The charm of Whiskers Hollow lies in its cockamamie proportions and intricate details. . . “Road Trip!” establishes the personalities of earnest Bear, cautious Mouse, hungry Rabbit and adventurous Donkey, all of whom children ages 3-8 will be glad to see again in future Whisker Hollow adventures.
—The Wall Street Journal
In Light’s beautifully wielded pen, ink, and gouache, the vehicles defy gravity as they zoom along the route, which includes a massively gnarled tree trunk and a tunnel of thorns straight out of a Dürer woodcut. A headlight is eventually obtained, but not before the friends goof around on a massive junk pile (another image that nods to the textures of classical printmaking), do some pratfalls into a mud puddle, and receive an impromptu shower courtesy of Elephant’s trunk. Along the way, the amiable animals learn what human motorists already know: the bonding shenanigans of a road trip are really the whole point.
—Publishers Weekly
Whiskers Hollow certainly is, with Light’s intricate pencilwork and hatching revealing a magical, miniature world and a visual feast à la Richard Scarry for young readers to pore over. Spindly branches of various size reach through the pages, creating a rollercoaster effect as Bear and co. go zipping along, and the busyness of the linework maintains chaotic but controlled scenes. Fans ready to graduate from Tabor’s Fox picture books (Fox and the Bike Ride, BCCB 10/17) will appreciate the energetic verve of this foursome.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
After a car accident (with a giant acorn) leaves Bear in need of a new headlight, he zips around the oversize forest world of Whiskers Hollow. . .The magic of this book is in its world building…There’s a fun midtwentieth-century flavor to the designs, established through clothing, furnishings, and technology, especially Bear’s red 1940s Chevy pickup, and Light—as always—works absolute wonders in the stunningly detailed line work of his trademark fountain pens, shaded in with soft watercolors. Children poring over his art will fall entirely into Whiskers Hollow and make stories of their own as they await future adventures in this absorbing universe.
—Booklist
Light’s book has a distinct Arthur Geisert vibe, with etchings-like illustrations full of enticing and humorous detail. . .Endpapers provide a map of Whiskers Hollow, helping young viewers place the various locales of the story and follow the trajectory of the friends’ (ultimately successful) journey.
—The Horn Book
Featured in a roundup of "5 New Titles to Pick Up Now"
—Parents Magazine
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