A Present for Toot (Toot & Puddle) [Hardcover]

Holly Hobbie (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

Exquisite watercolors enhance this charming tale of two friends who are different in many ways yet alike in their devotion to each other.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-In this follow-up story to Toot and Puddle (Little, Brown, 1997), Puddle is having a difficult time shopping for the right birthday gift for his best friend. He wants to give his pal something special and out of the ordinary. Then he comes across a present that he thinks will be perfect...or will it? Hobbie beautifully depicts these two appealing pigs in expressive and detailed watercolors. Her paintings have the look of a bygone era without appearing dated. The pictures are awash with a broad spectrum of colors ranging from golden yellows to pale pinks and misty aqua. The illustrations effectively convey the tone of the story with lighting that ranges from bright and cheery to dark and subdued. Toot and Puddle will fit right in with other favorite friends such as Cynthia Rylant's Henry and Mudge (S & S), James Howe's Pinky and Rex, and especially Helme Heine's "Friends" books (both Atheneum).
Lisa Gangemi Krapp, Sousa Elementary School, Port Washington, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Toot and Puddle are two piggy friends--and it's Toot's birthday. Puddle is in a muddle. What to buy? Nothing seems right, until a parrot raises its noisy head. It seems like the perfect gift, until Puddle learns that Toot doesn't like parrots. The story works well up to this point. Then it becomes confusing. The parrot gives Toot a feather; Toot likes it and takes the parrot as a gift, but this whole interchange is quick and subtle, especially for young listeners. Hobbie's artwork, not surprisingly, is wonderfully on target for young children. She mixes humorous cameos and full-page pictures that are intimate in detail and broad in humor. Toot and Puddle are endearing, and their behaviors and interactions will seem very familiar to the intended audience. Ilene Cooper

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316365564
• ISBN-13: 978-0316365567
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 0.4 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #522,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Holly Hobbie has worked as an artist for more than thirty years and is the author of seven previous and highly acclaimed Toot & Puddle picture books, as well as an illustrated memoir, The Art of Holly Hobbie. The mother of grown children, she lives with her husband in Conway, Massachusetts

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars T&P join the ranks of "famous couples", August 18, 1999

By 

Chess Heart "paxbear" (Canton, OH) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Present for Toot (Toot & Puddle) (Hardcover)

It would be hard to top the reviews of this book, so in leiu of one-upping them, I'll simply lay my $.02 on the table.

Toot & Puddle: A Present for Toot is an amazingly well done book. Reminescent of other famous pals-- Bert & Ernie, Oscar & Felix-- it's clear that the two have a very strong friendship tempered by the occasional bout of frustration.

It's going to be Toot's birthday, and what CAN you get for the Pig Who Has Everything?? Puddle, in his travels about town and windowshopping, finds WONDERFUL things that HE would like, but isn't sure that it would please TOOT. Time and time again he finds things that HE would like to have, but realizes that he's searching for a present for his friend, not himself (a wonderful watercolor illustration is of Toot eating breakfast while Puddle slings on his backpack to head out the door for another round of shopping).

The message is simple: it's the giving, not the gift, it's the thought that counts, and when present shopping, you should get goodies for the person you're BUYING FOR, not for yourself, no matter how many things fly up at you yelling, "BUY ME! BUY ME!"

The watercolors are some of the most vivid, detailed and comfortable ones I've seen in a career of reading children's books. This comes highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new Classic, October 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Present for Toot (Toot & Puddle) (Hardcover)

The best children's books manage to delight your children and keep you amused -- even on the 55th reading. The Toot and Puddle series does this time and time again, with beautiful illustrations full of mood, detail, and humor, and prose that never panders to its young audience. They give the reader the feeling of peeking into a fully imagined world -- and the wonderful anticipation of the stories to come!

5.0 out of 5 stars A Present for Toot, by Holly Hobbie, January 14, 2012

By 

Diane R. McGinnis - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Toot & Puddle: A Present for Toot (Paperback)

Such a cute story! I originally read,"I'll Be Home for Christmas", but this one is my favorite. The story portrays an enduring and a new-found friendship, and touches the hearts of old and young
readers.