The Palm Family by Hugh Lofting
In an African lagoon, beneath the moon, lives a family of palm trees: Mr. Palm, Mrs. Palm, and their little one, Fred. They lead a peaceful life free from worry, and when the wind blows soft and low, they whisper tales of long ago to one another.
By Hugh Lofting · First published 1924 · Genre: Children's Poetry, Fantasy, Anthropomorphic Fiction · 70 words
First lines
Nearby an African lagoon / Beneath the silent yellow moon / All safe from worries and alarms / There dwelt a family of palms.
It was a peaceful life they led / Mr. and Mrs. and little Fred; / And when the wind blew soft and low / They'd whisper tales of long ago.
What this Textopian page supports
The Palm Family is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hugh Lofting, dated 1924 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Hugh Lofting
- Date: 1924 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Poetry, Fantasy, Anthropomorphic Fiction, Nature Writing, Pastoral Literature
- Length: 70 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Palm Family by Hugh Lofting
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Children's Poetry — The text demonstrates classic verse structure with consistent rhyming couplets and rhythmic meter designed for young readers.
- Fantasy — The work employs personification and magical realism, transforming palm trees into a sentient family capable of speech and emotional connection.
- Anthropomorphic Fiction — Non-human characters (the palm family) are given human qualities including familial relationships, consciousness, and the ability to communicate narratives.
- Nature Writing — The narrative centers on natural landscape elements and environmental setting as primary focus, with the African lagoon serving as both literal and thematic foundation.
Tags
children's poetry · whimsical · nonsense verse · imaginative · nature-focused · illustrated · fanciful · mysterious · tropical setting · African landscape · narrative poetry · lighthearted