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The Cave
This laugh out loud picture book tells the story of a hungry wolf who is determined to get the little creature who lives in the cave to come out and 'play'.There is a cave. A cave that is home to a creature. A creature that never leaves its cave… Because of a wolf. The wolf tries everything to get the creature to leave the cave, to no avail. But what will happen when he's finally successful? This is a hilarious story with a BIG surprise that's perfect for entertaining young children. Beautiful and characterful artwork by Rob Hodgson brings the story to life, and young readers will love to read this story time and time again. Selected for the Booktrust Time to Read Campaign 2019. Don't miss Rob Hodgson's other hilarious picture The Woods and My Best Friend.
36 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 3, 2018
3 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Rob Hodgson
39 books18 followersRob Hodgson is an illustrator and designer with a deep interest in how and why we make pictures. He grew up on a healthy dose of skateboarding and Morrissey in an English seaside town. He now lives in Bristol with his girlfriend and two highly intelligent cats.
oday he lives in Bristol where he spends his days making a mess and turning it into quality illustration projects and books. He cites Yoko Ono, Ed Templeton and Arthur Russell among his influences.
oday he lives in Bristol where he spends his days making a mess and turning it into quality illustration projects and books. He cites Yoko Ono, Ed Templeton and Arthur Russell among his influences.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
March 31, 2019
The Cave is a beautifully illustrated funny little story of a little creature who lives in a cave and a big bad wolf very determined to get his lunch. I loved the bright bold colours and the enterprising spirit of the wolf. In fact, I concentrated on the story so much, that I didn’t see the big twist coming. Children are bound to be surprised and delighted by the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group/ Frances Lincoln Childrens/ Lincoln Children’s Books for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group/ Frances Lincoln Childrens/ Lincoln Children’s Books for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
February 21, 2019
Omgoodness! This book cracked me right up! I loved it!
So, you see, there's this little creature living in a cave, and it won't come out because there's a wolf hanging out nearby. A wolf whose intentions are not so cleverly hidden. Can the little creature outwit the wolf? Or is the wolf patient enough to wait for the creature to finally emerge? Ha! I'm not telling -- you'll have to read it to find out!
This isn't usually my favourite style of illustration, but for this story it was perfect! At first they seem like quite simple pages, but the more you look there more there is to see. I see that the author, Rob Hodgson has another book coming out in April, and I'm going to be clamouring to get my hands on it! This was very fun!
Thanks ever so much to NetGalley and Lincoln Children's Books for providing me with a DRC of this book.
So, you see, there's this little creature living in a cave, and it won't come out because there's a wolf hanging out nearby. A wolf whose intentions are not so cleverly hidden. Can the little creature outwit the wolf? Or is the wolf patient enough to wait for the creature to finally emerge? Ha! I'm not telling -- you'll have to read it to find out!
This isn't usually my favourite style of illustration, but for this story it was perfect! At first they seem like quite simple pages, but the more you look there more there is to see. I see that the author, Rob Hodgson has another book coming out in April, and I'm going to be clamouring to get my hands on it! This was very fun!
Thanks ever so much to NetGalley and Lincoln Children's Books for providing me with a DRC of this book.
April 4, 2019
This is a really cute little story that features a wolf and another animal hiding in a cave. At first we assume the animal in the cave is teeny tiny; only to be surprised to find it's a bear! This has a climactic moment that is loud and fun. Toddlers are likely to really love it and get very excited (every time, as they do) about our surprise moment.
Likely by the time a child is 5 years old (or so) they will have outgrown this one; unless of course it becomes their favourite book ever. With cute illustrations and a wolf whose very good at killing boredom in all kinds of weather I think Rob Hodgson's The Cave is a fun, cute book that any adult could enjoy reading to a child. The vocabulary and sentence structure are simple which also makes this a good book for ESL children (or adults!).
Overall I like how short and sweet this book is; and it's always fun to get animated and loud when reading to children. Although because of it's big climax this may not make a good bedtime story.
To read this and more of my reviews visit my blog at Epic Reading
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
Likely by the time a child is 5 years old (or so) they will have outgrown this one; unless of course it becomes their favourite book ever. With cute illustrations and a wolf whose very good at killing boredom in all kinds of weather I think Rob Hodgson's The Cave is a fun, cute book that any adult could enjoy reading to a child. The vocabulary and sentence structure are simple which also makes this a good book for ESL children (or adults!).
Overall I like how short and sweet this book is; and it's always fun to get animated and loud when reading to children. Although because of it's big climax this may not make a good bedtime story.
To read this and more of my reviews visit my blog at Epic Reading
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
February 11, 2021
Από τα πιο αγαπημένα μας ever.
- Γιατί δεν βγαίνεις από τη σπηλιά, πλασματάκι; Θα πρέπει να βαριέσαι όλη μέρα εκεί μέσα μόνο σου.
- Όχι, ευχαριστώ. Μόνο τα βαρετά πλάσματα βαριούνται.
- Γιατί δεν βγαίνεις από τη σπηλιά, πλασματάκι; Θα πρέπει να βαριέσαι όλη μέρα εκεί μέσα μόνο σου.
- Όχι, ευχαριστώ. Μόνο τα βαρετά πλάσματα βαριούνται.
February 21, 2019
Simple but funny story about a wolf trying to lure out a creature from a cave. There is a good «twist» at the end that could also serve as a moral to the story. Good little one!
April 17, 2019
The little creature in the cave refuses to come out to play, no matter how many times the wolf invites him. Every game suggested is met with refusal, and so the seasons pass. Eventually though, hunger takes its toll, and when the wolf offers a tasty doughnut, the creature relents. Unfortunately for the wolf, the creature () turns out to be something of a surprise...
The Cave was British author/illustrator Rob Hodgson's debut picture-book, and is an entertaining addition to the form. Although adult readers (and perhaps some children as well) will guess where the narrative is leading, it is still quite fun to see the wolf and his elusive quarry get there. The artwork, done in mixed media and enhanced digitally, is colorful and cute, capturing the humor of the tale. Recommended to readers looking for fun new picture-books with a sense of humor.
The Cave was British author/illustrator Rob Hodgson's debut picture-book, and is an entertaining addition to the form. Although adult readers (and perhaps some children as well) will guess where the narrative is leading, it is still quite fun to see the wolf and his elusive quarry get there. The artwork, done in mixed media and enhanced digitally, is colorful and cute, capturing the humor of the tale. Recommended to readers looking for fun new picture-books with a sense of humor.
March 24, 2019
The Cave is a fun picture book about a wolf and “little” critter in a cave. The wolf keeps waiting for the critter to come out of the cave so he can eat him. The “little” critter won’t budge, at least not until he’s tempted with a donut! When the critter finally comes out, it’s the wolf that gets the big surprise!
The story is fairly simple but I think preschoolers will enjoy this one, especially after the first read when they learn it’s a bear that’s hiding in the cave.
Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for access to this silly and entertaining picture book!
The story is fairly simple but I think preschoolers will enjoy this one, especially after the first read when they learn it’s a bear that’s hiding in the cave.
Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for access to this silly and entertaining picture book!
March 13, 2019
The Cave is a short but amusing book about a little creature whose eyes are visible from outside of its cave. A hungry wolf waits outside, continually asking the creature when it will come out. The book follows a simple formula, but contains enough mystery that children will probably enjoy it, and even adults will likely find it amusing. And it's short enough to keep repetitive readings from becoming tedious.
I enjoyed the illustrations and appreciated that the book didn't try too hard to be deep or funny -- it sticks to its sparse wording and allows a simple tale to develop about the interplay between these two odd characters and one bigger-than-it-seems cave.
(Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.)
I enjoyed the illustrations and appreciated that the book didn't try too hard to be deep or funny -- it sticks to its sparse wording and allows a simple tale to develop about the interplay between these two odd characters and one bigger-than-it-seems cave.
(Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.)
March 17, 2025
Un loup tente de convaincre une créature de sortir de sa grotte, prétextant vouloir jouer avec elle, alors qu’il a d’autres intentions, il veut en faire son goûter. Bien persévérant, il use d’imagination et de ruse et ne lâche pas prise, alors qu’on voit défiler les saisons.
La chute est surprenante pour les jeunes lecteurs (j’avais deviné pour ma part, mais ça n’en demeure pas moins intriguant de voir comment cela sera amené) et comique. J’ai eu bien du plaisir à le lire, j’ai ri à quelques reprises !
