Hugo and the Impossible Thing

by Renée Felice Smith, Chris Gabriel, Sydney Hanson (Illustrator)

Overview

Hugo has one goal - to conquer the Impossible Thing.

At the edge of the forest stood the Impossible Thing. All the animals in the forest often wondered what was beyond the Impossible Thing, but since everyone said getting through it would be impossible, no animal ever tried.

Until a brave little dog named Hugo decides he just might be up to the challenge. With determination and some unexpected help from his friends, Hugo learns that what may seem impossible might just be possible after all.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593204634
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	03/30/2021
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD600L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Renée Felice Smith and Chris Gabriel are creative partners who met in the sixth grade and still really, really like each other. Together, they wrote and directed their first feature film, The Relationtrip. They are currently in development with various television projects. Smith plays Nell Jones on CBS’s NCIS: LOS ANGELES. Gabriel is a composer for film, television and theatre. Hugo and The Impossible Thing is their first picture book. For more info, visit www.hugoandtheimpossiblething.com.

Sydney Hanson is a children's book illustrator living in Sierra Madre, California. Her illustrations reflect early adventures growing up with numerous pets and brothers in Minnesota and are marked by a love for animals and the natural world. She works in a combination of traditional and digital media to create her illustrations - her favorites are watercolor and colored pencil. When she's not drawing she enjoys running, baking and poking around in the woods with with her family. To see all of her latest animals and illustrations please follow her on Instagram @sydwiki.

Editorial Reviews

★ "...Children and caregivers will enjoy Hugo’s can-do attitude and his unjudgmental reception of the initial skepticism shown by the forest crowd. The lush, soft-edged illustrations will display equally well in a lap or at the front of a room... The perfect story for goal-oriented readers (as well as those who need the occasional nudge)." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

From the Publisher

★ 2020-12-25
Seemingly impossible tasks can be completed—with a bit of motivation.

The titular Impossible Thing—a dizzying labyrinth of thorns, boulders, rapids, and heights—stands near the edge of the forest and is so named by the woodland creatures because everyone assumes that traversing it is out of the question. This can’t-do attitude prevails until Hugo, a French bulldog, appears and asks the question: “How do we know the Impossible Thing is impossible if no one’s ever tried to get through it?” In his quest for answers, Hugo seeks out the experts: Mr. Bear is strong, Little Fox is clever, Miss Otter is an excellent swimmer, and Old Mr. Goat is a mountain climber. Although their answers express pessimism, Hugo’s determination inspires them to try, and together the animals work to beat the Impossible. The story’s flow is smooth and begs to be read aloud; children and caregivers will enjoy Hugo’s can-do attitude and his unjudgmental reception of the initial skepticism shown by the forest crowd. The lush, soft-edged illustrations will display equally well in a lap or at the front of a room. Hanson dials the cuteness level down a bit from her illustrations in Close Your Eyes (2021) and other collaborations with Lori Haskins Houran, but the animals’ expressive features, especially cheerful Hugo’s, are winning. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)

The perfect story for goal-oriented readers (as well as those who need the occasional nudge). (Picture book. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews