  | Voice in the Hollow Author: Hillenbrand, Will | |
| Price: $23.78 | ||
Summary:
During a blizzard, Hubert takes a shortcut home from the library and finds himself in a story of his own when a mysterious woman appears to guide him.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (11/01/22)
School Library Journal (+) (02/01/23)
Booklist (+) (12/01/23)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (+) (00/11/23)
The Hornbook (00/09/23)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 09/01/2023 *Starred Review* Hubert, a little mouse who loves reading, walks to the library during a blizzard, only to find that it has closed early. Cold and anxious, he decides to take a shortcut home, through the spooky Hollow. There, a mysterious woman offers to walk with him. He gratefully takes her hand. Together they cross the narrow, single-log bridge over a deep chasm and avoid a sharp-toothed monster. As enormous bears awaken, Hubert and the woman run out of the Hollow to safety. He turns to thank her, but she has disappeared, eerily leaving no footprints in the snow. Disturbed by his adventure, Hubert returns home, relieved to join his family and tell his story. Putting his own stamp on a widespread, ghostly folktale motif, Willenbrand creates a picture book that hits the sweet spot between kids’ heartfelt pleas to hear scary stories and their equally strong desire not to become truly scared. Even for those momentarily frightened, the concluding illustration of the mouse family’s cozy living room is instantly reassuring. Its warm colors and happy inhabitants contrast strongly with early images of the Hollow, where creatures lurk amid a bleak, snowy landscape in white, black, and shades of gray. A beautifully crafted picture book, illustrated with finesse. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.