Au fil des pages, on retrouve aussi deux adorables petites bêtes, un vers de terre et un escargot. Il peut être amusant d’inviter les enfants à les repérer, comme dans un cherche et trouve, et à suivre leurs péripéties. J’ai eu peur pour l’un d’eux.
Cet album a plein de potentiel. Il peut par exemple permettre de travailler les inférences dans un texte. On pourrait aussi demander aux enfants d’imaginer la suite (je n’en dis pas plus pour ne pas vous gâcher le plaisir de la fin). C’est également un bon candidat pour les heures du conte, un livre qui suscitera beaucoup de réactions !
La chute est surprenante pour les jeunes lecteurs (j’avais deviné pour ma part, mais ça n’en demeure pas moins intriguant de voir comment cela sera amené) et comique. J’ai eu bien du plaisir à le lire, j’ai ri à quelques reprises !
Au fil des pages, on retrouve aussi deux adorables petites bêtes, un vers de terre et un escargot. Il peut être amusant d’inviter les enfants à les repérer, comme dans un cherche et trouve, et à suivre leurs péripéties. J’ai eu peur pour l’un d’eux.
Cet album a plein de potentiel. Il peut par exemple permettre de travailler les inférences dans un texte. On pourrait aussi demander aux enfants d’imaginer la suite (je n’en dis pas plus pour ne pas vous gâcher le plaisir de la fin). C’est également un bon candidat pour les heures du conte, un livre qui suscitera beaucoup de réactions !
May 1, 2021
A really charming and delightful tale - with some lovely and cool illustrations - about a wolf waiting outside a cave, trying to entice the little creature inside to come out and 'play' (be eaten).
Our five-year-old was given this when she started school a few months ago, and she loved it and thought it was fun and funny. We read it again today, and she loved it even more - so much so that she wanted to immediately act out the story afterwards. So a big thumbs up. Fun and thoroughly re-readable. Deceptively simple, but a little bit wonderful too.
Our five-year-old was given this when she started school a few months ago, and she loved it and thought it was fun and funny. We read it again today, and she loved it even more - so much so that she wanted to immediately act out the story afterwards. So a big thumbs up. Fun and thoroughly re-readable. Deceptively simple, but a little bit wonderful too.
February 21, 2019
Charming ~ Funny ~ Retro
tl:dr: wolf needs a friend
I will not offer any description of the story. Spoilers will ruin the effect, and it less than a couple dozen pages. Just read it! This story offers brightly colored, retro-ish (though not twee) illustrations with a few spreads laid out in panels like a graphic novel. The prose is punchy and quick-moving. This author clearly understands his audience is newly mobile and on the go. The images and text do a wonderful job of building suspence, and then the hilarious denouement. I can imagine the tiny gaffaws young readers will let out when they see what's the deal with the cave. Charming funny book that I suspect will become a much read favorite in many homes.
4.5
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Seema Rao Write : Instagram| Blog| Twitter|
tl:dr: wolf needs a friend
I will not offer any description of the story. Spoilers will ruin the effect, and it less than a couple dozen pages. Just read it! This story offers brightly colored, retro-ish (though not twee) illustrations with a few spreads laid out in panels like a graphic novel. The prose is punchy and quick-moving. This author clearly understands his audience is newly mobile and on the go. The images and text do a wonderful job of building suspence, and then the hilarious denouement. I can imagine the tiny gaffaws young readers will let out when they see what's the deal with the cave. Charming funny book that I suspect will become a much read favorite in many homes.
4.5
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Seema Rao Write : Instagram| Blog| Twitter|
March 7, 2019
I can see this being used for comprehension lessons when you are first starting off with teaching strategies explicitly. It’s short, there is room for predictions, and then it ends. It is playful and the art is fun.
There isn’t much to it besides that, but again, I can see the potential for some classroom lessons. 2.5 when I calculate these things together.
Thanks to the publisher and the author and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There isn’t much to it besides that, but again, I can see the potential for some classroom lessons. 2.5 when I calculate these things together.
Thanks to the publisher and the author and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 15, 2019
A funny book for little ones with great illustrations! I enjoyed this little story about the wolf trying to coax a critter from a cave, waiting endlessly outside the entrance. Then finally he gets him to appear using a sprinkle coated donut, and gets a BIG surprise. This book for be great for toddlers and fun for a parent to read!
