The Cave

A funny short story about a wolf trying to coax a "little creature" out of its cave. This would be an excellent bedtime story.

Omgoodness! This book cracked me right up! I loved it!

So, you see, there's this little creature living in a cave, and it won't come out because there's a wolf hanging out nearby. A wolf whose intentions are not so cleverly hidden. Can the little creature outwit the wolf? Or is the wolf patient enough to wait for the creature to finally emerge? Ha! I'm not telling -- you'll have to read it to find out!

This isn't usually my favourite style of illustration, but for this story it was perfect! At first they seem like quite simple pages, but the more you look there more there is to see. I see that the author, Rob Hodgson has another book coming out in April, and I'm going to be clamouring to get my hands on it! This was very fun!


Thanks ever so much to NetGalley and Lincoln Children's Books for providing me with a DRC of this book.

This was a delightful, snappy and witty bed time story, the illustrations give nothing away and allow reader and child to discover a wonderful surprise awaiting them at the end of the story.

This is a short but gorgeous children's book about a wolf who wants a little creature to come out to play (so he can eat him). But the wolf is in for a BIG surprise! Guaranteed to make children laugh and will be a hit for those reading times where you just want some fun.

Brilliantly illustrated with simple words for early readers. Highly recommended.

Charming ~ Funny ~ Retro

tl:dr: wolf needs a friend

I will not offer any description of the story. Spoilers will ruin the effect, and it less than a couple dozen pages. Just read it! This story offers brightly colored, retro-ish (though not twee) illustrations with a few spreads laid out in panels like a graphic novel. The prose is punchy and quick-moving. This author clearly understands his audience is newly mobile and on the go. The images and text do a wonderful job of building suspence, and then the hilarious denouement. I can imagine the tiny gaffaws young readers will let out when they see what's the deal with the cave. Charming funny book that I suspect will become a much read favorite in many homes.

4.5

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Cave by Rob Hodgson is a great bedtime book. While reading it reminded some what of little red riding hood. The wolf is very persistent about the little creature in the cave. The ending has a nice little surprise! If you look closely you can find a little worm on every page but one. Once I realized this my son and I went back through the book to try and find it.

Cute story with a bit of a moral at the end. My 4 year old laughed out loud at the ending and enjoyed the illustrations.

Wile E. Coyote meets Little Red Riding Hood meets The Three Little Pigs. I don't know how else to describe The Cave. It was cute. I didn't really like the animation and the plot was very cartoony without a real ending. I'm sure most children would adore this book. 

***Thank you Netgalley and Quarto Publishing for granting my wish to read The Cave.***

The illustrations are brilliant with a clean, fresh and modern style. Neat twist at the end. Overall, a lovely book.

A strong four stars for this book for the very young. Its simple tale, told with very curt sentences, concerns the struggle of a blue wolf to get a creature of prey out from the cave it never leaves. Full of little details that charm, such as the snail trying to climb a nearby hill, but also given a major eyebrow-raising scene (I thought more would come of the lightning strike), it does in the end work. I don't think the twist was quite as big a surprise as the publishers think, but all told it looks to be a success, and a perfectly decent debut from this picture book creator.

This was a cute little book with beautiful pictures. I’d say it’s definitely aimed at more the board book age group, and it would make a cute baby gift.

There is a little creature hiding in a cave and wolf wants him to come out to "play". Whimsical illustrations and surprise ending. Perfect for ages 3-6.

This book is absolutely delightful! It would be great as a read aloud! Students will love the surprise ending and the overall sillieness of the book. Thank you to #netgalley for the ARC. This book left me smiling!

Simple but funny children's book. A great moral story for little ones with stunning visuals. Would make for a beautiful present!

I DID NOT EXPECT THAT! Okay, this book is quite hilarious - there is so much suspense, especially for the little ones and it's done in such simple lovely way. I was surprised and I expect everyone else to be.

This was an entertaining story about a persistent wolf and an anonymous denizen of a cave. The amusing wolf is hungry and quite sneaky. He tries several schemes to lure out whoever is in the cave, but without success. He ought to wish the success would forever evade him because when it doesn't, he discovers he really didn't want to meet this cave-dweller! It was nicely-drawn and colored, and the story carries a valuable lesson to the effect of being careful what you wish for! I commend it as a fun story for young children, especially if they like surprises!

A great read a loud for the young! The wolf’s ulterior motive to get the critter out of the cave is revealed on each spread with laugh out loud illustrations. The surprise reveal of the identity of the big eyed cave dweller will bring another round of giggles. A great addition for any school library or home.

