Picture Book November '25: Hogbert

By: Briony May Smith

Hardcover Picture Book 32 pages Juvenile Nonfiction / Animals

Ages 3 to 7, Grades P to 2

Synopsis:

Uh-oh! When a tasty trail lures Hogbert away from his family, he ends up all alone in the forest. Can he find his way home? Lush artwork, subtle fairy-tale references, and the kindness of new friends keep readers smiling.

When Mommy Boar sends her little snufflebugs to explore the forest for the first time, she cautions them to stick together. After all, the Big Bad Wolf could be near! But Hogbert’s keen nose has other ideas, and after following a trail too far, he finds himself trembling alone in fear. What’s that rustling in the leaves? Just a little red squirrel on her way to visit her sick granny! What’s that growl coming through the trees? Just a snoring white doe who took a bite of an apple that made her sleepy! With each temporarily scary encounter, Hogbert finds that the world is a less frightening place, and that the same sense of smell that led him into trouble may just lead them all out of it again. Fans of Beatrix Potter and children taking their first steps toward independence will revel in the story’s gentle suspense and warm, welcoming illustrations.