Read the book: «Strength for Iolanthe Bruch»

Not so long ago, almost in our time, the Bruch family lived at the foot of the Quebec mountains among maple forests and sparkling rivers. They were funny green frogs. Every good morning, when the sun gently embraced the earth with thin rays, Jacques Bruch got out of a warm frog hole and ate juicy mosquitoes. He was a kind and strong predator.

Jacques understood the full responsibility of the sacred role of frogs entrusted to him by the Creator. Mosquitoes bite people painfully, so he worked day and night hunting in the swamp.

Everything was fine with Jacques until something happened. An unusual tadpole was born in the big cheerful Bruch family. Black with blue speckles. All the other frogs were brownish-green, they all grew cheerful and vociferous, and this little one, although he gave the impression of a calm frog, in fact there was a barely tame force raging inside. Frog parents have been thinking for more than one day about what to call an unusual baby. They're watching, and he's constantly pushing something back and forth.

"Let's call him Iolanthe Bruch. May the baby's strength bring something new to our family," the frogs thought.

Year after year passed, Iolanthe grew up, surrounded by the quiet waters of his native swamp. Not everyone liked his strong stubborn temper because he could often push his brother's shoulder with his shoulder. And how to feel the warmth of brotherly love?

Iolanthe Bruch's skin was not the same as that of his friends. He was able to release a poisonous liquid to protect himself from someone's unreasonable mouth. Therefore, he was often alone. He was burrowing into a hole in the swamp, working day after day, catching mosquitoes, saving the world from pests. The kind uncle Jacques was sad, he kept thinking and wondering how to help his nephew. And he began to lose weight and get sick.

The cheerful hopper Diego Cloy, a close friend of the black frog, came to visit the sick Jacques. He lived nearby, in a large hole, on the shore of a nearby swamp. When he patted the pebbles with his paws, tapping out melody after melody, the music of love sounded in the hearts of all the inhabitants of his swamp. And what a passionate dancer he was and an incredibly sweet smile! The perfect frog!

"Hi Diego, how is Mama Cloy feeling?" good Jacques asked, weary with longing.

"My mother is well, thank you. Why are you so tired?" Diego croaked, silent.

"I'm sad. I don't know how to help Iolanthe. He's not like all frogs. They don't listen to him because he's not green," Jacques croaked frankly. What should we do? Would it be a miracle if my Iolanthe got rid of the blackness, turned into our pure green or at least into brown?"

"Kva-kva-kvaak…. Diego Cloy gasped out of breath. –  You should send him to Mamba Nar. She is a kind night frog healer. Maybe Mamba will give life-giving herbs to Iolanthe so that he can drink and become like us."