HERBIE'S BIG ADVENTURE

A young hedgehog leaves home for his first solo adventure.

Herbie is a happy little hedgehog. Wrapped in his mother’s love, he is content to burrow in “secret caves” (flowerpots) and roll down “mountains” (gentle hillocks). He has never strayed far from home, but his mother announces that Herbie is ready for his first foraging adventure. Though he is nervous, he bravely sets out but is swept up and carried away by an autumn wind. He lands in a pile of leaves and forages his first meal. Just as he becomes comfortable, the wind sweeps him up again to a snow-covered place. Herbie eagerly continues his journey and meets a snow bear who offers him a place to sleep—until the wind blows him all the way home. Herbie learns he is daring and brave on his own. Though Herbie is unquestionably an adorable hedgehog, Poh deftly captures a child’s mixed feelings about separation and exploration. She reminds young readers that separation from loved ones does not mean being forsaken. The story’s autumn backdrop mirrors Herbie’s transition into independence as he enters the world with curiosity. Poh’s lively illustrations sweep readers into the young hedgehog’s exciting adventure, and though they reveal that Herbie’s imagination is a little grandiose, they also deeply respect his burgeoning autonomy.

A charming story that explores a child’s newfound independence.