The Hole Story

by Paul Bright, Bruce Ingman (Illustrator)

Overview

When Hamish and Hermione Hole are chased out of the cheese where they live, they search the palace for a new place to call home. But the Holes cause havoc wherever they go—no one wants holes in their underwear, bike tire, or boat! Exhausted, the pair rest in a piece of wood, only to be discovered by the palace carpenter, who knows that holes can be really useful—especially when you are making beautiful musical instruments.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781512439502
Publisher:	Andersen Press USA
Publication date:	04/01/2017
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Paul Bright originally trained as an engineer—which is rather unusual for a children's author. He lives in the UK and his work has taken him all over the world.

Bruce Ingman studied illustration at the Royal College of Art, London. His first book, When Martha's Away, won a National Art Library Award. Since then he has produced a number of highly distinctive books.

Editorial Reviews

"This quirky tale features two unlikely protagonists, a pair of holes named Hamish and Hermione, who live in a wedge of Swiss cheese. But when mice eat the cheese, the holes must relocate, preferably somewhere they're also appreciated. But from King's sock to Queen's knickers ('Oh no! I can't let the people see my royal pink bottom!' she shrieks), the princess' bicycle tires to the prince's boat, their endeavor to find a new home brings dismay, disorder, and confusion, since no one seems to be happy to see Hermione or Hamish. Eventually the holes find a cozy home—and purpose—in the royal carpenter's workshop, where he's inspired to make something beautiful that needs some holes. Ingman's colorful, soft-lined illustrations, with whimsical and cartoonish touches, depict the anthropomorphized holes as circles with stick arms and legs and round-eyed faces. They take on the colors of the objects they peer out of, and imaginatively, they can come and go at will. This inventive story with fairy-tale flair would be a great pick for a silly storytime."—Booklist

From the Publisher

Young readers will delight in this fantasy story about two holes, Hamish and Hermione. Hamish and Hermione do not want to cause chaos and confusion; they just want to find a good place to live. However, it seems they are not welcome to live anywhere. When a family of mice comes into the kitchen of a royal palace to eat the Swiss cheese which was left on a platter, Hamish and Hermione find themselves fleeing from their home inside the wedge of cheese. The whimsical pastel-colored illustration on this page depicts mice upon a table eating from a wedge of cheese; each of the holes in the Swiss cheese has a pair of surprised eyeballs staring out of it. The next hilarious illustration shows an empty, cheeseless plate. Running away on stick legs and waving stick arms are the two brown holes; their surprised eyeballs pop out in distress and alarm. The straightforward text states that Hamish and Hermione need to find a new home. They try out a variety of unlikely places for homes, but none of them are suitable for the two holes. The king does not want holes in his socks and the queen does not want holes in her pink knickers. The holes cannot live in the princess’s bike tire, and when Hamish tries in live in the wooden side of a row boat, the boat sinks! Luckily, there is a happy, surprise ending for Hamish and Hermione. It will delight young readers and prove that there is a place where even holes can be appreciated. With or without an adult reading partner, young readers will love this exciting story about two imaginative characters. The appealing cartoon-like art complements the creative story, ensuring comprehension and adding rich detail for young readers. Reviewer: Susan Borges; Ages 4 to 8.

Children's Literature - Susan Borges

05/01/2017
K-Gr 2—In this original British tale, Hamish and Hermione are two holes who leave their abode in a wedge of Swiss cheese and seek a new home "where holes can be useful" and bring joy. After attempting to take up residence in the king's sock and the queen's knickers, the holes create decided unhappiness and chaos in the royal palace. As Hamish and Hermione move into new homes, their colors change to suit each situation, encouraging readers to spot their hiding places and figure out the inevitable impact they will have on the secondary characters. The warmly hued illustrations contain subtle details, such as the dish running away with the spoon in the opening pages, reinforcing motifs and inviting discussion. Appropriately, the holes' adventures are conveyed through a series of circular vignettes, underscoring the idea that all things have a purpose in life. It is with relief that Hamish and Hermione, through the efforts of the royal carpenter, find a home in freshly carved flutes for the prince and princess. However, the king and queen are not too thrilled at hearing their children practice until the wee hours of the morning, so the holes are still somewhat of a nuisance. VERDICT While lengthier than the average picture book, this quirky read-aloud asks questions about what it is that makes one special, and the clever solution is delivered in a humorous and delightful way.—Rachel Zuffa, Racine Public Library, WI

School Library Journal

2017-01-17
A first step into the world of ontology, picture-book style! Two holes, Hamish and Hermione, try to find a new home when their Swiss cheese is eaten by mice. With nowhere now to live and wishing to be "useful," they leave the "dreary kitchen" of the royal palace to search for other meaningful locales. The king does not appreciate Hamish's new location on his sock. Hermione chooses the queen's knickers, and she is equally distressed. Remember, they are holes. Their choices spiral into a comedy of errors as bike tires deflate, boats sink, and balloons burst. "Everyone thinks we are a nuisance," says a frustrated yet confident Hamish. "But holes can be useful too." Ingman's hand-painted blotches of color show a surprising array of emotions with just two eyes and a mouth each, an occasional blushing cheek, and stick arms and legs. These two characters (portrayed as corporeal even though holes are defined as "nothing") change color to match their surroundings, like chameleons. They are most frequently portrayed running away, Gingerbread Man-style, from surprised royalty and castle staff, all white. Will they ever find a place to call home? What objects need holes? Bright's text deftly captures the quest for and fulfillment of true usefulness while allowing for more complex subtleties to percolate. A good choice for budding philosophers. (Picture book. 4-9)

Kirkus Reviews