Toot & Puddle

I just "discovered" these books in my library. I'd known of Holly Hobbie's art, but for some reason, over years of being a librarian and reading picture books, never read the Toot and Puddle series. I've fallen in love! Pigs are one of my favorite animals and book characters. Toot and Puddle are delightful and Hobbie's joie de vivre in the illustrations shines out. I'm somewhere in between Toot's adventuresome spirit and Puddle's stay-at-home one. The two make for a fun contrast in the stories. My favorite is "Wish You Were Here."

Start on the title page and smile widely at the illustration of the two friends playing catch. Toot's head is thrown back, his baseball cap flying off, one leg up as he throws the ball. Puddle's cap is on show more backwards, his mitt out for the catch, his focus intent on the ball flying half-way between he and his friend. This first illustration announces the pure joy and heart of the story.

Next, savor the picture opposite the verso. An older pig with eyeglasses, seated with toes crossed, is intent on reading a book titled "Pig Tale." This illustration graces each Toot & Puddle book, quietly stating the joy and importance of reading.

After the first two pages introducing us to the two friends and their home in Woodcock Pocket, Hobbie writes one of my favorite lines, because it mirrors my feelings for Lopez Island: "It was such a perfect place to be that Puddle never wanted to go anywhere else." Well, yes, I do enjoy visiting other places like Toot, but I'm also more content to stay here than I've been anywhere else.

Toot sets out to see the world. Pocket stays home. Each finds great adventure: witness the full-page drawing of Toot surrounded by hippos as he floats in a river, waving, in Africa opposite the full-page of Puddle ice skating with glee at Pocket Pond. The addition of postcards from Toot - complete with postage stamps and post office markings - teach geography and letter writing. show less

Oh this thrift store find was surprisingly adorable. I love the details of each postcard and the setting from which Toot sends it. And of course I love how self-sufficient Puddle is, too. I can't decide which character I empathize with more - the author made them both so appealing!
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Reread. ?áOh the pictures are even more lovely & lively and wonderful than I remembered. ?áAnd looking at my review, from only a few?áyears ago, reveals to me something about myself. ?áI now totally empathize with the homebody. ?áHmm....

I loved this book. The illustrations make the characters look absolutely adorable. I like how the illustrations also included post-cards from Toot to Puddle throughout the course of the year. This book did a great job of demonstrating two character’s very different personalities, and not making one look better than the other. For example when Toot is informing Puddle about his adventures in the Solomon Islands, Puddle looks just as happy in a tub full of mud at home on the page next to Toot’s. This shows children that it is nice to travel, but it is okay to stay home too. Either way, you can still have an adventure. The author does this over and over again on each page to reinforce the idea that even though the two characters have show more fun in two different ways, you can still stay good friends. This leaves the reader with the message that friendship knows no boundaries. show less

This book was a great read. The illustrations were well done and make the characters very vibrant. The pictures even included post cards from Toot to Puddle throughout the course of the story. This book does a good job of showing two different personalities, and making one seem better than the other. For example, when Toot is informing Puddle about his adventures, Puddle looks just as happy in a tub of mud at home. This shows children that it is nice to travel, but it is okay to stay home too. Either way, you can have create your own adventure. This idea is reinforced over and over to show there are many ways to have fun. The main message of the story is that friendship can travel far.

Summary- nice story about two friends. One wants to stay home. The other wants to travel the world. They keep in touch via hand written letters. Eventually the traveler wants to come home and they are happy together.

Personal Response- I love the Toot & Puddle books. The two pigs have such a great friendship. The illustrations are wonderful and add really extend the books story.

Extensions- Children could practice writing personal letters to a friend of their choosing

These are fantastic books. The art is great, the story moves along, and it has deft touches for parents as well as great attraction for kids.

When Puddle wakes up one morning, Toot is missing! Although Puddle usually prefers to stay home in Woodcock Pocket, his concern for his best friend prompts him to set off. Puddle takes a train and then a plane, and eventually finds himself in a far-away place. And who do you think he finds?