Hot Stuff the Little Devil is, quite frankly, the kind of character who could only exist in a universe slightly off its rocker—which is to say, ours. Here we have a devil, pint-sized and pitchfork-wielding, who is less interested in fiery chaos and more inclined toward the peculiar pastime of being uncommonly nice. He’s the sort of chap who might set out to scare a group of woodland creatures only to end up rescuing a squirrel stuck in a tree. The universe, as usual, raises an eyebrow, but Hot Stuff doesn’t care. He’s too busy having adventures, often with that distinct air of someone who’s discovered that the world is both terribly confusing and endlessly amusing.
The beauty of this story is how it turns expectations on their head, spins them around a bit and then sets them down gently in a field of daisies. Hot Stuff, by all accounts, should be up to no good. Yet there he is, doing small, delightful acts of heroism while managing to look utterly baffled by his own good nature. It’s the sort of tale that teaches children without ever resorting to anything as vulgar as actually teaching. Instead, it quietly suggests, with a wink and a nudge, that being kind, curious and true to oneself is far more entertaining than sticking to the script.
The brilliance of Hot Stuff’s escapades lies in their sheer absurdity, which has the curious effect of making perfect sense to children and slightly alarming sense to adults. He solves problems in ways that only a tiny devil could—usually with a mix of magical mischief and astonishingly good luck. Along the way, kids absorb valuable lessons about friendship, individuality and thinking outside the box, mostly because they’re too busy laughing at the antics to notice. It’s a tale that leaves everyone with a warm, slightly bewildered feeling, like being hugged by someone wearing oven mitts.
The beauty of this story is how it turns expectations on their head, spins them around a bit and then sets them down gently in a field of daisies. Hot Stuff, by all accounts, should be up to no good. Yet there he is, doing small, delightful acts of heroism while managing to look utterly baffled by his own good nature. It’s the sort of tale that teaches children without ever resorting to anything as vulgar as actually teaching. Instead, it quietly suggests, with a wink and a nudge, that being kind, curious and true to oneself is far more entertaining than sticking to the script.
The brilliance of Hot Stuff’s escapades lies in their sheer absurdity, which has the curious effect of making perfect sense to children and slightly alarming sense to adults. He solves problems in ways that only a tiny devil could—usually with a mix of magical mischief and astonishingly good luck. Along the way, kids absorb valuable lessons about friendship, individuality and thinking outside the box, mostly because they’re too busy laughing at the antics to notice. It’s a tale that leaves everyone with a warm, slightly bewildered feeling, like being hugged by someone wearing oven mitts.
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