Hogbert
-
- $12.99
-
- $12.99
Publisher Description
Uh-oh! When a tasty trail lures Hogbert away from his family, he ends up all alone in the forest. Can he find his way home? Lush artwork, subtle fairy-tale references, and the kindness of new friends keep readers smiling. When Mommy Boar sends her little snufflebugs to explore the forest for the first time, she cautions them to stick together. After all, the Big Bad Wolf could be near! But Hogbert’s keen nose has other ideas, and after following a trail too far, he finds himself trembling alone in fear. What’s that rustling in the leaves? Just a little red squirrel on her way to visit her sick granny! What’s that growl coming through the trees? Just a snoring white doe who took a bite of an apple that made her sleepy! With each temporarily scary encounter, Hogbert finds that the world is a less frightening place, and that the same sense of smell that led him into trouble may just lead them all out of it again. Fans of Beatrix Potter and children taking their first steps toward independence will revel in the story’s gentle suspense and warm, welcoming illustrations.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Hogbert, who has chipmunk-like stripes and a boopable snout, is the littlest of Mommy Boar's six "snufflebugs," and an expert finder of forest floor treats—so much so that his enthusiastic foraging leads him along a "most tasty trail" far from his family. Fearful of the Big Bad Wolf his mother has warned him against, he encounters other lost little ones—young squirrel Red, snow-white fawn Doe, and squabbling bunny siblings Hopsel and Nettle—who are afraid of being eaten by the forest nemesis. Smith (Tiny Jenny) guides the adorably anxious cast through a verdant, impressively varied landscape filled with dappled light. Certain that the wolf is at the proverbial door, the group huddles together in a cave and prepares for the worst, until Hogbert's keen nose picks up "a breeze with the promise of daylight," and he leads the animals back to their relieved families. Sharp-eyed readers will note that the much-feared wolf is actually a mother wolf and her child seeking their own reunion—a perspective-shifting detail that, combined with the off-the-charts baby animal cuteness and a reassuring message about trusting one's talents, makes for a snout-standing tale. Ages 3–7.