April 25, 2020
| Reader Fox Blog |
The Cave by Rob Hodgson is a cautionary tale, but not quite in the way that you'd expect. And while I would say that it's entirely possible for you to guess at the twist that will appear through the course of this story, young kiddos likely won't and are bound to be shocked and amused about the turn of events that come with reading this book. In so many ways I couldn't help finding the story of the little creature in the cave thoroughly amusing and I really got a kick out of the way that it ended. And overall, this book is genuinely just an incredibly adorable story with some of the cutest artwork I've ever seen in a kid's book.
The book begins with a creature hidden inside his cave home and a wolf determined to get him to come out. While the wolf's words and actions very much suggest a desire to play and be a friend, anyone who knows anything about wolves can be fairly certain that the wolf has ulterior motives that would not end well or in friendship for the little cave creature that he is so determined to bring out of the safety of his home. And, really, I can't say much more than that without giving the story away but just know that it's 100% worth reading. I enjoyed this one quite a lot and I know a lot of kids out there will, too.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
| Instagram | Twitter | Reader Fox Blog | Bloglovin’ | Facebook |
The Cave by Rob Hodgson is a cautionary tale, but not quite in the way that you'd expect. And while I would say that it's entirely possible for you to guess at the twist that will appear through the course of this story, young kiddos likely won't and are bound to be shocked and amused about the turn of events that come with reading this book. In so many ways I couldn't help finding the story of the little creature in the cave thoroughly amusing and I really got a kick out of the way that it ended. And overall, this book is genuinely just an incredibly adorable story with some of the cutest artwork I've ever seen in a kid's book.
The book begins with a creature hidden inside his cave home and a wolf determined to get him to come out. While the wolf's words and actions very much suggest a desire to play and be a friend, anyone who knows anything about wolves can be fairly certain that the wolf has ulterior motives that would not end well or in friendship for the little cave creature that he is so determined to bring out of the safety of his home. And, really, I can't say much more than that without giving the story away but just know that it's 100% worth reading. I enjoyed this one quite a lot and I know a lot of kids out there will, too.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
| Instagram | Twitter | Reader Fox Blog | Bloglovin’ | Facebook |
October 31, 2020
A delightfully, witty picture book about a cave home to a little creature and a hungry wolf who tries everything to coax the creature out. But what will happen when he finally succeeds...? A simple yet hilarious tale with a brilliant twist at the end - guaranteed to be a favourite among both little ones and adults!
Rob Hodgson's illustrations are bright, bold and original, and the text is punchy enough to keep little readers engaged. Looking forward to Hodgson's new picture book, The Woods, out in October 2019.
Rob Hodgson's illustrations are bright, bold and original, and the text is punchy enough to keep little readers engaged. Looking forward to Hodgson's new picture book, The Woods, out in October 2019.
August 3, 2019
Ha! Love it! Fox is looking for a meal and tires his hardest to get the small creature out of the cave to eat it. He is very, even extremely patient, but what a surprise he gets in the end! Simple, yet effective illustrations! Littles will love it!
March 25, 2019
Read the full review at An Inkling Reviews
Hi, Rob! You don't know me, but you've written the type of book that makes me miss being an elementary school librarian. It's colorful, funny, and there's the threat of someone being eaten! I made my kids sit with me while I read it to them (yes, even the 9 year old) and we had a lot of fun.
What I liked
Expressive and bright illustrations: Hodgson packs a punch with his seemingly simple illustrations. His use of texture give the illustrations a lot of depth. There are also fun little elements like the snail slowly making his way up a rock, or the hat wearing worm who's having some stressful adventures. (Kid 2 liked looking for the worm in each picture.) The wolf was great, and even the wolf snowman gets frustrated with the creature hiding in the cave. Hodgson's art adds an additional layer of storytelling to a simple story.
Fun: The story was funny and clever and the illustrations with all of the extra details made it even better. Kid 2 is in kindergarten and she insisted on "reading" the story to me a few more times. With each retelling she picks up a few more details from the pictures and adds to her version of The Cave.
Someone might get eaten: Many people think I'm weird for liking books where characters get eaten. But 9 out of 10 early elementary school students will agree, possibly being eaten makes the book way funnier.
Is this element necessary for a funny book? No, not at all.
Will I like it more if it's there? Absolutely.
