Toot & Puddle [Paperback]

Holly Hobbie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 7, 2010 | Age Range: 1 - 6 years | Series: Toot & Puddle

Toot and Puddle are the best of friends. But when Toot leaves Woodcock Pocket to travel and see the world, Puddle chooses to stay at home. Just when Puddle begins to miss his old friend, he embarks on some of his own adventures-right at home. Finally, after Toot returns from his year-long trip, the two discover that true friendship knows no boundaries.

With a delightful mix of humor, warmth, and a classic style all her own, Holly Hobbie captures the all excitement and joy that surround adventures-near and far-and reminds readers that true friendship knows no boundaries.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

The activities of a homebody and an enthusiastic world traveler are contrasted in illustrations brimming with humor. Two anthropomorphic pigs live in the country setting of Woodcock Pocket. There, Puddle turns his head to the sun streaming in his kitchen window as he makes popcorn on the stove. Meanwhile, Toot peers at the globe with a magnifying glass, planning an ambitious trip. He asks Puddle along, but goes forth alone, and from then on, the experiences of the two are laid side by side on the double-page spreads. A monthly postcard from Toot 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, etc.), and a sort of reply comes from a scene of Puddle savoring events on the home front: gathering maple sap for syrup, playing in spring mud, painting a self-portrait, or trying out a Halloween mask. In Hobbie's expert watercolors are dozens of inventive touches--Puddle wearing a shower cap in the bath, Toot floating among hippos, some of his limbs breaking the surface in a subtle mimicry of their stances, funny allusions to famous art or locales; the book and its heroes are endearing, and readers will want to see more of Woodcock Pocket soon. (Picture book. 4-7) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Holly Hobbie has worked as an artist for more than thirty years. She is the creator of many books, including the New York Times bestselling picture book series, Toot & Puddle, an illustrated memoir entitled The Art of Holly Hobbie, and most recently, Fanny. Holly lives with her husband in Conway, Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Age Range: 1 - 6 years
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (September 7, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316080802
• ISBN-13: 978-0316080804
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 0.1 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,972 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #80 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Pigs

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

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming September 14, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I am a 30-year old woman. I have no children. I don't even have any nieces and nephews. But I love Toot and Puddle. I have a couple of the books and even the little Toot and Puddle dolls. Why? Because the books are comforting - they are like having someone meet you at the door on a cold day with a hot cup of cocoa and a plate of cinnamon toast. The colors in the pictures are so beautiful. Reading the books in the series and looking at the pictures can cheer me up after a bad day. Toot and Puddle are sweet and charming without being saccharine - there are very real character traits in each one and it is interesting to see the differences between the adventurous Toot and the homeloving Puddle. Like many other fine "children's" books, this one holds up when an adult reads it because of the basic truth of the personalities of the characters - the fact that there are real human traits given to these little pigs.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! May 19, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This is a book I give to all my friends with children as a gift. It has the sweetest message about appreciating differences, being friends and enjoying life!

I have been a 2nd grade teacher for 5 years and this is one of my favorite picture books for children...and I've read hundreds. The illustrations are magnificent too. Happy reading.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless Classic June 26, 2005

By Salami

Format:Hardcover

Toot & Puddle demonstrates different interests of two friends. Both of them enjoy what they are doing while Toot shared each adventure by sending postcards to his best friends. I like the moral of friendship behind what could be easily learnt by a toddler.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful lessons on friendship. May 1, 2002

By Deborah L. Woodstuff VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

My daughter, husband and I read this book for the first time snuggled in our bed before bed last night and we all enjoyed it very much.
The illustrations are great.
The book shows that two people, or pigs, can be best friends and be their own person. I also enjoyed that the characters kept in touch through post card writing.
I would recommend this book to all people with young children.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful illustrations and heartwarming story April 18, 1999

By The Mom Lady

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I live overseas and my adult daughter bought this book for me for my 42nd birthday. She inscribed it "To Toot, Love From Puddle - you'll understand after you read the book". And the book is so true of OUR relationship. We've lived all over the world but now our daughter is married with a home of her own - filled with momentos of travels when she was young as well as things I've given her from the place we now live. A wonderful expression of our own relationship - this book hit the nail on the head! Now I just need to get in that postcard habit....!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book about celebrating our differences March 20, 2005

By Sara E. Behnke

Format:Hardcover

I have so enjoyed reading this book to my now 4-year-old daughter. The illustrations are charming and the postcards from world-traveler Toot are fun to read out loud. And, as a mom, I can relate to Puddle, who stays at home and enjoys all the wonders right outside his door.

Sara Ellington

Author of The Mommy Chronicles: Conversations Sharing the Comedy and Drama of Pregnancy and New Motherhood

with Stephanie Triplett

Hay House, 2005

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Kiddie tale and love story, all in one October 9, 2001

By Dewfactor

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I discovered this book when reading it to Will, my favorite 2-year-old, and decided it is the perfect love story for mis-matched but perfectly matched grown-ups. It is a delightful story of friendship and love, and has beautiful illustrations that have hidden magic in them. It epitomizes every good thing about being yourself and still being happy with someone else (lover, spouse, best friend), even though you can be complete opposites. Buy it, buy it, buy it!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Such a sweet story! August 30, 2001

By Samantha W. Mckevitt

Format:Hardcover

I love this book. I could look at Holly Hobbie's charming watercolors all day. These pigs are so adorable and they are captured in breathtaking settings- a meadow picnic, in a beautiful fall day. All ages would find this a lovely book to look at.
The story reminds readers that friends may persue diverse interests, but still have a speacial bond. This is a message that children (as well as adults) will find comforting.
I was alwyas a fan of Holly Hobbie's little sunbonnet girls,
but love these charming litle pigs as much! A great book that is fun to read again and again!