Once There Was a Hoodie

by Sam McBratney, Paul Hess (Illustrator)

Filled with a cast of unusual creatures, a tale offers readers an amusing story of an unhappy Hoodie who goes on an adventure to find the one and only thing missing in his life. By the author of Guess How Much I Love You.

1 pages, Hardcover

First published February 19, 2001

About the author

The 1943 born Northern Ireland native started writing children's books when he was a teacher in his thirties, with the aim of helping out students who had trouble reading. But he continued writing for a more-personal reason: "the act of imagining simply makes me feel good," he says. The fifty-seventh book of Sam McBratney's career, and his first book with Candlewick Press, was the much-loved GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU, which has sold an astonishing 15 million copies worldwide, and is available in 37 languages. "This is not the sort of thing you expect when most of your books have been remaindered," the author admits. "But, as the frog trapped in the milk discovered, if you keep going, sometimes you find yourself walking on cream cheese."

Where does Sam McBratney get his inspiration? "I told my children stories when they were young," he says, "so when I write I try to think of what they would have liked." But there may be another source guiding his writing as well. The author's father--who worked as a type compositor with the BELFAST TELEGRAPH, and whose favorite books were westerns--is the person Sam McBratney credits for giving him his love of the English language. "Most of my picture books--GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU, THE DARK AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS, JUST ONE!, and JUST YOU AND ME--explore the relationship between a big one and a wee one," the author notes. "The big one is not called the father in the stories, but that's what he is. Although my dad died before I became a writer, the father in my stories has a voice and a presence that he would have recognized and understood."

In addition to authoring many books for children, Sam McBratney wrote radio plays for adults and a prize-winning collection of short stories. He received a degree in history and political science from Trinity College, Dublin, and worked for many years as a teacher.

Reviews

[Gina Stovall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once There Was A Hoodie is a story about a creature called a "Hoodie" that feels like there is something missing in his life. In the summertime, the Hoodie would find new creatures such as sheep, cows and people, however they would all run away from him because he was big and different looking. Hoodie thought they just wanted to play tag with him. Hoodie continues on with his summer until one day he smells the smell of another Hoodie. He gets so excited to have a friend and they live happily ever after underground.
The theme of this book is friendship.
I thought this book was decent, however didn't have much substance or plot. It was short and easy to read but I most likely would not read it again.
I recommend this book in a non-educational setting because it is a very silly book and have no educational value.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hoodie lived alone, and left his home looking for others to visit with and make friends, but everyone, and everything he saw ran from him, and not being a runner couldn't catch them. But he finally found someone who was just his speed, and a friendship was formed.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like how this book shows that what we think might not be what really is.

[Bonnie Ferrante · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once There was a Hoodie is an odd little book much like the Hoodie itself. The Hoodie tries to make friends with the sheep, the cows, and the children, but they all run away. Finally he meets another Hoodie and they live happily ever after. The Hoodie looks like a combination of a rutabaga and a carrot. The story ends with the Hoodies sleeping under their hill for one hundred years.

There really isn’t much to the story. It’s basically a lonely Hoodie looking for friend. It could stimulate some discussion on how we judge others by their appearances. Mostly, though, it’s just a bit of silliness. The narration has a rhythmic chatty tone that would be fun to read aloud.

The illustrations by Paul Pass have an other world quality to them. The bug-eyed cows running from the Hoodie are funny and the Hoodie himself is a combination of bizarre and humorous.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really can't say anything that the only other reviewer - as of right now - hasn't said. I really echo her words. I do think we liked it a tad bit more but that's about it.
I liked how the "regular" animals were referred to. I liked the pictures of the "hoodie". The story is slightly repetitive, mostly because it's about the hoodie trying to find a friend and not finding one over and over. The ending is a happy one - the hoodie finds another hoodie and all is well.
Like the other reviewer, if there's a point - besides the friendship - I missed it. But I am of the opinion that there doesn't always have to be a point with books - children's or adults - so we just read this for the fun of it and it was a little fun. Just not a lot of fun.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK. That was an odd one. It must have been on my Holds list for the Happy theme Book Time. I can't see why else I would read it. It had some cuteness. I liked how the lambs and cows were referred to. But I'm still left trying to figure out if a point WAS trying to be made, and if so, WHAT?