THE VOICE IN THE HOLLOW

A bibliophile has a strange encounter.

For Hubert Cumberbun, a tiny brown mouse, “a good story was everything. He practically lived at the branch library,” in this case a far-reaching tree (and a great visual pun). When the library closes early due to a blizzard, Hubert decides to take a shortcut through the Hollow, a spooky section of the woods. (Readers can see just how spooky thanks to Hubert’s hand-drawn map on the dedication page.) As Hubert is pondering this difficult choice, the scent of mothballs brings help in the form of a stranger, a brown-furred female rodent wrapped in shades of cherry pink and purple. The stranger asks if Hubert is going through the Hollow and silently guides him past trees that resemble large insects and over hills that look like bears. When they reach the edge of town, the stranger asks if Hubert can continue alone. When he consents, she vanishes—leaving not even a footprint behind. Hubert returns home with a new story to share with his parents and many siblings. The story is Hillenbrand at his best—a slow-building ghost story cleverly disguised as a winter book, menace defused masterfully under layers of snow. Hillenbrand’s snowy landscapes are sumptuous, at times cozy, at times ominous. The surprise of the stranger will shock many first-time readers, making for a memorable tale that will enchant little ones and storytellers alike. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A ghost story you’ll love to share!