Wish You Were Here

Toot & Puddle

by Holly Hobbie

Toot travels to Wildest Borneo for exotic plants, but when he returns with the Violet Virus, it is up to Opal and Puddle to find a cure.

When Toot goes off to Borneo, cousin Opal comes to visit Woodcock Pocket to keep Puddle company. But just before returning home, Toot gets stung by a bee and comes down with a case of the Violet Virus! With determination and persistence, Opal discovers the only cure for Toots ailment: tea made from the purple Slimecap Stinkhorn. Will Opal and Puddle be able to help Toot return to his piggy pink color? Of course! Read Toots postcards from Borneo, and see how Opal and Puddle save the day in this the latest book in Holly Hobbies New York Times bestselling Toot Puddle series.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Adventure, Friendship

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2005

About the author

Birthed with the name of Denise Holly Ulinskas in 1944, Holly Hobbie first sold her distinctive artwork of the little cat-loving girl who carries herself in a rag dress and giant bonnet. It wasn’t until she married Douglas Hobbie in 1964 when she named her originally nameless character after her.
When the first images of the rag-clothed little girl came to the public’s consciousness, the character has been nothing but the most common design chosen to grace greeting cards. When the girl’s popularity started to soar high, that’s when people started to adopt the name “Holly Hobbie” in reference to the character’s creator.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

wtf? Nobody is calling racism?!
Even if indigenous residents of Borneo did dress like this, they aren't "wild."
And the ridiculous disease and the even more ridiculous attempts to cure it... pointless.
Sorry, I love the series, but not this entry.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second Toot and Puddle book that I've read, and I have become a fan of these two amusing pigs and of Puddle's cousin Opal. The adventuresome Toot is visiting Wildest Borneo and he sends postcards to Puddle telling him of the wonders he is seeing. Meanwhile, at home, Puddle and Opal are preparing the flower garden, hoping it will be the most dazzling ever. Then a post card arrives from Toot saying that he has come down with a violet virus. When he arrives at home, he is blue! Will he ever get better? What can his friends do to help? Once again, wonderful illustrations highlight the tale of close friends.

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is adorable, I might go back and read the first one. I love the illustrations and the author's use of fun words and phrases. This story centers on Toot the Pig who has gone of to widest Borneo to have an adventure. He comes back with a virus that has turned him pale blue and his friends Opal and Puddle search for a cure. The story is text-heavy for a picture book and would be best for independent reading or one on one, but not storytime unless you're reading to an older crowd (1st-3rd).

[CSCL Staff Picks · Rating 5 out of 5]

All kids from 1-92 will love these little pigs in turtlenecks! This incredible series boasts fabulous illustrations of the charming forest where these two chipper chaps live and share a friendship that reigns supreme. Each unique story teaches us that opposites can be complimentary, and that adventures can be had both near and far from home. All twelve books by Holly Hobbie in this series are definitely on my “someday when I’m a grandma” list of literary treasures to revisit!

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

A medical mystery awaits in this Toot & Puddle adventure.

Pigs jaunting off to "Wildest Borneo"? Sure, why not.

With illustrations this adorb, I'd be happy to read just about anything.

Not to dare spoiling the ending, but one does have a feeling that:

1. It's important to Toot to be (literally) in the pink.
2. Somehow, somehow, that's exactly what's going to happen.

[Laura (booksnob) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Toot & Puddle and this book is so adorable. Toot goes on a vacation and sends postcards to Puddle but then he gets sick with violet fever and turns blue. He must return home to heal and Puddle does everything she can to heal him.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how this book shows that some people are adventurous and others love staying home. And that's okay! Neither should be judged as less than for their desires. I also love how the book uses plant medicine to heal the sickness. I'm a big believer in plant medicine!

