Rob Hodgson, The Cave, Frances Lincoln Children’s/Murdoch Books, May 2017, 32pp., $24.99 (hbk), ISBN: 9781847809117
This is author and illustrator Rob Hodgson’s first picture book and I have immediately put him on my favourites list!
I’m not going to spoil the story by telling too much about the plot, except to say I was so engrossed in wolf’s hilarious attempts to lure the little creature from his cave that I did not see the end coming… even though all the clues are there!
Read this book over and over and be excited by something new each time. Reminiscent of illustrative books by Jon Klasson, The Cave offers us a story that can be told with words or without, and would be an excellent tool in the classroom for comparing stories to pictures.
I highly recommend this book for read-alouds, quiet reading and one-on-one time. It has opportunities for asking questions on topics such as our perceptions, fear and perseverance. I also think it would provide an in-depth example for art classes and graphic designers.
Visit Rob’s website for a sneak peek at The Cave, a clever collage and insight into the creative process employed in producing this book.
Reviewed by Sharon Smith
