Hogbert

Hogbert, who has chipmunk-like stripes and a boopable snout, is the littlest of Mommy Boar’s six “snufflebugs,” and an expert finder of forest floor treats—so much so that his enthusiastic foraging leads him along a “most tasty trail” far from his family. Fearful of the Big Bad Wolf his mother has warned him against, he encounters other lost little ones—young squirrel Red, snow-white fawn Doe, and squabbling bunny siblings Hopsel and Nettle—who are afraid of being eaten by the forest nemesis. Smith (Tiny Jenny) guides the adorably anxious cast through a verdant, impressively varied landscape filled with dappled light. Certain that the wolf is at the proverbial door, the group huddles together in a cave and prepares for the worst, until Hogbert’s keen nose picks up “a breeze with the promise of daylight,” and he leads the animals back to their relieved families. Sharp-eyed readers will note that the much-feared wolf is actually a mother wolf and her child seeking their own reunion—a perspective-shifting detail that, combined with the off-the-charts baby animal cuteness and a reassuring message about trusting one’s talents, makes for a snout-standing tale. Ages 3–7. (Sept.)