A Little Bit of Winter

The dialogue is so well-done in this story that you can read much into hedgehog's and rabbit's friendship just by the tones. As in the best picture books, the illustrations add even more to the plot. I love this book!

A great little book, similar in style to McBratney and Jeram's "Guess How Much I Love You", or the Frog and Toad stories. The illustrations by Chris Riddell are fabulous.

Rabbit and Hedgehog are two close friends (one is put in mind of Toot & Puddle or Bert & Ernie) with one not-so-small problem: Hedgehog hibernates the winter through and Rabbit does not. Rabbit is concerned that Hedgehog will not miss or remember him during the long winter. Hedgehog plainly states that he won't miss Rabbit because he'll be sleeping. While Rabbit says he'll miss his friend, Hedgehog is bothered by the fact that he doesn't know what winter IS-he sleeps through it!Hedgehog asks Rabbit to "save a bit of winter for me" and writes a note on the bark of a tree to help Rabbit remember. Problems arise when winter hits and Rabbit, who usually eats pink clover and green grass is reduced to eating brown things--including bark off trees with MESSAGES written on them!Well, fortunately, while Rabbit may be scatterbrained, he remembers what Hedgehog wanted him to save, and manages, with a bit of forest ingenuity, to save some winter for his sleeping friend."A Little Bit of Winter" is a testament to friendship. The precise illustrations and depth of expression make the characters feel so very REAL, to children as well as adults. One can simply FEEL Rabbit's sadness and frustration at having to eat brown stuff, dig through mountains of snow AND be lonely on top of everything else. The joy both Hedgehog and Rabbit feel when spring comes and they get to be together again is infectious and radiant.An excellent book, highly recommended. Even if you DON'T have children to give the book to, buy it and give it to YOURSELF.

This book is a pure miracle ! I've read it in french. (Amazing ! For one time, the french translation is released before the english edition!) I bought the book as a gift for a four-years-old girl but after I read it with her I went back to the bookstore to buy my own copy. The text is simple and speaks to both heart and soul. I had never read such a good and masterful description of friendship. And what a gifted illustrator Chris Riddell is ! Last but surely not least : you don't need to be a child to appreciate the tale, I testify and I swear !