The One and Only

Toot & Puddle

by Holly Hobbie

Bubbles is a copycat, yet she soon becomes the teacher's pet and the most popular student in class--and Opal's friend Daphne can't stand it! How does Bubbles always win? But when it's time for the class's annual theatrical extravaganza, Opal and Daphne discover one thing Bubbles can't do: dance. Bubbles is bound to be the weak link in the chorus line, unless someone decides to help her.

In this, the latest of Opal's adventures, Holly Hobbie captures the subtle and sometimes not so subtle emotions of childhood with humor and the trademark gentle wisdom of Toot & Puddle. Bring your tutu along for the read because this is one story that will make you want to get up and dance.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, School, Friendship, Fiction, Thanksgiving

32 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2006

About the author

Birthed with the name of Denise Holly Ulinskas in 1944, Holly Hobbie first sold her distinctive artwork of the little cat-loving girl who carries herself in a rag dress and giant bonnet. It wasn’t until she married Douglas Hobbie in 1964 when she named her originally nameless character after her.
When the first images of the rag-clothed little girl came to the public’s consciousness, the character has been nothing but the most common design chosen to grace greeting cards. When the girl’s popularity started to soar high, that’s when people started to adopt the name “Holly Hobbie” in reference to the character’s creator.

Reviews

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the Toot and Puddle TV show on Nick Jr. I hadn't realized there was a whole series of books until today. I thought one with Opal would be a good one to read aloud to Natalie, but this one was still really too complex for her since it dealt with school. I was also a little disappointed at how little Toot and Puddle were actually in the story. But, I did like the story. I enjoyed how Opal didn't do anything mean to retaliate to Bubbles, but instead helps her out for the greater good of the class. I liked how the lesson was more subtle, shown through how Opal handles the situation, rather than someone older telling her what to do. Toot and Puddle, instead of giving her advice, help her to understand Bubbles and her teacher's actions. And, on a more shallow level, the sparkles on the cover were cool. In fact, all of the illustrations were really nice.

This is a great book for dealing with a copy cat. I wonder if it could be coupled with the copying incident in the Romona books, I think it was Ramona the Brave.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Opal is a better person than me :-) Good lesson on taking the high road and being selfless for the sake of the group.

[Villain E · Rating 2 out of 5]

The protagonist, Opal (who is not Toot or Puddle), is bothered when the new girl in school, Bubbles (who is not Toot or Puddles), starts copying her. She copies the way she dresses. She copies her class projects. This is made worse by the fact that the teacher praises Bubbles' art without seeming to notice that it's the same as Opal's. Opal goes to Toot and Puddles (oh, there they are) for advice. They suggest that maybe the teacher is just trying to encourage the new kid. After multiple examples of the same behavior pattern and multiple bits of advice, we get to a point where Bubbles isn't good at something and Opal takes the high road and helps her out. The end.

That's not a resolution! After wayyyy too many examples of the exact same mimicking behavior, we get no resolution as to why Bubbles is behaving that way or why the teacher praises only her all throughout the school year. We don't even get a moment where Opal is proud of herself for taking the high road. The story is tedious and then falls flat.

[Chloe P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lesson on dealing with copycats. Though, as others noted, the ending doesn't quite make sense given the story line: Olivia... I mean Bubbles! This book is about Bubbles copying Opal, not Ian Falconer copying Holly Hobbie. #actuallyyesitis Anyhow, BUBBLES gets all the attention and praise for doing what Opal does, but then in the end doesn't for no clear reason. Still, the pictures are lovely as always and Opal models a "let it go" approach to copycatting. A good intro to a deeper conversation with children about copycats, and a reminder to adults to give credit where credit is due as copycats can do real harm when they copy the work and ideas of others. *ehemIanFalconerehem*

[Kris Dersch · Rating 2 out of 5]

I ordinarily really like Toot and Puddle, but whatever message this one was trying to convey was lost on both me and my 5-year-old. I get the ignore the copycat message, but there was nothing else...it was just like Toot was playing wise old sage and saying, it's cool, just do nothing, it will all work out in the end. Which then it does? Magically? Because life is like that? I dunno. It missed me.

[Libby Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

We love the “Toot and Puddle” stories. This one was good but not great like the others. I’m not quite sure how I feel about the adult figure in the story being so oblivious to the conflict between the children at school. But I did like how the main character rises above petty selfishness and helps the “mean girl” in the end.

Recommended for girls 4-6

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love whatever toot and puddle get up to. of course I'm always a fan of kids books with Very Close Friends Who Live Together. The moral of this story has to do with dealing with an annoying classmate, but I am hoping the lessons apply to annoying baby sisters as well.

[Clwseattle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toot and Puddle The One and Only cute and charming.

[BiblioBeruthiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice message. I bet this series is just great for teaching positive lessons for kids. Not quite v-day themed and a little long for storytime.

[kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

good topic to cover, but too long and slow

[sincerely · Rating 3 out of 5]

Idk if it's because I don't have a daughter or what but every story with Opal is a miss, mostly because of Daphne.

[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lesson on how to deal with copy cats and not tattletale. It's illustrated so cute and Opal how the silliest face.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than Mo's Mustache. Opal, with help from T&P, understands Bubbles, and is patient with her for many months... despite that trouble-making little wench Daphne.

