Read All About It!
Benjamin Hall and Martina Motzo
Harper

Both little Hedgehog and his father are anticipating busy days. Dad hedgehog sets off to his newspaper office ready to write “what new news the news brings.” Little Hedgehog is on holiday from school and packs his rucksack for adventures of his own. As Dad left home he’d reminded his son about the rules. “Don’t talk to strangers, don’t lose my bag, and never ever cross the river alone,” little Hedgehog recited.
However sticking to these rules is anything but easy. Little Hedgehog makes his way to the river bank and skims a stone over the water’s surface to the opposite side: the other side with its exciting possibilities. Suddenly there comes a hooting sound. It’s Baby Owl who’s fallen from her tree and has been spotted by a big hairy bear. Time for a bit of divergent thinking on little Hedgehog’s part. Eventually he manages to scare the bear away

and let Mama Owl know what’s happened to her little one; but the ursine hunter is still roaming about looking for prey. So Mama Owl and little Hedgehog work together to warn all the other forest dwellers of the danger.

Come the evening little Hedgehog apologies to his Dad for his rule-breaking behaviour but the response he receives comes as rather a surprise in more ways than one.

Martina Motzo’s watercolour and ink illustrations are a delight, especially those of little hedgehog as he does his upmost to make a difference in his community; making a difference being one of the important themes of the author’s text.

A story to share and discuss with KS1 children.