A delightfully, witty picture book about a cave home to a little creature and a hungry wolf who tries everything to coax the creature out. But what will happen when he finally succeeds...? A simple yet hilarious tale with a brilliant twist at the end - guaranteed to be a favourite among both little ones and adults!

Rob Hodgson's illustrations are bright, bold and original, and the text is punchy enough to keep little readers engaged. Looking forward to Hodgson's new picture book, The Woods, out in October 2019.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for a copy of this book.

This book is charming and funny! Readers will be intrigued with what creature is in the cave.
This is a great story to teach inference to young readers!

<i>The Cave</i> by Rob Hodgson is a cautionary tale, but not quite in the way that you'd expect. And while I would say that it's entirely possible for you to guess at the twist that will appear through the course of this story, young kiddos likely wont and are bound to be shocked and amused about the turn of events that come with reading this book. In so many ways I couldn't help finding the story of the little creature in the cave thoroughly amusing and I really got a kick out of the way that it ended. And overall, this book is genuinely just an incredibly adorable story with some of the cutest artwork I've ever seen in a kid's book.

The book begins with a creature hidden inside his cave home and a wolf determined to get him to come out. While the wolf's words and actions very much suggest a desire to play and be a friend, anyone who knows anything about wolves can be fairly certain that the wolf has ulterior motives that would not end well or in friendship for the little cave creature that he is so determined to bring out of the safety of his home. And, really, I can't say much more than that without giving the story away but just know that it's 100% worth reading. I enjoyed this one quite a lot and I know a lot of kids out there will, too.

<i>I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. </i>

A very cute children's book that made me giggle at the end. The illustrations are colourful and eye-catching. This is the perfect addition to a child's bedtime library.

This was a fun story that kept me as an adult guessing until the end.

A wolf comes across a cave, inside the cave lives a creature. The wolf's aim throughout the story is to persuade the creature to come out (because he wants to be friends or so he claims!) The creature is determined to stay inside where all we can see is it's eyes. Will the wolf succeed in luring out the creature? And what is hiding away in the dark?

The pictures were simple but effective and I loved that there was a little worm for children to hunt for on each page (which can also be found on the author's website!) There are lots of opportunities to talk about how the wolf is feeling at different stages with children as his expressions are clear in the pictures. There is also the potential for lots of prediction as children try to guess what is hiding in the cave.

Many thanks to the publishers for giving me access to a digital copy of this book for review via NetGalley

This book made me laugh. I was able to do several activities and have a fun discussion with a couple kindergarten groups.

It's rare to find a book for this age that is so authentically funny. I loved the ending, the storyline, and the surprise. Highly recommended.

This was a good, quick read, perfect for 1st graders. I was not sure how this book was going to turn out - is the wolf really wanting to make a friend or does it want to eat what's in the cave? Regardless, I think young kids will enjoy the illustrations and humor.

I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Fun story. Great illustrations. Good book to read with kids. Quite a surprise at the end! Add it to your library!

The Cave is a beautifully illustrated funny little story of a little creature who lives in a cave and a big bad wolf very determined to get his lunch. I loved the bright bold colours and the enterprising spirit of the wolf. In fact, I concentrated on the story so much, that I didn’t see the big twist coming. Children are bound to be surprised and delighted by the book.
Thank you to NetGaleey and Quarto Publishing Group/ Frances Lincoln Childrens/ Lincoln Children’s Books for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

The Cave is a delightful picture book sure to be a favorite at bedtime. With hilarious illustrations that are full of life and personality, Rob Hodgson's story ends with a twist that will have kids laughing and begging to read the book all over again. Adults will be happy to oblige, because they'll notice new clever background details every time they read it. Witty and eye-catching, The Cave is a brilliant debut from a talented author-illustrator.

This is a delightful story that young kids will love. A wolf discovers a mysterious creature in a cave and makes it his mission to have the critter for lunch. He invites him to come play with him and offers to be his BFF, but the creature declines his invitations.

The sly wolf is persistent, and the more he waits, the hungrier he gets and the more desperate. He offers a variety of activities that might interest the creature enough to exit his abode, but alas, no luck.

As a last ditch effort wolf offers up a tasty donut with sprinkles to the creature and ta da!... that's the magic bullet that lures the creature out into the open.

Wolf is in for the surprise of his life! The twist at the end of the story will have kids' eyes pop open wide followed by a joyous laugh. I love stories that are witty and clever and unveil the unexpected. This one does not disappoint.

The illustrations are colourful, expressive and very kid-friendly. Be sure to look for a little worm that is hidden in the illustrations. It is another fun component added into the pages and on the author/illustator's webpage. This is not only a perfect bedtime story but would be a great addition in a classroom setting or in an elementary school library. It's fun for all ages really. I know I enjoyed it immensely and I highly recommend it.

This was a brilliant story, I loved the illustrations so lovely reminiscent of my childhood and the hungriest caterpillar style. The story is simply, funny and has a great lesson. Great fun for adults and children and I can see becoming a classic

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

A hungry wolf stands guard by a cave trying to lure a little creature out. Day after day the wolf attempts to persuade the little creature to leave, but the little creature stays put. In a twist that adults may see coming (but the kids who I read it to didn’t), the wolf is finally successful, much to his surprise.

When I read The Cave by myself, I enjoyed it but thought the twist was obvious. I’m so glad I also read it with kids, because they were literally on the edge of their seat, worried about the little creature and then laughing with delight at the wolf’s surprise ending. Even after knowing how the book ends, kids request it again and again. It’s a fun read!

The Cave is a short but amusing book about a little creature whose eyes are visible from outside of its cave. A hungry wolf waits outside, continually asking the creature when it will come out. The book follows a simple formula, but contains enough mystery that children will probably enjoy it, and even adults will likely find it amusing. And it's short enough to keep repetitive readings from becoming tedious.

I enjoyed the illustrations and appreciated that the book didn't try too hard to be deep or funny -- it sticks to its sparse wording and allows a simple tale to develop about the interplay between these two odd characters and one bigger-than-it-seems cave.

(Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.)

There is a creature in the cave and the fox wants him to come out and play because he is hungry or rather lonely. This book is hysterical and I think that kids will find it funny too.

A small creature of indeterminate species is holed up in a cave, while a blue wolf tries to persuade it to come out. In the end it’s a lesson on not jumping to conclusions, which you’ll realize when you hit the Twilight Zone-like twist.
When the creature said it was hungry, right after the lightning hit the wolf, I thought for sure it was going to eat the wolf. Dark turn for a kid’s story, but it turned out okay. . . well, not so great for the wolf, but at least it’s still alive.
3.5 pushed up to 4/5

This is a really cute little story that features a wolf and another animal hiding in a cave. At first we assume the animal in the cave is teeny tiny; only to be surprised to find it's a bear! This has a climactic moment that is loud and fun. Toddlers are likely to really love it and get very excited (every time, as they do) about our surprise moment.
Likely by the time a child is 5 years old (or so) they will have outgrown this one; unless of course it becomes their favourite book ever. With cute illustrations and a wolf whose very good at killing boredom in all kinds of weather I think Rob Hodgson's The Cave is a fun, cute book that any adult could enjoy reading to a child. The vocabulary and sentence structure are simple which also makes this a good book for ESL children (or adults!).
Overall I like how short and sweet this book is; and it's always fun to get animated and loud when reading to children. Although because of it's big climax this may not make a good bedtime story.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

There was a little creature who lived in a cave. He never came out because of a wolf. This not so sly wolf tries over and over again to convince the little creature who lives in the cave to come out. He tries many different tactics, all of which are unsuccessful, but the wolf never gives up. Finally one day he convinces the little creature to come out and eat a donut. Much to the surprise of the wolf, the "little" creature is nothing like what he was expecting.
We really enjoyed reading this book! It was silly, it kept you interested, and the illustrations were awesome! We really enjoyed finding the little worm on every page caught in various silly situations. My daughter had me read it over and over again. I would recommend this book for anyone with elementary aged children. It's a good learn to read book for the older kids and the younger kids will love the story and the pictures.

It’s obvious that there’s going to be a BIG surprise at the end of this book - I mean, the cover flap even says so.

But it’s still pretty amusing.

Fun.

<i>Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for a copy in return for an honest review.</i>

Ha! Love it! Fox is looking for a meal ad tires his hardest to get the small creature out of the cave to eat it. He is very, even extremely patien, but what a surprise he gets in the end! Simple, yet effective illustrations! Littles will love it!

There is a little creature that lives in a cave and never leaves. The little creature never leaves because there’s a wolf outside and the wolf is very hungry. The wolf tries everything to get the little creature to come out. Can a doughnut covered in sprinkles finally coax the little creature out? And will the wolf end up regretting his decision?    

Each spread features the cave with the wolf outside, braving all weathers and coming up with ploys to entice the little creature out. My favourite spread was definitely when the little creature finally comes out but I couldn’t possibly share a picture because that would ruin the surprise!

This fun story made me laugh out loud with its killer twist ending! The clever use of the cave as the focal point of each spread really holds this story together. A great read to enjoy with toddlers+.

