The first of two picture-books set in the world of Brambly Hedge - a small, close-knit community of mice, living all together in a hedgerow "on the other side of the stream, across the field... amongst the tangled roots and stems" - that were written by Alan MacDonald, rather than the original creator, Jill Barklem, Wilfred to the Rescue is a rather cute animal story, if judged on its own merits, but something of a disappointment, if read as an entry in the series. The story of a flood that overtakes the area around the hedge, it follows Wilfred Toadflax (a character who featured in many of Barklem's stories) and Horace Vole as the set out on the overflowing stream to find Horace's younger sister, the missing Sissy Vole.

Although Lizzie Sanders' illustrations clearly take their cue from Barklem's - Wilfred is wearing the same red and white striped shirt, and blue overalls, that he always does - the overall feeling is very different. First, these watercolor paintings are quite large, and have none of that feeling of a miniature world captured in its entirety. They're physically bigger than Barklem's work, but depict smaller, more modest scenes. Gone are the intriguing and very detailed views of the hedgerow residences, whether room by room, or in cross-section completeness. Gone too is the grandeur of the original, with Primrose's family - Lord and Lady Woodmouse in the original - living in what appears to be a cozy tree-cottage, rather than Old Oak Palace. The effect is one that, for the reader who loves the complex tininess of the original, feels rather vague and incomplete. It's also rather confusing that the cover image of Wilfred is taken from a scene in which both Wilfred and Horace are poling down the stream (do you see Horace on that cover image? because I don't!).

Leaving aside the question of artwork, I also found MacDonald's narrative rather lacking. It's not that there was anything wrong with it, but it is far less involved than the original Brambly Hedge titles, and feels rather watered down. It's unfortunate that MacDonald and Sanders didn't pool their talents in an independent project, because I think their work would probably appeal to me, were it not being offered as a Brambly Hedge story. As is, I don't think I'll be picking up their second effort, Primrose in Charge, and only really recommend this one to young animal-story lovers who have NOT already had the pleasure of visiting the Hedge... ( )