Darling Hedgehog

In this early reader chapter book, Darling Hedgehog goes on an adventure to look for her parents who have dropped out-of-sight.

Darling stumbles into a new world and introduces herself to the animal who is Miss Fox. Can you guess which simile Miss Fox is? When she gives gifts, Darling Hedgehog is distracted from tracking her parents' footprints. Darling and Miss Fox look for things to do in fantastical attempts to be friendly. When Darling enters Miss Fox's kitchen, she realizes that by nature, not every stranger is good for her. Will Darling save the day when it's already dinner time?

Darling Hedgehog learns about the animal nature of things in high humor and carefree, cute, and winning episodes. This childhood story reads a bit like Aesop's Fables or a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, for children 4-7. For preschool and kindergarten children who love pet rodents, Darling Hedgehog is a read-to-me picture book. First graders will learn to read it with help. Second grade and third grade students read Darling Hedgehog as a best new nature chapter book.

Pictures similar to Charlotte's Web and the Mercy Watson series are characterized and painted in full-color, though the pages are set up like a chapter book.

Darling's adventure helps to train children in natural wisdom and stranger analysis. It helps to balance teachings about accepting everyone and friendliness to all. There may be good purposes for everyone to exist under heaven, yet all purposes may not be good for a child. Beware, and flee from crafty foxes especially when they are holding your parents in the pantry

What is true about foxes and hedgehogs, as shown in this story, is that foxes cannot eat hedgehogs because of the quills on a hedgehog's back, so there are some natural defenses to even out the playing field.