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Stories from Brambly Hedge
Wilfred to the Rescue
A brand-new story from Brambly Hedge, based on the enchanting world created by Jill Barklem.
Brambly Hedge has flooded, and it is dangerous to go outside. Instead, little mice, Wilfred and Primrose, are playing indoors with the Vole children. But then, young Sissy Vole goes missing...
Is Wilfred brave enough to take charge of a daring, secret rescue?
Brambly Hedge has flooded, and it is dangerous to go outside. Instead, little mice, Wilfred and Primrose, are playing indoors with the Vole children. But then, young Sissy Vole goes missing...
Is Wilfred brave enough to take charge of a daring, secret rescue?
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 7, 2018
The first of two picture-books set in the world of Brambly Hedge - a small, close-knit community of mice, living all together in a hedgerow "on the other side of the stream, across the field... amongst the tangled roots and stems" - that were written by Alan MacDonald, rather than the original creator, Jill Barklem, Wilfred to the Rescue is a rather cute animal story, if judged on its own merits, but something of a disappointment, if read as an entry in the series. The story of a flood that overtakes the area around the hedge, it follows Wilfred Toadflax (a character who featured in many of Barklem's stories) and Horace Vole as the set out on the overflowing stream to find Horace's younger sister, the missing Sissy Vole.
Although Lizzie Sanders' illustrations clearly take their cue from Barklem's - Wilfred is wearing the same red and white striped shirt, and blue overalls, that he always does - the overall feeling is very different. First, these watercolor paintings are quite large, and have none of that feeling of a miniature world captured in its entirety. They're physically bigger than Barklem's work, but depict smaller, more modest scenes. Gone are the intriguing and very detailed views of the hedgerow residences, whether room by room, or in cross-section completeness. Gone too is the grandeur of the original, with Primrose's family - Lord and Lady Woodmouse in the original - living in what appears to be a cozy tree-cottage, rather than Old Oak Palace. The effect is one that, for the reader who loves the complex tininess of the original, feels rather vague and incomplete. It's also rather confusing that the cover image of Wilfred is taken from a scene in which both Wilfred and Horace are poling down the stream (do you see Horace on that cover image? because I don't!).
Leaving aside the question of artwork, I also found MacDonald's narrative rather lacking. It's not that there was anything wrong with it, but it is far less involved than the original Brambly Hedge titles, and feels rather watered down. It's unfortunate that MacDonald and Sanders didn't pool their talents in an independent project, because I think their work would probably appeal to me, were it not being offered as a Brambly Hedge story. As is, I don't think I'll be picking up their second effort, Primrose In Charge , and only really recommend this one to young animal-story lovers who have NOT already had the pleasure of visiting the Hedge...
Although Lizzie Sanders' illustrations clearly take their cue from Barklem's - Wilfred is wearing the same red and white striped shirt, and blue overalls, that he always does - the overall feeling is very different. First, these watercolor paintings are quite large, and have none of that feeling of a miniature world captured in its entirety. They're physically bigger than Barklem's work, but depict smaller, more modest scenes. Gone are the intriguing and very detailed views of the hedgerow residences, whether room by room, or in cross-section completeness. Gone too is the grandeur of the original, with Primrose's family - Lord and Lady Woodmouse in the original - living in what appears to be a cozy tree-cottage, rather than Old Oak Palace. The effect is one that, for the reader who loves the complex tininess of the original, feels rather vague and incomplete. It's also rather confusing that the cover image of Wilfred is taken from a scene in which both Wilfred and Horace are poling down the stream (do you see Horace on that cover image? because I don't!).
Leaving aside the question of artwork, I also found MacDonald's narrative rather lacking. It's not that there was anything wrong with it, but it is far less involved than the original Brambly Hedge titles, and feels rather watered down. It's unfortunate that MacDonald and Sanders didn't pool their talents in an independent project, because I think their work would probably appeal to me, were it not being offered as a Brambly Hedge story. As is, I don't think I'll be picking up their second effort, Primrose In Charge , and only really recommend this one to young animal-story lovers who have NOT already had the pleasure of visiting the Hedge...
November 18, 2011
Clearly the key phrase in Goodreads' description of this book is the "watered down for a younger audience" bit. To which I have to say, "Huh?" Why water down a formula that works?
As other reviewers have said, if this book weren't presented as part of the Brambly Hedge continuum, it would be perfectly fine. Maybe even 4 stars. The illustrations are lovely. They remind me of the Karma Wilson Bear books. The problem is that they don't remind me of the richly detailed, imagination-sparking illustrations of Jill Barklem in the original Brambly Hedge collection.
The story itself does. I could imagine it fitting within the series just fine. But the stories weren't the remarkable part of the original Brambly Hedge books for me. The illustrations were.
That said, my daughter loves this book. I liked it too. I just didn't find it exceptional.
If you're looking for Brambly Hedge books and stumbled across this instead (a common experience for US readers, as Brambly Hedge was/is a UK phenomenon and can be hard to find here), keep looking. You won't regret the search. The good news is that Brambly Hedge is being re-released in the UK, with a US release date to follow eventually. They will get easier to find (and hopefully less expensive) soon.
As other reviewers have said, if this book weren't presented as part of the Brambly Hedge continuum, it would be perfectly fine. Maybe even 4 stars. The illustrations are lovely. They remind me of the Karma Wilson Bear books. The problem is that they don't remind me of the richly detailed, imagination-sparking illustrations of Jill Barklem in the original Brambly Hedge collection.
The story itself does. I could imagine it fitting within the series just fine. But the stories weren't the remarkable part of the original Brambly Hedge books for me. The illustrations were.
That said, my daughter loves this book. I liked it too. I just didn't find it exceptional.
If you're looking for Brambly Hedge books and stumbled across this instead (a common experience for US readers, as Brambly Hedge was/is a UK phenomenon and can be hard to find here), keep looking. You won't regret the search. The good news is that Brambly Hedge is being re-released in the UK, with a US release date to follow eventually. They will get easier to find (and hopefully less expensive) soon.
May 24, 2017
Perhaps it would have been better to read the Brambly Hedge collection first. This had a feeling of being out of context for me.
First Line: "It had been raining for three days and three nights in Brambly Hedge.
First Line: "It had been raining for three days and three nights in Brambly Hedge.
December 12, 2017
Nice addition to the series, but there are not as many details in the illustrations as in Barklem's originals.
March 18, 2021
Charming pictures and an exciting story but Horace’s character was a little confused.
December 30, 2022
I want to live in Brambly Hedge, that is all!
December 13, 2023
Lovely art and story!
July 18, 2022
I got into reading children's books - no regrets. Short, fun, adorable, this one in particular has GORGEOUS illustrations so worth every minute spent admiring them. 🥰
November 20, 2011
Sometimes when I read a story, I have to remind myself..."It's just a story!" That is the case with this tale. It's a sweet tale about helping your neighbors during a crisis (in this case, flood) and of demonstrating responsibility and bravery to save a loved one. I had to make a very strong cautionary plea to our girls to NEVER, EVER, EVER do something like this; that if one of them were hurt or in trouble that the best thing to do would be to alert an adult. BUT..."It's just a story!" and I think it provided a good opportunity for an important discussion. Altogether, it's an interesting tale, but I must admit that I'm not overly charmed by the Brambly Hedge series so far.
March 7, 2016
The only book I have come across so far that has voles as characters! The mice and voles are recovering from a big flood. When the little children of both animals play a game of hide and seek, the littlest vole gets lots and the others go in search of her.
Pretty illustrations.
Pretty illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews