The Terrible Hodag and The Animal Catchers [Hardcover]

Caroline Arnold (Author), John Sandford (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Deep in the north woods of Wisconsin lives a creature like no other on earth. It stands forty feet tall. Its eyes glow like fire. It is a scary sight.
It's the HODAG! Don't worry. The Hodag isn't as scary as he appears. Ask Olee Swensen, the lumberjack. He'll tell you that the Hodag is a friend to all the lumberjacks in the north woods. Once, the Hodag helped them get rid of a bad boss. Now it's time for the lumberjacks to rescue the Hodag. Animal catchers have come to the woods to trap the creature and haul him away to the zoo. But Olee Swensen and his friends have plans for a trap of their own. Over a hundred years ago, lumberjacks sat around campfires and told tales of a fantastic creature called the Hodag. These tales have become a rich part of American folklore and are still told today. Drawing inspiration from stories she heard as a child, award-winning author Caroline Arnold has written an original Hodag tale that captures the fun and feel of the tales from long ago. With magnificent black-and-white illustration by John Sandford that evoke storybooks of the past, here is a story that's perfect for reading aloud, whether in school, at home, or sitting around the campfire.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4–Traditional Northwoods characters populate this original story. The gentle Hodag has the head of an ox, feet of a bear, back of a dinosaur, and tail of an alligator. In this adventure, Olee Swenson and his fellow lumberjacks must think of clever ways to save him from the animal catchers who have come to take him to the zoo. These strong, macho guys conscientiously consider the feelings of the Hodag and the inhumanity of putting a wild animal in captivity. In contrast, the city slickers are three times outsmarted and outmaneuvered by the lumberjacks and sent home empty-handed. The black-and-white prints, full and double-page, enhance the woodsy tale with a style that places the adventure at the turn of the 20th century. The animal catchers are stylishly dressed in vests and knickers, and topped off with pith helmets or bowlers. With their nets and other essentials for catching a wild animal, they have a slight resemblance to Teddy Roosevelt on safari. The lumberjacks, practically clad in boots and wooly hats, look right at home in the great outdoors. The monotone prints create good texture for both the hairy Hodag and the bearded woodsmen. This story will be enjoyed both as a read-aloud and a read-alone.–Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 1-3. The 40-foot-tall creature with the head of an ox, feet of a bear, back of a dinosaur, and tail of an alligator is mighty scary, except to the North-Woods lumberjacks who are his friends. When three men try to capture the Hodag and take him to a zoo, Olee Swenson sends the catchers on several wild-goose chases, finally catching them in their own animal trap. This original tall tale is understated in tone. It's the dramatic black-and-white illustrations that deliver the larger-than-life punch. The bold, striking images are reminiscent of Michael McCurdy's woodcuts. White scratch marks on the black shapes delineate texture and add dimension to the outsize story and setting. A previous Hodag story by Arnold, The Terrible Hodag (1989), was illustrated in Lambert Davis' painterly style. Sandford's furrowed carvings are much more effective. An author's note explains that Hodag stories were told in the logging camps of Wisconsin 100 years ago. Julie Cummins
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press (February 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159078166X
• ISBN-13: 978-1590781661
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 10.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,604,758 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An adventure story perfect for reading aloud day or night, May 27, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Terrible Hodag and The Animal Catchers (Hardcover)

John Sandford's black and white woodcuts lend drama and action to the story of a scary Hodag - but appearances aren't everything, as lumberjack Olee will tell you: the Hodag is friend to all lumberjacks and a good beast really - and having done many good turns, it's now time for his lumberjack friends to help him! Caroline Arnold bases her story on those she heard as a child and captures the feel of her past in an adventure story perfect for reading aloud day or night.

Diane C. Donovan, Editor
California Bookwatch

4.0 out of 5 stars The Terrible Hodag and The Animal Catchers, September 17, 2011

By 

Sandy Linley - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Terrible Hodag and The Animal Catchers (Hardcover)

This one was hard to find. I had never heard of it, and no one at any of our local book stores had either.
I was so very happy that Amazon had it, and it was in very good conditon.
The shipping was prompt and the price was very resonable.

5.0 out of 5 stars Never knew!!!, June 19, 2011

By 

Susan B - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Terrible Hodag and The Animal Catchers (Hardcover)

My daughter goes to college in northern Michigan. Her boyfriend was talking about the Hodag. I thought he made it up until I typed it in, and this great book came up. The pictures in it a amazing. You just want to stare at them. Each time you look, you see something you missed before. And the story---great!!! Really enjoyed this book and will continue to do so for many years to come!!! Great for all ages!