What I'm on the fence about
A tad predictable, but who cares: This is not a complicated or brand new story, anyone of the age of 8 will probably figure out the ending. But so what? Hodgson has put together a cheerfully illustrated and funny book about a wolf trying to trick someone into being dinner. I got a laugh out of all of the pictures, Kid 1 enjoyed it, and Kid 2 giggled through the whole story. It's probably not a story older kids will want to hear a lot, but my 6 year old has yet to get tired of it.
I think it would be an enjoyable addition to a child's collection. It's a fun and engaging read aloud, a great one to share with your kid. My children are a little older, so I'll probably grab this one again from the library. I have written it down as a gift idea for some upcoming younger kids' birthdays.
Hi, Rob! You don't know me, but you've written the type of book that makes me miss being an elementary school librarian. It's colorful, funny, and there's the threat of someone being eaten! I made my kids sit with me while I read it to them (yes, even the 9 year old) and we had a lot of fun.
What I liked
Expressive and bright illustrations: Hodgson packs a punch with his seemingly simple illustrations. His use of texture give the illustrations a lot of depth. There are also fun little elements like the snail slowly making his way up a rock, or the hat wearing worm who's having some stressful adventures. (Kid 2 liked looking for the worm in each picture.) The wolf was great, and even the wolf snowman gets frustrated with the creature hiding in the cave. Hodgson's art adds an additional layer of storytelling to a simple story.
Fun: The story was funny and clever and the illustrations with all of the extra details made it even better. Kid 2 is in kindergarten and she insisted on "reading" the story to me a few more times. With each retelling she picks up a few more details from the pictures and adds to her version of The Cave.
Someone might get eaten: Many people think I'm weird for liking books where characters get eaten. But 9 out of 10 early elementary school students will agree, possibly being eaten makes the book way funnier.
Is this element necessary for a funny book? No, not at all.
Will I like it more if it's there? Absolutely.
What I'm on the fence about
A tad predictable, but who cares: This is not a complicated or brand new story, anyone of the age of 8 will probably figure out the ending. But so what? Hodgson has put together a cheerfully illustrated and funny book about a wolf trying to trick someone into being dinner. I got a laugh out of all of the pictures, Kid 1 enjoyed it, and Kid 2 giggled through the whole story. It's probably not a story older kids will want to hear a lot, but my 6 year old has yet to get tired of it.
I think it would be an enjoyable addition to a child's collection. It's a fun and engaging read aloud, a great one to share with your kid. My children are a little older, so I'll probably grab this one again from the library. I have written it down as a gift idea for some upcoming younger kids' birthdays.
June 8, 2018
A hilarious book about a creature in a cave, a stalker wolf, and the surprise at the end.
I picked this one up mostly for the cover. I was just curious about why there was a wolf on the roof of a cave and one pair of eyes staring at the wolf from the cave.
Meet the creature in the cave, someone has a big interest in him... namely the wolf. The wolf tries everything to get the creature out of the cave, from holding a ball in front of him, to lovely flowers, to just talking. Of course the creature isn't swayed, or at least not at first. I had such a laugh at what brought him out eventually. I would probably have done the same though, for all the other things I would pass, but how could one say no to that? It is just not possible.
I did think the wolf was a bit too creepy and a bit too stalkerish for me. Come on dude, the cave dweller is clearly not interested in you, just move along and find some other McDonalds snack to feast on. Shoo.
Then there is the twist, as for most of the book all we can see of the cave dweller is its eyes. I can tell you that I somewhat saw it coming. Maybe not in what the cave dweller actually was, but I had my suspicions on how this story would pan out if the cave creature would get out. I had 2 scenarios in my mind. Or no, three. One featuring a monster, one featuring a big animal, and one with a extremely small animal with huge glasses. :P Which one it will be? You will have to read the book yourself.
The art is pretty nice, I quite like the colours used in the book, but also that even if you see the cave all the time from the same-ish angle, it is constantly different. There is snow (and snowmen), then there is rain.
All in all, a book I would recommend to all looking for a funny book with a great twist! That ending! Haha.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I picked this one up mostly for the cover. I was just curious about why there was a wolf on the roof of a cave and one pair of eyes staring at the wolf from the cave.
Meet the creature in the cave, someone has a big interest in him... namely the wolf. The wolf tries everything to get the creature out of the cave, from holding a ball in front of him, to lovely flowers, to just talking. Of course the creature isn't swayed, or at least not at first. I had such a laugh at what brought him out eventually. I would probably have done the same though, for all the other things I would pass, but how could one say no to that? It is just not possible.
