Holly Hobbie

Beginning in medias res, as a tiny kitten finds himself abandoned and alone in a frightening world, this lovely tale from author/illustrator Holly Hobbie follows the process whereby he finds a forever home. Surviving on the streets, the kitten is eventually captured, taken to an animal shelter, and then adopted. Slowly, he learns the ways of his new home, and the people (and dog!) in it. Slowly, he becomes Swan, a happy feline with a secure place in the world and a loving family...

Only the show more second book I have read from Holly Hobbie, following upon her wordless picture-book Gem, A Cat Named Swan was a distinct pleasure, pairing a poignant and heartwarming tale with absolutely gorgeous illustrations. Swan is an indoor/outdoor cat, which I imagine will rub some readers the wrong way, but as someone who grew up in a house with large yards and three such wandering felines, I think it will ring true for many others. I found the artwork here particularly lovely, and thought it captured both the terrors of Swan's early life and the joys of his later domestic bliss. Recommended to all young cat lovers, and to anyone looking for children's stories about pet adoption. show less

Oh! On a literal level this is adorable and entertaining, but on a metaphorical level it's profound. What makes certain people, maybe you, maybe your child, prickly and lonely? Can we/ they find a way to turn that around to a strength and thus make friends, but on terms more comfortable?

I think of the people on the autism spectrum, and others, including me, who are friendless irl but happy communicating with a 'tribe' online. But maybe there's a way some of us could have irl friends, too, if show more we come up with an idea as clever as Elmore's! show less

Oh! Exceeded my expectations... I was assuming it was going to be a bare-bones or workmanlike exploitation of the delightful T&P books, but it actually has its very own charm and merits, and even a significant story. In fact, it's a valuable alphabet book even if one isn't a fan of T&P, because it explicitly explores the value of learning one's ABC's, and doesn't rely just on nouns (I particularly liked Pretty in Pink). That is to say, it's a fun educational resource, not an artsy-fartsy ABC show more book. show less

Using the framing device of a letter exchange between grandmother and granddaughter - perhaps this was a real exchange between author/artist Holly Hobbie and her own granddaughter? - this mostly wordless picture-book follows the adventures of one little toad. Making his way through a number of dangerous situations - crossing a road, passing a pond - our batrachian hero eventually finds himself in a garden, where he is confronted with a young girl who wants to play with him. Fortunately, her show more better instincts prevail, and he is soon free again...

Like many of the better wordless picture-books available - titles like David Wiesner's Flotsam, or Sector 7, or Raymond Briggs' The Snowman - Holly Hobbie's Gem manages to tell a story with artwork alone, and to tell it well. The illustrations, done in watercolor and in pen and ink, are just lovely, capturing the fresh feeling of a spring day in the country, and communicating all the excitement of Gem's journey. While the opening and closing letters might be said to offer a written narrative, the story would work just as well without them. Highly recommended to all young would-be herpetologists, and to anyone looking for wordless picture-books. show less