A sweet friendship, lovingly and gently portrayed.
Kindhearted Little Hedgehog worries about his friends in the aftermath of a huge blizzard.
The latest effort by the prolific Butler finds Little Hedgehog contending with lots of snow. It’s the deepest and highest he’s ever seen, and he is exhausted after digging a path out of his house. On his way to check on his friend Mouse and her babies, he tumbles and slides into a very deep snowdrift, and no matter how hard he tries he can’t get out. He puts his red hat on his walking stick and waves it until Rabbit spots it and pulls him out. They join forces to check on Mouse, and each time they find themselves in another dangerous predicament, there’s another friend to help. Eventually, Little Hedgehog, Rabbit, Fox, and Badger all help Mouse dig out, and, carrying her babies in that indestructible red hat, they head for Badger’s warm house and a fine dinner. The prickly hero is loving, resourceful, brave, and compassionate, as is his circle of friends. Butler employs accessible language and syntax that, although a bit stiff, keeps the tale moving at a pace just right for its young audience, and all without sliding too close to whimsy and treacle. Macnaughton’s lovely, bright large-scale illustrations nicely capture the cute creatures’ charming personalities.
A sweet friendship, lovingly and gently portrayed. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Sept. 10, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-58925-196-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: June 9, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015
An earnest graduation gift: sweet for lifelong fans, cheerfully encouraging for striving, future graduates.
Success comes at last for the bright-eyed Pigeon.
A clever, tongue-in-cheek ersatz colophon reveals that this graduate has been awarded a “Master of Ornery-thology, Bachelor of Arts of Persuasion with a Minor in Major Freak-outs (summa cum loudly).” Fans will be glad that the Pigeon’s tireless, abundant optimism is finally being ceremoniously recognized. On the cover, the Pigeon wears a mortarboard at a jaunty angle, commenting, “I have the hat!” Of course, dressing the part is essential. But also, “I did the work. I paid attention to the little details. I took some BIG steps.” The Pigeon encountered obstacles (not shown, but many memorable ones will come to mind for the Pigeon's followers). And the Pigeon is plagued by worries familiar to many students who are about to graduate: “WHAT WILL HAPPEN THEN?!? What will I do? Who will I be?” The Pigeon appears in every frame, in close-ups and in poses variously thoughtful, confident, or slightly distressed. Our hero’s simple big eyes and wings are, as ever, remarkably expressive. “Oop!” In one scene, while walking off the dais, diploma in wing, the Pigeon comes to what seems like the edge of a chasm. At last, our hero takes flight with other graduates. Willems' popular characters Gerald and Piggie are there to look on admiringly.
An earnest graduation gift: sweet for lifelong fans, cheerfully encouraging for striving, future graduates. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: March 4, 2025
ISBN: 9781454960430
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending.
Don’t let the Pigeon ruin his own special day!
Anyone who has ever encountered the title character in any of his books—whether his first, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (2003), or one of its many sequels—will understand that the bird’s innate self-love drives his every interaction. Little wonder, then, that he’s thrilled about his own “bird-day.” He has the hat. He has his “FANCY PLUMAGE.” And, best of all, he will get to blow out a candle “on my bird-day hot dog!” As he revels in the knowledge that this day is all for him, comeuppance is lurking. Someone has already blown out the bird-day candle—and eaten half the hot dog. It turns out that the Pigeon’s frenemy, the Duckling, has the same bird-day—as do a slew of newly hatched chicks. The Pigeon’s obligatory eight-panel freakout ensues. “What am I—invisible? I just want to be seen,” he whimpers, and when he receives some much-needed reassurance, he settles down and willingly shares his special day. While the switch from unapologetic narcissism to mature acceptance happens in the record-breaking span of two pages, the book is as enchanting as the Pigeon’s earlier outings. Even as it walks in the footsteps of its predecessors, there’s no denying the fun to be had.
Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 31, 2026
ISBN: 9781454999621
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
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