Hocus Pocus Takes the Train

As this hilarious and virtually wordless graphic novel begins, Hocus Pocus, a rabbit who lives inside a magician's hat, is about to board a train when he's surprised to spy another rabbit nearby. Though he's disappointed when he realizes it's actually only a stuffed rabbit (which clever young readers will know all along!), Hocus Pocus soon comes to understand it's a treasured toy that has been accidentally left behind by a small child, and he quickly jumps into action to try and reunite the two. Unfortunately, what should be an easy mission for the speedy rabbit turns out to be anything but, as his menacing nemesis, the magician's dog, attempts to thwart the would-be hero at every turn. Can Hocus Pocus's wits and perseverance prevail against the dog's superior size and strength and ultimately save the day? Award-winning author Sylvie Desrosiers has crafted a fun adventure for the endearing and energetic Hocus Pocus. And with no words (even the thought bubbles contain illustrations), the retro, animation-style images by comic artist Rémy Simard tell the whole action-packed tale. Reminiscent of classic cartoons, there are mini cliffhangers on each spread, keeping the story briskly moving along at a perfect pace for young children. This book will have huge appeal for pre-readers or reluctant readers, who will love being able to “read” it all the way through on their own, just by looking at the pictures. This visually entertaining no-words story provides an excellent first step toward reading.

Born in Montreal, Sylvie Desrosiers now lives in Longueuil, Quebec, just across the bridge from Montreal, preferring a big garden with skunks to traffic jams. Sylvie writes for young children, teenagers and adults, and she won the Governor General's award in 2008 for Les trois lieues, a novel for adolescents.