Truffle Hunter Book

Left behind in the forest by her disgusted owner because she is unable to find truffles, Martine the pig, while trying to find her way home, meets a handsome wild boar who ...

Children's Literature

This is a magical story about an uncommon friendship between a naive, domesticated sow and a worldly, yet, handsome wild boar. In this anthropomorphic tribute to the spirits of romance and adventure, Moore captures the heart of the reader though the main character's journey of self-discovery, with the gentle guidance of a friend. The story begins with Martine, the main pig, and her master, a chef at a fancy hotel restaurant, en route to the woods in search of truffles. This is their fourth hunting trip, and unfortunately, Martine has no idea what a truffle looks like--her domesticated nature has spoiled her ability to "snuff out" buried delicacies. Frustrated, Martine's master gets into his car and drives off leaving her to find her own way back home. Frightened and confused, Martine attempts to find a short-cut home through the thickets, only to discover that she has traveled even deeper into the forest. Noticing the mouth of a rather large cave, Martine enters cautiously for a good look around. To her surprise, the walls are covered with "paintings of pigs"-- not dainty, domestic pigs like herself, but large, hairy, wild-looking ones with long snouts and tusks." Martine later learns that the cave is home to Raoul, a wild boar, and that the paintings are portraits of his family. Although he was a part of the pig family, Raoul was indeed very different from Martine. He lived deep in the forest, had to hunt for his food, slept on piles of leaves and brush, and enjoyed taking mud baths. Martine lives in a fancy hotel, sleeps in a sty with a bed of fresh hay, and has her meals served to her in appropriate bowls. However, Martine knew that there was something most interesting and appealing about Raoul. She enjoyed his undeniable sense of freedom and self-assurance. She admired Raoul's ability to carve out a comfortable home for himself from the rather harsh and bleak forest environment. Most importantly, however, Martine was especially impressed with the newfound skill