Book Review: Toot and Puddle by Holly Hobbie
Toot & Puddle by Holly Hobbie is the first of the books in this series. If you haven’t yet read to your kids any of the other books about these two great pigs, this one is a great place to start. Readers will get a real sense of the relationship between these opposites that will set the stage for future books. And, they’ll get an understanding that it’s okay to be different than your friends, to be your own person — a theme that is repeated throughout the series.
Toot the adventurous is planning a yearlong world tour. He invites Puddle, the homebody, who demurs. So, Toot heads off alone on his trip in January, while Puddle holds down the home front. Each month, Toot sends back a post card that is reproduced over an illustration from his year-long adventure: scaling cliffs in the Alps, visiting an Italian pastry shop, taking a camel ride through Egypt.
In the meantime, Puddle is enjoying his time at home: playing in the snow, ice skating, gathering maple syrup, enjoying mud season (spring), swimming at Pocket Pond and at the beach. As the year draws to a close, Toot is missing home and his friend and Puddle looks forward to Toot’s long-awaited return. Then, the happy reunion as Toot and Puddle settle into winter once again and enjoy their time together.
Ages: 3+