Hoot and Holler

When Hoot is whisked away deep into the forest by a strong gust of wind, Holler is terrified that he will never see his best friend again or be able to tell him how much he loves him, but with the assistance of Wise Owl, Holler finds the courage to share his feelings and find Hoot, in a touching story of friendship.

reS-Gr 2-An earnest story about two owls who play together every day, but who, readers are told, are "too shy to say that they loved each other." One day, when Hoot is blown away by a gust of wind and gets lost, the friends are both sad because they never told the other how much they enjoyed playing together. Soon, however, with the encouragement of Wise Owl and a growing amount of courage, Holler searches for Hoot. When his shy, small voice does not do the job, he musters the courage to shout, "Hoo-oot! I love you-hoo!" Hoot hears and responds. Reunited, they resolve never to be too shy to share their feelings. Soft, rounded animal figures inhabit this forest of equally round, clean trees perched atop a smooth, green hill, overlooked by a prominent, round moon. However, the story's sentiments are forced, and neither of the large-eyed characters is particularly expressive. Why is it so important that they say how they feel to one another? Shouldn't their actions speak for themselves? Stick with duos such as George and Martha, Frog and Toad, or Toot and Puddle whose books weave humor and charm into their plots, and in which the characters' personalities lead them into and out of predicaments that are both funny and familiar to children.

Jane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library, NY

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

This tale from a British team about two owls who lose and find each other again is hampered by a weighty message about the important of sharing one's feelings. Although they enjoy playing together, little Hoot and big Holler are "too shy to say that they loved each other." When a storm separates the pair, Wise Owl advises Holler to be brave, and eventually finds enough courage to call out, "I love you-hoo." Finally reunited, the friends are "never too shy to say, `I'm happy,' `I'm sad,' `I'm scared,' or... `I love you-hoo...' ever again." Unfortunately, the owls and other animals seem frozen in visual space as if they were hanging from a mobile. With few exceptions, the wide-eyed owls scarcely change expression, and often the illustrations do not reflect the text. For instance, "the moonlit fields where rabbits danced with their shadows" appears on a moonless white page featuring Holler next to a trio of motionless bunnies. Although Brown includes a few playful descriptions of the owls' activities (they play "crouch-and-creep in the dripping cave"), too much of the story relies on bland narration rather than dialogue or action to advance the plot. Ages 3-5.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Ages 3-5. A little owl named Hoot and a big owl named Holler love to play together, though they are both very shy. One day a storm blows Hoot away, and the two friends are separated in the Great Wood. Unable to find Hoot, and feeling insecure about their friendship, Holler seeks out the advice of Wise Owl, who advises Holler to be brave and shout out for his friend. Holler starts slowly, by saying "Hoot!" Then he calls a little louder, and then even louder. But Hoot is out searching for Holler at the tumbling waterfall and in the dripping cave. It is not until Holler cries out "very bravely and very strongly, 'Hoo-oot! I love you-hoo!'" that Hoot finally hears the call ("I love you too-hoo!"), and the owl friends are reunited. Rolia's colorful illustrations are as sweet and playful as the story. Children will see that sharing feelings may seem difficult, but it is worth the effort. Kathy Broderick
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