Charming Opal (Toot and Puddle Series)

by Holly Hobbie, Holly Hobbie (Illustrator)

Overview

When his cousin Opal loses a tooth during a visit, Puddle dresses as the Tooth Fairy so that Opal's hope of receiving a shiny quarter will not be disappointed.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316366335
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	08/13/2003
Series:	Toot and Puddle Series , #7
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.30(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Holly Hobbie has worked as an artist for more than thirty years and is the author of five 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.

Editorial Reviews

The Barnes & Noble Review
Holly Hobbie's porcine pals have a new houseguest -- and a tooth issue to contend with -- in this utterly darling, witty addition to her Toot and Puddle series.

When Puddle's rosy-cheeked cousin, Opal, comes to Woodcock Pocket during the summer, she's focused on playing ball, eating corn on the cob, and most of all, her loose tooth. But when a swimming excursion at Pocket Pond leads to Opal's tooth getting lost, Toot bravely dives to rescue Opal's treasure so that the Tooth Fairy can come. That night, good old Puddle begins to worry that the Tooth Fairy might not make an appearance, so with his best intentions at heart, the pig dons a Fairy outfit and stays awake just in case. Unfortunately, Puddle and Toot fall asleep, and the next morning, they begin to soothe Opal's potential anguish. Thankfully, however, the two learn they have nothing to worry about.

With summery, warm watercolors and a feel-good mood to go with them, Hobbie's Toot and Puddle tooth adventure suits its title perfectly. Opal's smiley, sweet demeanor will perk up your spirit as you watch her get off the train and jump into Pocket Pond, while the caretaking big-cousin attitudes of Toot and Puddle are ultra-sweet and hearteningly funny. Your little ones will have a ball biting into this winner. Shana Taylor

bn.com

With its eye-catching and charming cover, this low-key tale of Puddle's diminutive cousin Opal will likely please fans of the titular duo's previous books. When Opal visits Toot and Puddle in Woodcock Pocket, she wants her wobbly tooth to "come out all by itself." While the affable threesome pick strawberries, play on the swing and go swimming, no one notices when the tooth is lost. In a series of spot illustrations, brave Toot finds the pearly white at the bottom of the pond so Opal can put it under her pillow. Fearing that the Tooth Fairy won't come to Woodcock Pocket, Puddle dresses the part so Opal won't be disappointed. But all three get a surprise at sunup. Hobbie's winsome and endearing pigs continue to please with their easygoing solutions to everyday problems. But more appealing than the simple plot are Hobbie's gentle watercolors, particularly Puddle in his Tooth Fairy costume, Toot in his flippers and diving mask, and Opal holding her nose as she plunges into Pocket Pond. The artwork exudes the sweet nostalgia and timeless quality that make Hobbie's oeuvre so appealing. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

In July, Puddle's cousin, Opal, came to Woodcock Pocket for a holiday. Toot and Puddle took her for a long walk in the sparkling woods, played ball with her, smelled the flowers, and enjoyed a cookout complete with corn on the cob and watermelon. At bedtime Puddle discovered that Opal had a loose tooth. He offered to help her pull it, but she wanted it to fall out by itself. The next day as she jumped into Pocket Pond, Opal noticed that her tooth was gone. She could not find it. The three friends searched along the path back to the house and all around the pond. Then Toot donned his diving gear and on his third descent, he found the tooth on the bottom of the pond. Toot became concerned that the Tooth Fairy might not know that Opal was visiting Woodcock Pocket. He didn't want Opal to be disappointed, so he dressed as the Tooth Fairy. But while he was waiting for Opal to fall asleep, both he and Puddle dozed off. Fortunately, the Tooth Fairy came and Opal had a shiny new quarter under her pillow the next morning. Charming pigs with extra large ears adorn the pages in full and active color. Just right for the "loosing teeth" age group. 2003, Little Brown, Ages 4 to 7.
— Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D.

Children's Literature

PreS-Gr 1-Puddle's cousin Opal comes to visit Woodcock Pocket in Hobbie's latest piglet adventure. With her gamine smile, Mary Janes, sunbonnet, and pink femininity, she's a charmer and delights in playing with Toot and Puddle. The loose tooth that she has been wriggling and wobbling suddenly falls out and disappears and Puddle wrestles with the necessity of a visit from the Tooth Fairy. Does the Tooth Fairy truly come to Woodcock Pocket? Hobbie's story and humorous and expressive watercolor illustrations are perfectly tuned-in to her audience. (How does the Tooth Fairy know where to go when someone with a lost tooth is away from home?) The sight of Puddle's earnest Tooth Fairy costume with a shower-curtain gown and clothes-hanger wings will warm readers' hearts. Pair this title with Joy Cowley's Agapanthus Hum and the Angel Hoot (Philomel, 2003) to delight those with "holes in their smiles."-Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

"Charming" truly is the word for both story and art in this latest Toot and Puddle installment. The adventure this time belongs to Puddle's young cousin, Opal, whose front tooth is getting loose. The piglets play happily together until Opal realizes her tooth is lost-in Pocket Pond. As in Hobbie's other child-friendly stories, all is well in the end. Toot finds the tooth and Puddle dresses up in what looks like a bathing cap and a shower curtain in case he has to play the part of the Tooth Fairy. The absolutely adorable watercolor illustrations add emotion to the simple text; when Toot offers Opal a bit of help pulling out the tooth, a string tied to the doorknob prompts a sweetly apprehensive Opal to say she'd rather just let it come out by itself. Children will be comforted by this warmly humorous take on a familiar dilemma. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews