The Night of the Hedgehog

"A beautifully crafted book about the joys of sharing a special moment, this will inspire in children an appreciation of nature." —School Library Journal (starred review)

A dad and his daughter make a kind of everyday magic in this third lyrical story from the creative team behind Mum, Me, and the Mulberry Tree and Grandpa Is Here!

A father wakes his little girl, and together they tiptoe barefoot outside, stepping quietly into the cool nighttime garden. They wait to see it—their snuffling, shuffling nocturnal visitor. And what a treat to behold not just one hedgehog, but a mama and her three adorable, prickly babies, all coming over for a little sip of water before moseying straight into the “hedgehog highway” their human patrons created for them. Based on the author’s childhood memories, The Night of the Hedgehog is as tender and sweet a father-daughter book as they come, and a story sure to inspire a new generation of hedgehog spotters.From previous collaborators Rosie and Groenink (Mum, Me, and the Mulberry Tree) comes this splendid nighttime adventure, whose rhyming text and cool, muted hues convey hushed wonder. . . .a gentle reminder of the world’s many habitats.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

The story is told using descriptive sentences that rhyme and illustrations and show the setting and events with engaging and unexpected detail. . . . A beautifully crafted book about the joys of sharing a special moment, this will inspire in children an appreciation of nature.
—School Library Journal (starred review)

Gentle rhyming text. . . . The detailed artwork captures both the cozy domesticity of the fatherchild relationship and the wild charm of the hedgehogs, rendered with careful attention to their spiky texture and endearing expressions. . . . A sweet reminder that wonder awaits in our own backyards.
—Kirkus Reviews

The graceful, rhyming text tells the story, which seems all the more magical in the lovely mixed-media illustrations, where kids can see that the quiet events are taking place in a garden under a full moon. This picture book celebrates a child's personal encounter with nature.
—Booklist

The small but poignant reminders of the cherished moments are emphasized by Groenink’s attention to detail, from the hedgehog drawing taped to the little girl’s ceiling, to the dirtied bottoms of the Papa’s feet after returning inside. This tenderhearted read would make for a delightful way to tuck little ones in.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s BooksTanya Rosie, an editor, author, and passionate reader of children’s books, grew up in a household filled with Iranian traditions (from her mum) and a few Scottish ones, too (from her dad). Mum, Me, and the Mulberry Tree was her picture-book debut, and characters from the same family feature in the follow-up stories Grandpa Is Here! and The Night of the Hedgehog. Tanya Rosie lives in St. Albans, England. Find her on X as @tanya_rosie.

Chuck Groenink grew up in the Netherlands but now lives in the US. His previous picture books include Mum, Me, and the Mulberry Tree and Grandpa Is Here!, both by Tanya Rosie. When not drawing illustrations for books, Chuck Groenink likes to read, bake bread, or go hiking. He lives in Valatie, New York, with his wife, dog, three cats, and several rowdy chickens. Find him on X as @chuckgroenink and Instagram as @c.groenink.