[Juliedrake05 · Rating 4 out of 5]

APA Citation:
Hobbie,H. (2006). Toot and Puddle: The one and only. New York, NY. Little Brown and Company.

Category: Picture Book Soak

Review:
Toot and Puddle: The one and only is a great story about copy-cats, jealousy, acceptance and forgiveness. The main character,Opal, gets a new classmate named Bubbles who wants to do everything that Opal does. At first Opal does not mind that Bubbles is being a copy-cat. The problem comes when the teacher notices Bubbles successes and continually praises her, not realizing that she is copying Opal. Opal is presented with a moral dilemma when Bubbles can't get the routine down for the Spring Dance. Should she forgive Bubbles for being a copy-cat and help her with the dance? Or should she not forgive her and let Bubbles look silly at the play? I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to use as a springboard for discussions about emotions and how to deal with them.

[Sarai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Product Description
Bubbles is a copycat, yet she soon becomes the teacher's pet and the most popular student in class--and Opal's friend Daphne can't stand it! How does Bubbles always win? But when it's time for the class's annual theatrical extravaganza, Opal and Daphne discover one thing Bubbles can't do: dance. Bubbles is bound to be the weak link in the chorus line, unless someone decides to help her.

I didn't like this one as much as I have liked the other Toot and Puddles books because all through the book Bubbles is a copycat and then at the very very end all is forgiven and the presumption is that Bubbles will not do it again. Or that maybe Bubbles didn't do anything wrong in the first place. Was she just trying to gain acceptance, or was she purposefully stealing other people's ideas and taking the credit? Does she ever explain? It was unsatisfying.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

My six-year-old loves Toot and Puddle. I love Holly Hobbies illustrations and messages. It's a great combination for a read aloud between my girl and me.

There's a new student in Opal's class who latches on to Opal and copies her in everything. The student gets praised while Opal does not. Another of Opal's friends is indignant about the injustice of it all.

When Opal shares her thoughts on visits through the year (one of may favorite aspects of Toot and Puddle books: the span of time which means a span of gorgeous seasonal illustrations) Toot and Puddle help her see the situation with new eyes.

Everyone needs a Puddle who will offer kindness and charity where others want to rant and rave. Opal ends the book in her own words and does it beautifully.

[Jessica Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can never go wrong with a book that has a message to give. In this book, the main character, Opal, is extremely understanding of a new girl that arrives to her small town. This new girl copied everything Opal did, and she would receive great praise for her work, even though it was replicated. Throughout the book Opal takes the copying with grace and in the end winds up helping the new girl. I think we all want to fit in and this book shows aside to it that is usually not represented. I feel the author did a great job with the story and the illustrations. I have always enjoyed this series.

[Melissa]

Not many years of school go by without the appearance of a new student. Much to the chagrin of Opal, Toot and Puddle’s young cousin, the new student, nicknamed Bubbles, joins her class and decides she wants to be exactly like Opal. Opal has a close friend, Daphne, who points out the annoying particulars of the new girl: a copycat and a teacher’s pet. Children will watch how Opal, with the advice of her older cousins, Toot and Puddle, after visits to Woodcock Pocket, handles the situation and teaches skills beyond friendship to her classmates.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting story about the new girl in town, rivalries, competition, and doing the right thing. Opal is very flattered and then annoyed at the new girl, Bubbles, and her constant imitation of whatever Opal does. The story is good, but the illustrations are marvelous, with little details, such as the homage to the painting American Gothic that really make this a great book for both parents and children. We really liked the calm wisdom of Puddle, who puts everything into perspective.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it, but I didn't love it. The story problem, how to deal with a copycat, is never really resolved. But Opal and Puddle remain characteristically kind and compassionate toward those who might be unpleasant to deal with, even when others are appauled by the situation. Maybe the ending is appropriate to life. We don't always know why people do what they do or why they are the way they are, but we can always choose to be kind. Okay...maybe I liked it more than I thought! :)

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opal must deal with a newcomer to her classroom, Bubbles, that is a horrible copycat. Everything Opal does, Bubble copies and sometimes even gets credit for coming up with the idea. Opal's friend Daphne can't stand that Bubbles is getting so much attention and popularity for little more than stealing Opal's ideas. But Opal is gracious and even takes the time to help Bubbles out on a project that Bubbles can't copy her on.

Fun illustrations.

[Corinne · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting book on one way to handle someone who copies everything you do. there was little emphasis on the ending even though it seems to be focused on in the cover, plus it didn't seem like it really resolved the copycat issue. just for this one situation. illustrations were a little confusing once or twice.

[Rebecca]

i read it 2 me brother all the time

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teaches kids how to deal with a copycat.

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't really like the resolution of this book. No good lessons were learned, but maybe some bad habits were. No bueno. I do like the artwork though. I likes pigs.

[Mckinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copy cats or pigs can be annoying.

[Amanda Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Toot & Puddle but a book about a copy cat, meh. A book about a copy cat where there's a so-so resolution and... Meh. Just all around meh. Except the art. It was lovely.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

good ole Toot and Puddle

[Tabitha Davis]

how to deal with copycats. keeping a happy heart and loving your friends.