives it its name - it is in the middle of a glen, with a small island of land in the center of the water. The island and surrounding area has an air of mystery; it’s an anthropomorphised version of our world, with stories revolving around characters’ relationships and personalities, and how play and “free time” can lead to growth and deeper understanding.
Additionally, Donut Pond is a real place, located in my hometown of Lexington, MA… which I myself would visit weekly growing up:
Rose, Benny, and Tadpole are siblings living in a suburban (New England) town on a dead-end street. At the end of the street is a dirt path, and Donut Pond is a quick jaunt down the path. It’s the kids’ favorite place to go, after school, on the weekends, etc., to have fun and volunteer. Rose loves adventure, and getting dirty. Benny likes to “play ball” (think lawyer-type personality), and Tadpole is a 2 year old sensitive communicator who doesn't know how to speak yet (but maybe knows a little sign language??!).
Their best friends at the pond include Fraug (the frog), Walter (the catfish), and Mr. Grey (the heron), among others. Fraug, Walter, and Mr. Grey more or less manage the community at Donut Pond. They run a translation service, wherein animals or kids can come and get their help to relay messages they wouldn't otherwise be able to do for themselves. This might include a simple face-to-face translation, like from English to Spanish, or from Catfish to English. Or perhaps it is a longer, more involved, emotionally-charged message that someone needs assistance in formulating (think "Violet Evergarden" anime).
“The Verm” are a pair of antagonistic dragonflies that hate having humans around the pond… and always creating trouble and mischief for the kids. The worst is when they are able to interfere with a message. It can cause HUGE misunderstandings that the kids then need to help resolve!
… there are many other friends, humans and animals alike, that meet up, visit, and otherwise live around Donut Pond.
The shape of the pond gives it its name - it is in the middle of a glen, with a small island of land in the center of the water. The island and surrounding area has an air of mystery; it’s an anthropomorphised version of our world, with stories revolving around characters’ relationships and personalities, and how play and “free time” can lead to growth and deeper understanding.
Additionally, Donut Pond is a real place, located in my hometown of Lexington, MA… which I myself would visit weekly growing up:
