The Adventures of Hedley the Hedgehog

There are five little hedgehogs living under the hawthorn hedge at the bottom of the vegetable garden behind a farm house in Wales -- Thorn, Spike, Thistle, Prickles and Hedley. Hedley is the best at finding slugs and insects and he's the most adventurous. Life is good for the little hedgehogs, but a highway is about to be built that will bulldoze the farm house, plough through the vegetable garden and dig up the hawthorn hedge. James, the little boy who lives on the farm, and his grandfather must leave and go to live on a farm in Somerset with Uncle Giles and Aunt Jane, and the hedgehogs must move to other homes as well.When James who has "eyes like the sky and a friendly voice" invites Hedley to go with them the little hedgehog jumps at the chance of adventure. On the appointed day Grandfather whose hair is "white and fluffy like a dandelion before the wind blows it away" packs up their horse and cart. Hedley is packed too, in a moss-lined shoebox that James has prepared for him. Thus begin the captivating and entertaining adventures of Hedley the hedgehog. I found this a delightful book that will charm young children and their parents alike. Hedley is a irresistible little adventurer and the characters he falls in with on his journey, and of course his sidekick Martin the mouse, are equally entertaining. Valerie Walker's gentle evocative prose complemented by Susan Waldie's magical full page, full colour illustrations of woodland and farm life make this a book that children will want to read or have read to them again and again.

Our 8 year-old son rants and raves about Valerie Walker's book. It captures the heart of young children about a gutsy little hedgehog who takes a peak at life from a different perspective from his peers. Get this book. It's a delightful read that's enjoyed several times more and the illustrations are top notch, too.

My nieces and nephews were delighted with this story and the lovely illustrations. They took turns using the voices of the many woodland animals and their human friends. I was glad to read them this low-tech story which unfolds at less than light-speed and deals with friendship and cooperation. Another plus for me is the old fashioned good manners displayed by all the characters - something that is sadly missing from much of today's children's literature and television shows.