Toot & Puddle: Top of the World

Toot & Puddle

by Holly Hobbie

When Puddle wakes up one morning Toot is missing! Where can he be? Although Puddle prefers to stay home in Woodcock Pocket, his concern for his best friend prompts him to set off. Puddle takes a train... a plane... and eventually finds himself in a far-away place. And who do you think he finds?

Holly Hobbie's story of a friendship that extends to the top of the world will be welcomed by the many fans of Toot & Puddle.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship, Travel, Animals, Adventure, Fiction

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2002

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

[Eyehavenofilter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toot has gone off and seems to have disappeared, so Puddle must set off to find his friend. In the mean time he reaches new heights of his own, and discovers new things about himself in the process. Finally meeting up with Toot, the friends are reunited. Again the terrific illustrations are a joy to see, with wonderful detail and so sweetly done.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

There really isn't much to say, it's typical of the series. Maybe a bit less sweet, for children who are more adventurous than sentimental?

[Sarai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazon.com Review
The story begins with a note from Toot, "Puds, Gone for a walk. Be back soon. T." But he doesn't get back soon (no surprise to Toot and Puddle fans), and by dinnertime, Toot is worried. He heads into the night, searching everywhere. He decides to think like his buddy to track him down, so he hops a train, then a bus, then gets on an airplane to Provence. And, what's this? "'Bonjour, mon ami!' Toot cheered." Once together, they head for Nepal, naturally, for the top of the world. And then they get homesick. Hollie Hobbie's gentle watercolors are as charming as ever. Children will worry about Toot, admire Puddle's loyalty, and cheer the happy ending.

It was cute, but I wasn't sure what the moral of the story was (and I assume there was one, because there seems to be one with other Toot and Puddles books, at least in my opinion). Except maybe that Toot should have called to let Puddles know he wouldn't be home for dinner. Still, cute and nice artwork, as always.

Recommended for ages 3 to 7

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

35 months - O really enjoys this series. Toot goes for a walk and ends up in France. Puddle goes in search of him and the two end up on an adventure and see far off places. Eventually they are homesick and as we all know there's no place like home. We can relate completely as we have had many adventures ourselves and after awhile we can't wait to get back to familiar territory!

[Allie Knerr · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings about this book . On one hand I thought it was a cute story of how well Puddle knew his friend Toot since he knew where to find him once Puddle thought Toot was lost. But I also didn't understand the whole point of the story. Based on the title and the cover picture I thought the two friends were going to spend the whole book climbing a mountain when in fact there was on 2 pages of them on a mountain being on top of the world so that was misleading. This book has humor in it because the entire book the pigs are living and doing activities that human do. The pigs live in the wood, they went on trains, busses, airplanes and knew how to ride bike, they traveled all over the world which pigs can not do in real life. This book would be appropriate for teachers to have in a younger grade level based on the vocabulary and the plot of the story but I do not think it is a good book to read aloud to the students, because its too fast paced with not enough details on the story the students may get bored or not be able to follow along with the story.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet tale of Toot going on a walk from their British home and Puddle, worried decides to go on a walk himself when nightfall hits. They finally meet up in France and through train and plane rides, end up in Nepal climbing Mt. Everest. I chose this book because there is a dearth of books on Nepal for my Nepali students. Not perfect for that but the kids are pretty impressed that people would want to come to their country for climbing the tallest mountain in the world.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

New summits of friendship for Toot & Puddle? Let's explore.

My favorite quote from this book, from Toot:

"I guess I got carried away," Toot said. "I hopped onto a train and then a bus and then a plane and then a bicycle. One thing led to another all the way to..."

Holly Hobbie doesn't just know how to draw life as infectiously adorable. Got to admit, she understands how kids at picture book age... THINK!

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weird book. That they just take off like nothing and don't tell anyone...I don't know. I guess it didn't sit well with me. I think I'm too grown up and practical. lol I didn't care for the ending, either. It just...stopped. I guess this one just wasn't my cup of tea.

[Clwseattle · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Toot & Puddle Top of the World our piglet hero's are as cute and charming as ever, making for a gentle bedtime story

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out strong, but then both my toddler and I got bored with the story.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one. Very cute and silly!

[Patty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm enjoying Toots adventures and his return to home.

[sincerely · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must for travel enthusiasts 😘 so so cute

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why haven't I seen these earlier? My kids & I fell in love w/ Toot & Puddle. Toot is very adenturous & always on the go to journey out in the world while Puddle is very happy adventuring at home. It is great to see the dynamics of the two of them together enjoying both together and apart. A great book for us here at our house b/c we have these same dynamics going on with all of us and our temperments / needs.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun story in the Toot & Puddle series by Holly Hobbie. The story has a fun winter theme and I love that Puddle is brave enough to go on an adventure to find Toot. The illustrations are colorful, cartoonish and sweet and very typical of the series. We enjoyed reading this book together.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm dropping this one to a 4.5 stars because the pacing seemed off (yes I even consider pacing in picture books!) The story at time felt like the rest of the series, meandering along at just the right pace - but then suddenly got rushed into an extra adventure at the end. Still love the characters, love the illustrations, love everything but jut wish that maybe there were a few more pages to tell the story properly.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

With this one, a map of the world is very much a necessity. You can travel with your own legs, with a train, even Nepal isn't that far away. You can be scared in planes, you have to enjoy and appreciate other cultures, their food and habits, but remember that where ever you go, you will always feel like home is home. No matter if that home is in your heart or in a specific place.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Toot, a pig who loves to travel, takes a walk that turns into a trip to France and Nepal, his friend Puddle sets out to find him.
Its a little far fetched because puddle knows his friend that well that they both end up in France at the same spot.Cute illustrations and could be used for a first book in story time

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Toot and Puddle are best friends. One morning one found a note where the other has went on a walk... he waits and waits but his friend never returns. He worries about him and goes in search for him. Knowing him the way he does he follows his instinct and gets on a bus, train, etc and finds him in another country.... on a 'whelm'... they enjoy each others time together but they miss home.

[Bvlmc Buchanan Verplanck Elementary School · Rating 3 out of 5]

Toot goes off on an adventure and Puddle must look for his friend using all his knowledge of what Toot likes to find him. Then they have an adventure of their own together before returning home. While a bit implausible, kids love this story.

[The Brothers · Rating 5 out of 5]

We really enjoy the Toot and Puddle series. It's a cute story of how a walk in the woods "got carried away" and the two pigs end up in locales around the world doing fun things (like climbing Mt. Everest).

The illustrations are fun to look at too.

[Colleen Delaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toot and Puddle books are great for kids of all ages - fun books with excellent illustrations, I like to give these as gifts.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these illustrations. It is a fun book touching on themes of travel, adventure, and friendship.

[Rose]

E Hob

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love adventure and travel, this is the best book! The story is so cute and they climb Everest at the end of the book....how cool is that?!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book with great pictures and a fun theme

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provence? Nepal? Very cute.

[Tanya Wadley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute book... kids loved it.

[RobesonBoys · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world is a big place and there's no place like home -- especially the home you make with your best friend. Love the illustrations too.

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok, not the best one for these great guys.