- Graphic Novels
- Ages 5–8
- Fantasy
Hilda and Twig: Hide from the Rain
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Book 1 in Hilda and TwigView the full series
Part of the Hilda universeOpen the collection
A younger, gentler Hilda spin-off that puts Twig at the centre of a rainy forest adventure. Excellent for early graphic-novel readers who want Hilda's world in a softer, more accessible format.
- Best for5–8
- FormatGraphic
- Length56 pp
- Read aloud~26 min
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The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Comedic
Tone
- Warm
- Funny
- Gentle
- Whimsical
- Adventurous
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Hilda and Twig set off into the forest and are not about to let ordinary rain spoil their adventure. But when the weather turns into a much bigger storm, the outing becomes more challenging than expected. This spin-off keeps the distinctive Hilda ingredients: wilderness, strangeness, small creature humour and the sense that the natural world is full of odd possibilities. The format is younger and more approachable than the core Hilda graphic novels, with a shorter page count, simpler stakes and a strong visual reading experience. Twig's presence gives the story extra warmth and animal-companion appeal. This is a useful bridge from picture books into graphic novels: ideal for children who are Hilda-curious but not quite ready for the longer, denser main series.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 5–8
- Read aloud · 4–8
- Independent · 5–8
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Workable
Works well for
- Bedtime
- Gift-buying
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
4 / 5 · Bedtime-friendly
Sensitive-child
4 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Early graphic novel
- Hilda fans
- Gentle adventure
- Forest magic
- Animal companion
Avoid if
- Wants full length hilda
- Prefers realistic stories
- Wants high stakes action
Particularly good for children who are…
- Reluctant reader
- Struggling with reading
- Anxiety and worry
In the classroom
How it works in school.
Luke Pearson's enchanting Hilda adventures — a beautifully drawn reluctant-reader favourite and classroom-library staple.
A book children love that happens to support school — never a stand-in for the texts a class is taught with. Reviewed for the classroom · June 2026.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The specific charm is small-Hilda — a younger version of the heroine, paired with her deerfox Twig, walking in the woods when the rain comes down. Spin-off for under-eights who aren't quite ready for the main graphic novels, but absolutely want to be inside Pearson's world.
- Animal companions
- Adventure and freedom
- Secret world
- Surviving danger
Why parents love it
The Hilda for a child too young for the main graphic novels but ready to start — younger heroine, shorter pages, the same beautifully made world. Often the gift for a five-year-old sibling of an older Hilda fan; bridges naturally into the proper series in a year or two.
- Beautiful illustrations
- Quick to read
- Bedtime appropriate
- Shared humour
In the series
Hilda and Twig.
2 books · open the series →
About the author & illustrator
Luke Pearson.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
Where you’ll find it