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.---from the publisher
32 pages 978-1536245035 Ages 4-7
Keywords: fairy tale retelling, forest, fears, animals, independence, suspense, 4 year old, 5 year old, 6 year old, 7 year old
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Hogbert might be the smallest of the litter of boars that live with their mother in the faraway forest but that means nothing to him. So when his mum decides it's time for them to explore the forest for the first time but to keep together because the big Bad Wolf may be lurking, Hogbert soon forgets that and follows his nose along a tasty trail of food and before long he is lost...
Promoted as "a modern classic" young readers are going to delight in this adventure with its nods to some of the traditional fairy tales they may well already know, as they read on to see if Hogbert can find his family or whether the BBW will get him first. Apart from following the trail left by the two baby bunnies, Nettle and Hopsel, there is a helpful red squirrel who is going to visit her granny who is sure she will spot Hogbert's mum from the top of the tallest tree - if only she could find it; a little deer - a snow-white fawn - who fell asleep after eating an apple; and a mysterious cave where they shelter as a storm hits. And the twist in the tale that clever eyes will detect as they make their way through the cave is just perfect.
Written and illustrated by the creator of stories like Margaret's Unicorn, The Mermaid Moon and Tiny Jenny: Little Fairy, Big Trouble, young readers and their imaginations are again taken into the mysterious world of the woods where unseen creatures dwell, wonderful things happen and stories are born. Something ideal to share when there is a need for a be-together, calm-down moment.
Recommended by: Barbara Braxton, Teacher Librarian, New South Wales AUSTRALIA
See more of her recommendations:
500 Hats http://500hats.edublogs.org/
The Bottom Shelf http://thebottomshelf.edublogs.org/