[Željko Filipin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Please, don't seek medical advice on internet, as this book recommends. Please see your doctor instead. ;P

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toot went on an expedition to Wildest Borreo, but when he returned he was blue! Puddle had to find a way for Toot to turn back to pink.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adorable illustrations and a cute story about friendship.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great story. In fact, I needed to read this message about re-discovering the beauty of your surroundings again.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very sweet Toot & Puddle book. Toot and Puddle are pigs and good friends. One is very adventurous and loves to travel the other hates to travel. So they have times when the one leaves home and then writes home so his best friend can experience his trip with him. In this one one of their smaller girl relatives are there with them visiting, Opal. When Toot catches a rare illness he has to cut his trip short and come home. Puddle and Opal try very hard to make Toot feel better but nothing is working neither of the doctors they call has heard anything about the illness he has. Opal gets on the computer and researches and finds the cure. She gets to fulfill one of her wishes after all; she gets to go out beyond their yard and explore the wilderness beyond to find what they need to cure Toot! This was one of my most favorite thus far of the Toot and Puddle books.

[Eyehavenofilter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a fan of these adorable little pigs. Again Toot is off on a wild adventure in ( of all places Borneo) and has sent Puddle a postcard telling him he will be home soon but he's contacted the violet virus. When he arrives he's quite literally BLUE? What will Puddle do to help his friend. Well, anything and everything of course. This is a test of true pig friendship. The illustrations are laugh-out-loud, pee worthy and just adorable. As soon as I can I'm going to get my hands on every other Toot and Puddle book I can find and gobble them up like a hungry little piggy...scarf scarf.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an entertaining story in the Toot & Puddle series by Holly Hobbie. The story has a fun Indonesian theme. The illustrations are colorful, cartoonish and sweet and very typical of the series. We enjoyed reading this book together.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just look at the cover. Piglet among wild boars in Borneo. A story about wild animals, exotic countries, cruel wasps and colour blue. And how to cure yourself with a mushroom that stinks. To teach the children about the world and how diverse it is, nature, alternative medicine and homeopathy. No, it really is. :)

[Leslie Stith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Toot and Puddles and enjoyed this book with my son. He liked it too and was ready for more Toot and Puddle until he saw the other books in the library stack. It only gets 3 stars because when I asked my boy if it should go in the library return bag or if he would want to read it again, he chose the bag.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Toots wants to explore the world and discovery new things, but it is his friends at home that keep him grounded and help him recover.

Why I started it: It was just returned to the library and the illustrations looked darling.

Why I finished it: I love to travel, but I loved that it's necessary to do exploring where ever you are.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hobbie's story is imaginative with captivating illustrations that are far from pastoral-watercolor scenes we may think of. She includes postcards from Toot on the road, a love for the diversity of the world's plants and joy in growing everyday flowers, and companionship to keep things stable and communal along the way. Her use of pigs for characters doesn't come off as cute but spot-on hilarious.

[Kati · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love Toot & Puddle! This book was our first intro to this series and remained our favorite until Charming Opal (even after reading the first three). Wonderful, completely delightful illustrations and very enjoyable story.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why did he go to the jungle? Why is there mud on the postcard? Why did the bee sting him? Why is he blue? Why does the mushroom tea taste so bad?...These questions and more will be answered if you'd just read the book.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

i'm a huge fan of this books illustrations. in fact, that's the reason i purchased it. i've come to enjoy the story of their adventures. however, i could almost tell a story just based on the illustrations. they are so animated and clever.

[Danelle Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shows the importance of friendship and never giving up. I would use this in grades K-5 because I would like to underline how important friendship is. This book can be used in many classrooms to show how important friendship is and perhaps be used as a creative writing exercise

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toot wanders off on another one of his worldwide adventures, but things don't go as planned. When he returns home sock, it's up to good old Pudds and Opal to fix things. I love Opals clever persistence that wins the day.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love all of the Holly Hobbie Toot and Puddle books. This one is hilarious!

[Zonia · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little disjointed but funny illustrations. Good for letter (postcard) writing lesson.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was OK. The show is more fun and the book Let it Snow had a cuter story.

[Tamara the Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay story about Toot going on an adventurous trip and coming back blue. Opal stays up all night on the internet and discovers the cure.

[Cole Finnian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Cute with good humour.

[Debrarian]

Toot catches the violet virus in Wildest Borneo.

[Yulidy Decena]

I like pigs stories. In books I think pigs are cute. Good to bring conversations about getting sick during a vacation.