Hedgehugs

Hedgehugs

By Lucy Tapper & Steve Wilson 
Published by Maverick Publishing

Hedgehugs is by husband and wife team, Steve Wilson and Lucy Tapper. This is their first published book and what an adorable little story it is. Ever wondered what happens to your missing socks, well this could be why!

Horace and Hattie are the best of friends and there are so many things they like to do together; making daisy chains, splashing in puddles, and having tea parties by the river. However there is one thing that they cannot do together, they cannot hug as they are just too spiky. Horace and Hattie try lots of ways to hug; rolling in snow but the hug is too cold, or squeezing in to a hollow log but the hug is too bumpy. 

Then one day they come across something very interesting, a washing basket. Horace comes across a very soft sock and after some investigation, he wriggles and jiggles himself into it, squeezing his head out of the heel. Hattie finds it very funny but then has an idea, and it isn’t long before Hattie is squeezed into a sock as well. Moving closer and closer together they finally hug! And it was the perfect hedgehug.

This is a charming tale and little ones will definitely love these two adorable hedgehogs. Hedgehugs is all about caring and friendships and the distance these two little friends will go to for a hug. The illustrations are simple but cute and I love all the different textures used throughout. 

You can learn more about the origins of Hedgehugs in the video below. It’s a short video of Steve and Lucy talking about how Hedgehogs came to be… I love how it all started with Lucy finding a use for her baby daughter’s clothes, scanning in all the lovely patterns, and creating these sweet little hedgehogs.

Hedgehugs can be purchased in all good bookshop or online at Maverick Publishing. And remember, next time if one of your socks goes missing, a hedgehug has happened!

I Want My Daddy!

I Want My Daddy!

Written by Tracey Corderoy and Illustrated by Alison Edgson  
Published by Little Tiger Press

Some days we just need our daddies, and that’s especially the case for Arthur in I Want My Daddy!. If you liked Tracey Corderoy’s I Want My Mummy, then you will enjoy this sweet tale of Arthur and his special Daddy.

Arthur is having a very bad day, his castle keeps falling down, and he can’t be a knight without a castle. He needs his daddy! His Daddy believes it’s a job for more than one knight, and together they cement (with glue) and paint, making the turrets nice and straight. Arthur can finally enjoy playing knights, marching and swishing his sword but it isn’t long, when charging after baddies, he crashes into a broom, “Ouch!” Daddy is there with a hug and offers to take Arthur to visit his favourite castle at the park, where there are turrets, ladders and a great big slide. 

While fishing for monsters in the moat, something soon tugs on Arthurs line… Arthur starts to worry; what if its big and hairy and scary! It’s Daddy to the rescue, and after lots of pulling, a huge boot is pulled from the water. Daddy calls it a Boot-a-saurus which they find very funny. Later in the day Arthur decides to make a crown, as every castle needs a king, a special someone and that’s Arthur’s Daddy. The story is very sweet and children will be able to relate to when things don’t go to plan. This sweet picture book will cheer up any little knights having a bad day.

As always, illustrator Alison Edgson creates warm and reassuring illustrations alongside Tracey's playful text. Alison was also the illustrator of Mummy’s Little Sunflowers which I reviewed back in March. I Want My Daddy! is the perfect picture book for Father's Day and for those times when only Daddy will do! Available to buy at all good bookshops and on the Little Tiger Press website.  

My Daddy Says

My Daddy Says

Written by Justine Smith and Illustrated by Angie Stevens  
Published by Campbell Books

My Daddy Says is a sweet, little chunky board book, perfect for little hands to hold. And with it being Father’s Day on Sunday, what a great book for little ones to read with their daddies. This second title follows My Mummy Says, and was published last year. A simple story that follows two friends throughout the day and what they get up to with their daddies.

Each page alternates between the two daddies and the little girl and boy. Covering the different activities that may happen in the day, from playing, breakfast, putting the washing out before both children are taken to the park where they regularly meet up to play. They stay until it’s almost dark and then its home time, where it’s time for a bath and a bed time story. 

My Daddy Says captures the impulsive nature of family life and has a lovely warm and humorous tone capturing the special relationship that exists between children and their daddies. 

The illustrations are simple but they capture the emotions and actions of the children well and come from illustrator Angie Stevens, who is also known for her real life family doodles on her Doodle Mum website. And due to Angie's observational daily doodles, children will easily recognise the settings and actions of the children and their daddies as they feel like they've been inspired by actual events.

The rhyming text is simple but I like the repetition of ‘This Daddy says…’ on each page, great for little ones to enjoy and join in. My Daddy Says is recommended for under-threes, and daddies of course. Available in all good bookshops and on the Pan Macmillan website.

Who's Hiding?

Who's Hiding?

By Agnese Baruzzi  
Published by Templar Publishing

Who’s Hiding? Is the lovely illustrated book by Agnese Baruzzi. Children and adults will love guessing what creatures are hiding by simple descriptive clues in the fun rhyming couplets before children can fold out the pages to reveal the creature.

This stunning book starts off in the garden patch, and with clues such as these: ‘With cotton tail and furry ears, Which creature’s found its dinner here?’ I believe children will have no trouble guessing the hidden creature. The illustrations on the folded page are cleverly done so that the page looks as if it’s just a garden patch and a very tall carrot sticking out but once you fold out the page, a bunny is revealed munching on a very large carrot.

The book covers the following scenes; woodland, pond, garden, sand and palm trees before ending up on a large landscaped picture which includes all of the creatures and asks for you to spot them. 

Every page spread is beautifully illustrated and I love how certain aspects will turn into something else once you fold out the page, for example, how a toadstool becomes a ladybird or the heads of two birds which once made up a palm tree. There is a limited colour palette used, using muted colours which creates a lovely calming feel. And even the shape of the book makes it easier to handle for small hands. Recommended age is from 3-5 year olds. 

I love the fun clues and the stunning graphic artwork. Children and adults alike will no doubt enjoy this interactive journey of discovery again and again.