I did think the wolf was a bit too creepy and a bit too stalkerish for me. Come on dude, the cave dweller is clearly not interested in you, just move along and find some other McDonalds snack to feast on. Shoo.
Then there is the twist, as for most of the book all we can see of the cave dweller is its eyes. I can tell you that I somewhat saw it coming. Maybe not in what the cave dweller actually was, but I had my suspicions on how this story would pan out if the cave creature would get out. I had 2 scenarios in my mind. Or no, three. One featuring a monster, one featuring a big animal, and one with a extremely small animal with huge glasses. :P Which one it will be? You will have to read the book yourself.
The art is pretty nice, I quite like the colours used in the book, but also that even if you see the cave all the time from the same-ish angle, it is constantly different. There is snow (and snowmen), then there is rain.
All in all, a book I would recommend to all looking for a funny book with a great twist! That ending! Haha.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
March 11, 2019
This is a delightful story that young kids will love. A wolf discovers a mysterious creature in a cave and makes it his mission to have the critter for lunch. He invites him to come play with him and offers to be his BFF, but the creature declines his invitations.
The sly wolf is persistent, and the more he waits, the hungrier he gets and the more desperate. He offers a variety of activities that might interest the creature enough to exit his abode, but alas, no luck.
As a last ditch effort wolf offers up a tasty donut with sprinkles to the creature and ta da!... that's the magic bullet that lures the creature out into the open.
Wolf is in for the surprise of his life! The twist at the end of the story will have kids' eyes pop open wide followed by a joyous laugh. I love stories that are witty and clever and unveil the unexpected. This one does not disappoint.
The illustrations are colourful, expressive and very kid-friendly. Be sure to look for a little worm that is hidden in the illustrations. It is another fun component added into the pages and on the author/illustator's webpage. This is not only a perfect bedtime story but would be a great addition in a classroom setting or in an elementary school library. It's fun for all ages really. I know I enjoyed it immensely and I highly recommend it.
The sly wolf is persistent, and the more he waits, the hungrier he gets and the more desperate. He offers a variety of activities that might interest the creature enough to exit his abode, but alas, no luck.
As a last ditch effort wolf offers up a tasty donut with sprinkles to the creature and ta da!... that's the magic bullet that lures the creature out into the open.
Wolf is in for the surprise of his life! The twist at the end of the story will have kids' eyes pop open wide followed by a joyous laugh. I love stories that are witty and clever and unveil the unexpected. This one does not disappoint.
The illustrations are colourful, expressive and very kid-friendly. Be sure to look for a little worm that is hidden in the illustrations. It is another fun component added into the pages and on the author/illustator's webpage. This is not only a perfect bedtime story but would be a great addition in a classroom setting or in an elementary school library. It's fun for all ages really. I know I enjoyed it immensely and I highly recommend it.
March 25, 2019
Short in length and with visually appealing illustrations, I'm sure this cautionary tale will make the perfect bedtime read. The story though simple is a on a deeper level essentially a morality tale with its message that if you go down a deceitful and sly path you may end up with unexpected consequences. Here the wolf is trying everything to coax and entice the little creature out of its cave without success. The wolf is hungry and will stick to his task come what may. But does he really know what his actions may lead to? This is a rapidly moving story and the suspense builds up nicely to the final twist at the end. What a surprise awaits the unsuspecting reader. Be careful what you wish for and don't proceed with a course of action unless in possession of the full facts are principles as relevant to adults as well as to children.
Rob Hodgson is a British designer and illustrator who's illustrations have appeared in several children's books and he has also produced the game Scary Bingo: Fun with Monsters and Crazy Creatures. His idiosyncratic, fun and bold illustrations compliment the text and will I'm sure delight the intended audience. Even after it is read this is a story that is liable to stay in the mind for some time.
Rob Hodgson is a British designer and illustrator who's illustrations have appeared in several children's books and he has also produced the game Scary Bingo: Fun with Monsters and Crazy Creatures. His idiosyncratic, fun and bold illustrations compliment the text and will I'm sure delight the intended audience. Even after it is read this is a story that is liable to stay in the mind for some time.
March 23, 2019
'The Cave' by Rob Hodgson is a picture book with a surprise ending that should be fun for young readers.
