Tistou the Green Thumb

Synopsis

In "Tistou the Green Thumb," eight-year-old Tistou gets expelled from school because he keeps falling asleep in class. His father decides to teach him through practical experience, beginning in the garden. Working with the gardener Mr. Moustache, Tistou discovers a special power: his "green thumbs" make any object he touches burst into lush plants. Tistou's education continues under the stern tutelage of Mr. Turnbull, who manages his father’s weapons factory. They go into town to learn about "order." During his journey, Tistou visits the town prison, the slums, and a hospital, where he uses his gift to try to improve the world. Eventually, he comes to understand war and realizes that his father's factory supplies weapons to both sides of the conflict.