Hog in the Fog
Written by Julia Copus
Illustrated by Eunyong Seo
Published by Faber and Faber
Take a smidgeon of "The Gruffalo", add a tiny pinch of "Foggy Foggy Forest" and some truly charming artwork, and you're half way towards imagining how great "Hog in the Fog" is. With the perfect pairing of a rather bristly but loveable wild boar (hog) called Harry and a cute and winsome shrew called Candy-Stripe Lil (who has a penchant for pink and white striped clothing), you're ready for adventure as the mists swirl one day.
Lil has laid on a rather scrumptious spread for tea, and has invited Harry round. Delicious delicacies await (Nice squishy and crunchy slugs anyone?) but Harry is unfashionably late. Soon Lil realises that she ought to go and see where her bristly chum has got to.
The fog descends silently, and it soon looks like poor Harry is lost in it somewhere. Thankfully Lil meets lots of animals who seem to have seen...something in the fog, but it doesn't sound much like Harry the Hog.
(I hadn't intended to write this review in rhyme, it just seems to happen - from time to time).
There's a trick to reading this one to Charlotte. She demands that it's read in slightly hushed tones, with that flat funereal near-silent whisper that lends itself so well to a foggy foggy day. So we snuggled up under a blanket and read it just so.
A lovely story, and Eunyong Seo's artwork is truly beautiful. Really hoping to see more of Harry and Candy-Stripe Lil very soon!
(Edit: Candy-Stripe Lil is of course a shrew not a mouse! Hence the cute nose. Thank you Julia for pointing that out, we're happy to correct).
Charlotte's best bit: A teatime spread fit for a hungry hog and a matronly shrew. Fabulous!
Daddy's Favourite bit: A rather lovely story that demands to be read somewhere cosy. Preferably while armed with a mug of hot chocolate. Scrummy!
(Kindly sent to us for review by Faber and Faber)