Hogbert by Briony May Smith

Hogbert

Hardcover – Picture Book, September 16, 2025

Briony May Smith

Candlewick Press · Hardcover · September 16, 2025

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Who it’s for
A tasty detour brings gentle suspense, fairy-tale echoes, and a reassuring sense of welcome.
Themes
Growing independence, Kindness of new friends, Overcoming fear
Genres
Pig Stories, Self-Esteem & Resilience, Fairy Tales & Folklore

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About this book

Uh-oh! When a tasty trail lures Hogbert away from his family, he ends up all alone in the forest. Can he find his way home? Lush artwork, subtle fairy-tale references, and the kindness of new friends keep readers smiling. When Mommy Boar sends her little snufflebugs to explore the forest for the first time, she cautions them to stick together. After all, the Big Bad Wolf could be near!

Continue reading

But Hogbert’s keen nose has other ideas, and after following a trail too far, he finds himself trembling alone in fear. What’s that rustling in the leaves? Just a little red squirrel on her way to visit her sick granny! What’s that growl coming through the trees? Just a snoring white doe who took a bite of an apple that made her sleepy! With each temporarily scary encounter, Hogbert finds that the world is a less frightening place, and that the same sense of smell that led him into trouble may just lead them all out of it again. Fans of Beatrix Potter and children taking their first steps toward independence will revel in the story’s gentle suspense and warm, welcoming illustrations.

Gentle Forest Nerves

A tasty detour brings gentle suspense, fairy-tale echoes, and a reassuring sense of welcome.

Come here for

  • A small adventure about finding courage when familiar rules go awry
  • Subtle nods to classic fairy tales, tucked among forest encounters

Expect

  • Warm, welcoming illustrations and kindness from new friends
  • Tension that stays gentle, with a path toward feeling less afraid

Where it sits

Pig Stories92%
Fairy Tales & Folklore40%
Self-Esteem & Resilience32%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Pig Stories
  • Folktale Retellings
  • Self-Esteem & Resilience
Authors
Briony May Smith
Publisher
Candlewick Press
Published
September 16, 2025
Format
Hardcover
Theme
Growing independence · Kindness of new friends · Overcoming fear
Reading lane
Pig Stories