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In this quirky but direct take on the “it’s okay to be different” theme, Stomper, a polite and caring mule, struggles with his school’s curriculum, which focuses entirely on mastering stubbornness skills. As he fails one mulishness test after another, he feels increasingly bad about himself. However, when a broken dam threatens the school grounds with a flood, Stomper finally finds his time to shine. All the other mules revel in their stubbornness by refusing to run away from the impending disaster, but Stomper saves the day by kicking up a bunch of trees and rocks to build a new dam. His teacher, won over by this very unstubborn behavior, revises the curriculum to include more diverse interests such as flower-arranging and hoof-printing. Though the somewhat foggy definition of stubbornness seems to mean simply rude or selfish at times, the humorous cast of characters and lively prose serves the timeless message well. Chapman's bright, cartoonish chalk pastels heighten the humor. (Picture book. 4-6)