A wolf stands outside a cave. There is something inside the cave that he'd like to eat. The creature in the cave doesn't want to come out and for most of the book, we can only see it's eyes. The wolf tries many many things to lure out the creature in the cave, like feeding birds or playing ball. The wolf also never leaves the cave, so the creature in the cave stays there. When the creature comes out of the cave, things take a turn.
This was a cute book that reminded me of childhood cartoons. The illustrations are fun with a blue wolf, jagged yellow lightning bolts, and those expressive eyes inside the cave. I think this would be a fun read aloud for 3-5 year olds with the chance to read with funny voices.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Childrens, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
A wolf stands outside a cave. There is something inside the cave that he'd like to eat. The creature in the cave doesn't want to come out and for most of the book, we can only see it's eyes. The wolf tries many many things to lure out the creature in the cave, like feeding birds or playing ball. The wolf also never leaves the cave, so the creature in the cave stays there. When the creature comes out of the cave, things take a turn.
This was a cute book that reminded me of childhood cartoons. The illustrations are fun with a blue wolf, jagged yellow lightning bolts, and those expressive eyes inside the cave. I think this would be a fun read aloud for 3-5 year olds with the chance to read with funny voices.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Childrens, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
May 20, 2019
In a cave lives a little creature that can’t come out because a wolf has them trapped inside their home. The wolf stalks them and taunts them every day, hoping to entice the creature out so that he can eat them. This goes on for a very long time, until one day the creature feels comfortable coming out, and the wolf is very, very sorry when that happens.
The themes in this book are pretty bothersome, honestly. The wolf is a bully and an abuser and certainly there must be consequences for his heinous behavior. However, the consequence of his actions is to suffer what he has wrought, and that is not a moral that I would teach my children. Seeking revenge and “eye for an eye” are not lessons we teach in this household, nor are they lessons that I feel improve the society in which we live.
Hard pass for me.
Note: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley. I pride myself on writing fair and honest reviews.
The themes in this book are pretty bothersome, honestly. The wolf is a bully and an abuser and certainly there must be consequences for his heinous behavior. However, the consequence of his actions is to suffer what he has wrought, and that is not a moral that I would teach my children. Seeking revenge and “eye for an eye” are not lessons we teach in this household, nor are they lessons that I feel improve the society in which we live.
Hard pass for me.
Note: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley. I pride myself on writing fair and honest reviews.
March 27, 2019
There is a little creature that lives in a cave and never leaves. The little creature never leaves because there’s a wolf outside and the wolf is very hungry. The wolf tries everything to get the little creature to come out. Can a doughnut covered in sprinkles finally coax the little creature out? And will the wolf end up regretting his decision?
This fun story made me laugh out loud with its killer twist ending! The clever use of the cave as the focal point of each spread really holds this story together. A great read to enjoy with toddlers+.
See my full review with pictures here.
I am very grateful to the publisher for providing me with an advanced digital copy via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
This fun story made me laugh out loud with its killer twist ending! The clever use of the cave as the focal point of each spread really holds this story together. A great read to enjoy with toddlers+.
See my full review with pictures here.
I am very grateful to the publisher for providing me with an advanced digital copy via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
February 2, 2022
The Cave is one of those books that is so good but if I explain it too much it'll ruin the story. Briefly though, it is about a wolf who tries to lure the creature out of the cave.
The children really enjoyed this book and we loved seeing all of the wolf's methods that he tried to convince the creature. The children were curious to see what the creature was as much as the wolf. The twist at the end was quite a surprise and not something we saw coming.
The illustrations are lovely and they kept the children's attention throughout as they watched wolf's many attempts to succeed in his task and looked for clues as to what creature might be in the cave. They particularly liked seeing what happened nearer the end of the book.
This is a brilliant story that we thought was brilliant. It's definitely worth a read, it won't disappoint you!
The children really enjoyed this book and we loved seeing all of the wolf's methods that he tried to convince the creature. The children were curious to see what the creature was as much as the wolf. The twist at the end was quite a surprise and not something we saw coming.
The illustrations are lovely and they kept the children's attention throughout as they watched wolf's many attempts to succeed in his task and looked for clues as to what creature might be in the cave. They particularly liked seeing what happened nearer the end of the book.