I am very grateful to the publisher for providing me with an advanced digital copy via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Short in length and with visually appealing illustrations, I'm sure this cautionary tale will make the perfect bedtime read. The story though simple is a on a deeper level essentially a morality tale with its message that if you go down a deceitful and sly path you may end up with unexpected consequences. Here the wolf is trying everything to coax and entice the little creature out of its cave without success. The wolf is hungry and will stick to his task come what may. But does he really know what his actions may lead to? This is a rapidly moving story and the suspense builds up nicely to the final twist at the end. What a surprise awaits the unsuspecting reader. Be careful what you wish for and don't proceed with a course of action unless in possession of the full facts are principles as relevant to adults as well as to children.

Rob Hodgson is a British designer and illustrator who's illustrations have appeared in several children's books and he has also produced the game Scary Bingo: Fun with Monsters and Crazy Creatures. His idiosyncratic, fun and bold illustrations compliment the text and will I'm sure delight the intended audience. Even after it is read this is a story that is liable to stay in the mind for some time.

The Cave is a fun picture book about a wolf and “little” critter in a cave. The wolf keeps waiting for the critter to come out of the cave so he can eat him. The “little” critter won’t budge, at least not until he’s tempted with a donut! When the critter finally comes out, it’s the wolf that gets the big surprise!
The story is fairly simple but I think preschoolers will enjoy this one, especially after the first read when they learn it’s a bear that’s hiding in the cave.
Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for access to this silly and entertaining picture book!

'The Cave' by Rob Hodgson is a picture book with a surprise ending that should be fun for young readers.

A wolf stands outside a cave. There is something inside the cave that he'd like to eat. The creature in the cave doesn't want to come out and for most of the book, we can only see it's eyes. The wolf tries many many things to lure out the creature in the cave, like feeding birds or playing ball. The wolf also never leaves the cave, so the creature in the cave stays there. When the creature comes out of the cave, things take a turn.

This was a cute book that reminded me of childhood cartoons. The illustrations are fun with a blue wolf, jagged yellow lightning bolts, and those expressive eyes inside the cave. I think this would be a fun read aloud for 3-5 year olds with the chance to read with funny voices.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Childrens, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

Why won't the critter in the cave come out?? Wolf would surely like him to and offers a variety of enticements.
Of course, clever young listeners may think that the critter does not come out because he is afraid of being eaten. Is that what happens? Find out in this whimsical, funny story with illustrations that perfectly illustrate the text.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this amusing read. All opinions are my own.

THE CAVE is a colorful children's book with a creative story line. I'm not particularly sure there's a message in it, unless you are trying to teach kids not to be like the wolf, but it was still a cute book with a fun twist at the end. Also, now I want a donut. (I guess the question you can raise is "What would it take to make you face danger?")

A very fun book. I bet all adults will figure out the end, and many kids too. But it is the journey to get there that is so fun. The little creature lives in the cave and does not want to come out and play. But the Wolf really wants them to. Really Really wants them to. Can you guess what is in the cave? The idea was not the only fun thing in this book. The illustrations help make the story playful but caring, and is so right where it needs to be with expression. It’s a simple masterwork that will be read. to read over and over, and over again.

In The Cave by Rob Hodgson, we are quickly introduced to a cave where a little creature resides; this animal never leaves because there is a hungry wolf outside.

Readers see two frightened eyes and every time the wolf proposes an option that might convince the creature to come out, we hear the countered response. Time and again, the creature does not want to feed the birds, pick flowers, play in the snow, and so on.

Finally, a doughnut with sprinkles is the perfect temptation. As the creature emerges to eat it, it is revealed that the creature is not a small, plaintive, defenseless animal -- it is instead a bear! The book ends with the tables turned -- now it is the bear trying to woo the wolf out, to no avail.

The whimsical illustrations complement the words well, and I imagine toddlers and young children giggling at the final discovery.

(I received a digital ARC from Quarto Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)

I see this book going over fairly well with relatively young kids. The plot is pretty simple. We've got a wolf trying to trick a small prey animal out of a cave. Then, in a classic subversion of expectation, the creature is revealed to be big and scary and chases the wolf into the cave. The book ends with the creature taking the wolf's role. Comparable to I Want My Hat Back.

This is an absolutely beautiful book with a delightful story and the most charming illustrations in a paper cut style which reminded me of the work of Eric Carle.
I teach English as a foreign language, and for my littlest students that involves lots of storytelling and activities around the themes of the story. I can see this adorable tale quickly becoming a firm favourite.

I had the chance to read a preview copy of the book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers.