The Journey of the Marmabill

The Marmabill has lost her nest! Join her on her brave quest to get it back, as she travels through the rainforest. Along the way she’ll meet fantastical creatures like wugs, key-keys, and even tankadiggies As the adventure takes her from green treetops to a glowing underground cave, the Marmabill must discover for herself the true meaning of home.

Written by Daniel Errico, Illustrated by Tiffany Turrill

A Marmabill was searching on the rainy forest floor.

She came up to a tree that had a tiny wooden door.

She'd traveled very far and where she was, she didn't know.

She'd never been so scared and wasn't sure which way to go.

She gave a gentle knock and twenty Wugs came rolling out.

When Wugs hear any noise, they want to see what it's about.

"I'm looking for a creature. He has run off with my nest,

But now I've lost my way, and I could use a place to rest."

"If he has come this way, I'm sure you'll find him on this path.

But we have beds and lots of food and [SNIFF], oh my, a bath!"

The Wugs got started cooking and they filled a tub of bubbles.

Leaf and flower bubble baths are sure to ease your troubles.

They served up nuts and stew, and she devoured every bite.

And played some Toss-the-Wug until they fell asleep mid-flight!

"Please don't go!" they pleaded, when she thanked them for her stay.

Still she said, "I may be lost, but I am on my way."

The Marmabill walked over logs and under heavy brush,

Her tiny legs were moving fast, like she was in a rush.

She stopped for just a moment by a lazy flowing river.

And ate some berry snacks the Wugs were nice enough to give her.

"Do you mind?" the ground exclaimed from underneath her rear.

"The ground is mad?" she said out loud, "I’m going mad, I fear."

"I'm not the ground!" the voice declared, while rising from the dirt.

"I'm just a Tankadiggy. When you sat on me, it hurt!"

The Marmabill apologized and offered him some food.

She hadn't mean to squish him, she was anything but rude.

"I'm looking for my home," she said, and he responded "Why?"

"A Buldabeast has taken it!" And she began to cry.

"I saw one pass me by and he was carrying a sack."

"I knew it!" said the Marmabill, "I've gotten back on track!"

Following the river, she went far along the bank,

But did not see the Key-Keys who had set a nasty prank.

She fell inside a hole that they had covered up with plants.

They chuckled from the trees, while building stacks of army ants.

She slipped along a muddy slide that traveled underground.

And when it stopped, that Marmabill was all mixed-up around.

More confused than ever, she was in a darkened cave.

But being lost and scared is what will teach you to be brave.

She couldn't see a thing but she could hear as well as ever.

Giving her a thought and it could not have been more clever.

She grabbed a bunch of rocks and started throwing here and there.

And when they hit a wall or dip, the sound would tell her where.

She walked along, that is until, she threw one at the ceiling.

It made a funny sound that gave her quite a scary feeling.

Instead of hitting stone, she hit a soundly sleeping Fluther.

Soon its eyes lit up, and started waking up another.

A hundred Fluthers fluttered down, glowing emerald green.

Having just been woken, they were acting cranky mean!

They chased her down a tunnel 'til she ended up outside.

A Fluther pulled her by the tail and took her for a ride.

She grabbed a branch while flying by and managed to break free,

And found herself on top of a Bonondabonza Tree.

"I see him!" said the Marmabill, "That thieving Buldabeast!"

He sat beneath a waterfall she spotted to the east.

She grabbed a vine and swung through all the warm and heavy air.

When she dropped down he met her with a cold and icy stare.

"Give me back my nest!" she yelled in quite a shaky voice.

She may have been afraid, but she had made a mighty choice.

The Buldabeast came charging. He was in a foul mood.

(You'll never meet a Buldabeast without an attitude.)

She looked around for cover, then, she quickly recognized,

That she was near a Key-Key trap, cleverly disguised.

Stepping to the side, the Buldabeast went running by,

He fell into the trap, and he was hoisted to the sky.

"Let me down!" he shouted, as he dangled from a net.

"You stole my home," she answered, "and now this is what you get."

Her nest was trampled underfoot, but she knew what to do.

After all she'd done, she wasn't scared to start anew.

She started finding twigs and built a home that made her proud.

Wugs and Key-Keys welcome, but no Buldabeasts allowed!

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“When a buldabeast steals a marmabill's home, she is forced to venture out to find a new nest. On her journey, the marmabill meets gentle wugs and a helpful tankadiggy, but she also encounters less friendly creatures, like nasty key-keys and cranky fluthers. Follow her through the forest, from the wugs' warm kitchen to the fluthers' dangerous glowing cave. Will the earnest marmabill ever find a place to call home, or will she stumble upon something even more special than a simple nest?

Tiffany Turrill's brilliant, vivid illustrations bring magic to Daniel Errico's charming tale of a diligent marmabill searching for a place to call her own. Both kids and adults with love Errico's silly nonsense rhymes—a great book for parents and children to read together! Join the marmabill's adventure through the rainy forest and meet all sorts of wacky creatures along the way!”