The Hobyahs facts for kids

The Hobyahs is a classic fairy tale that was first collected by Mr. S. V. Proudfit in Perth. It was later included by Joseph Jacobs in his book More English Fairy Tales. This story comes from the American Folk-Lore Journal.

The Story of The Hobyahs

Once upon a time, a man, a woman, a young girl, and their little dog lived together. Their house was made of strong hempstalks. One night, strange creatures called Hobyahs came to their home. They started shouting, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah! Tear down the hempstalks, eat up the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl!"

The Brave Little Dog

Luckily, the little dog was very brave. It barked loudly every time the Hobyahs came. Its barking scared the Hobyahs away for several nights. However, the old man became very annoyed by the dog's barking. In his anger, he sadly hurt the dog, first by cutting off its tail, then its legs, and finally its head.

A Clever Rescue

With the dog no longer able to bark, the Hobyahs returned. This time, they easily tore down the house. They ate the old man and woman. Then, they put the little girl into a bag and carried her back to their home. When they arrived, they hung the bag up and knocked on it, shouting, "Look me!" The Hobyahs then went to sleep, as they usually slept during the daytime.

A kind man heard the girl crying from inside the bag. He carefully took her out and brought her safely home. To trick the Hobyahs, he put his own big dog into the sack instead. When the Hobyahs woke up and opened the sack, the big dog jumped out. It quickly chased away all the Hobyahs, saving the day!

Hobyahs in Books and Movies

The story of The Hobyahs has been retold many times. It is a popular tale, especially for children.

Picture Books and Other Stories

Robert D. San Souci retold this tale in his popular picture book, The Hobyahs. These creatures also appear in Joan Aiken's book, The Witch of Clatteringshaws.

Hobyahs Down Under: Australian Versions

A version of the story was published in Victoria, Australia, in a magazine called The School Paper in 1926. A few years later, the story was retold again in The Victorian Readers. These books were used in Australian schools for many years. In these versions, the little dog is often called a 'little dog dingo', and the story is set in the Australian bush.

The Hobyahs on Film

The story also inspired parts of the Australian film Celia (1989), directed by Ann Turner. In the film, the main character imagines parts of the Hobyahs story. However, the film's version is a bit different. For example, there is no girl in the film's telling. Instead, the Hobyahs take the old woman. Also, the old man gives the little dog back its head, legs, and tail. Then, they go together to find the old woman.