This is a brilliant story that we thought was brilliant. It's definitely worth a read, it won't disappoint you!
November 21, 2023
The Cave by Rob Hodgson
This book made smile and laugh, just like the books by Jon Klassen who also writes and illustrates wonderful, crazy stories for kids. Assumingly a heartfelt story about a character who hides in a cave for some sad or fearsome reason, I am surprised and rendered blissful by its ending.
There is a wolf who is supposedly the reason why our character stays inside his cave. The wolf of course has his own motives as to why he wants the cave-dweller to come out of his niche, so he woos the shy guy. Wolf is quite positive that it will be a good thing to patiently coax this timid cave-dweller and foresees a delicious outcome.
And indeed, it ends in a delicious way but not in the way you expect!
The illustrations are as funny as the writing, with discreet characters also taking space.
March 12, 2018
Der Wolf sitzt vor einem Höhleneingang und fragt das Tier darin, ob es zum Spielen herauskommt. Natürlich hat der Wolf nicht nur spielen im Sinne, und so bleibt das Tier erst einmal in seiner Höhle. Bis es selbst plötzlich Hunger bekommt...
Die Geschichte ist einfach gehalten, aber mit einer witzigen, wenn auch (zumindest für Erwachsene) nicht ganz unerwarteten Pointe am Ende, das eigentlich wieder ein Anfang ist. Die Bilder waren etwas lieblos hingemalt, was im Stil zwar an Kinderbilder erinnern mag (oder soll?), mir aber nicht so gut gefallen hat. Die Farben waren teilweise zu "muschelig", ich bevorzuge klare leuchtende Farben. In einem aber waren wir uns einig: das Lesen hat Spaß gemacht.
Die Geschichte ist einfach gehalten, aber mit einer witzigen, wenn auch (zumindest für Erwachsene) nicht ganz unerwarteten Pointe am Ende, das eigentlich wieder ein Anfang ist. Die Bilder waren etwas lieblos hingemalt, was im Stil zwar an Kinderbilder erinnern mag (oder soll?), mir aber nicht so gut gefallen hat. Die Farben waren teilweise zu "muschelig", ich bevorzuge klare leuchtende Farben. In einem aber waren wir uns einig: das Lesen hat Spaß gemacht.
February 21, 2019
A strong four stars for this book for the very young. Its simple tale, told with very curt sentences, concerns the struggle of a blue wolf to get a creature of prey out from the cave it never leaves. Full of little details that charm, such as the snail trying to climb a nearby hill, but also given a major eyebrow-raising scene (I thought more would come of the lightning strike), it does in the end work. I don't think the twist was quite as big a surprise as the publishers think, but all told it looks to be a success, and a perfectly decent debut from this picture book creator.
March 1, 2019
The Cave is a delightful picture book sure to be a favorite at bedtime. With hilarious illustrations that are full of life and personality, Rob Hodgson's story ends with a twist that will have kids laughing and begging to read the book all over again. Adults will be happy to oblige, because they'll notice new clever background details every time they read it. Witty and eye-catching, The Cave is a brilliant debut from a talented author-illustrator.
My thanks to Frances Lincoln Children's Books and NetGalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
My thanks to Frances Lincoln Children's Books and NetGalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2019
A small creature of indeterminate species is holed up in a cave, while a blue wolf tries to persuade it to come out. In the end it’s a lesson on not jumping to conclusions, which you’ll realize when you hit the Twilight Zone-like twist.
When the creature said it was hungry, right after the lightning hit the wolf, I thought for sure it was going to eat the wolf. Dark turn for a kid’s story, but it turned out okay. . . well, not so great for the wolf, but at least it’s still alive.
3.5 pushed up to 4/5
When the creature said it was hungry, right after the lightning hit the wolf, I thought for sure it was going to eat the wolf. Dark turn for a kid’s story, but it turned out okay. . . well, not so great for the wolf, but at least it’s still alive.
3.5 pushed up to 4/5
March 28, 2019
If there were an option for a bagillion stars I'd have chosen it. My kids are not interested in polite little picture books that depict flowers and calm seas anymore. They want funny. And they want intrigue. And if they get it, they want it over and over and over again. That is exactly what this book has to offer. The illustrations add to the narrative and there's a wicked little twist at the end they just makes kids howl with delight! I'm not going to spoon feed to you what this book is about. Just read it yourself!
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