"Tearful" is a cautionary tale about a little girl who cries incessantly when she doesn't get her way, earning her nickname. Her constant tears attract a frog hoping for his own pond, which magically forms around them, trapping them on an island in salty water useless to the frog. The only escape, the frog explains, is for Tearful to smile, which will dry up the tears. Amused by the frog's antics and their attempts at drawing each other, Tearful starts laughing and smiling, causing the pond to vanish. The story teaches children the negative consequences of excessive crying and the positive power of smiling and finding humor, while also illustrating that getting exactly what you wish for might not always bring happiness.