Reviews
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by Jan Brett
In this instant winter classic, Jan Brett's Hedgie tries to stay awake so he doesn't miss out on all the snowy fun his friends are having.
A chill is in the air, and as Hedgie trundles around the farm all his friends tell him of the winter-time fun he will miss as he hibernates: Icicles decorating the chicken coop! Lisa making snowmen! The pond turned to slippery ice!
It sounds so amazing that Hedgie decides to stay awake instead of going to his burrow. But then, a snowstorm starts. Luckily, Lisa finds him and brings him to her home, so Hedgie gets to see the wonders of winter from inside the cozy house.
From the creator of winter classics like The Mitten, The Animals' Santa, and The Three Snow Bears comes another seasonal adventure that is sure to warm the heart.
Recommended for young readers 4-8 years old.
Hardcover, 32 pages.
G.P. Putnam's Sons Books For Young Readers.
Hedgie, first introduced in The Hat, is back, and this time he's determined not to hibernate over winter. The hens, geese, sheep, the billy goat, pig, and horse each come to bid him a good sleep, and promise to tell him about the fun of ice skating, snowmen, and sleigh bells when he awakens in the spring. Not wishing to miss all these and the beautiful blue of a winter sky, Hedgie stays out in the cold in hopes of staying awake. Luckily, the young farm child finds him dozing and brings him indoors to snuggle near a window so he can see all the festivities while warm. He finally nods off, and Lisa gently relocates him to his burrow in the wild. All the other animals have decided they want to view winter from a snug house. Brett's signature Scandinavian-style drawings include page borders reflecting the previous and upcoming action. VERDICT Inspired by her pet rabbit's interest in winter, Brett's storytelling finesse and delicately detailed illustrations remind us why she's so popular with children.-Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, School Library Journal
A New York Times Bestseller
“Brett's watercolor-and-gouache illustrations feature both soft and bright colors, with fine lines and copious textures to peruse. . . Between the opulent farmhouse with decorative plates on the walls, the sleigh with sleigh bells, and the lack of adults, combined with a comfortably heated interior, this is a winter idyll.” —Kirkus Reviews
“[A] fetching companion to The Hat. . . Brett’s trademark patterned borders both supplement and forecast the action playing out in meticulously detailed scenarios.” —Publishers Weekly
