Kako objeti ježa
(How to Hug a Hedgehog) Book not yet available in English
Summary:
The hedgehog lives his life contentedly, until one day he is seized by a strong desire to hug someone. He tries with the elephant, with the bear, but who would hug a prickly hedgehog? It seems there is no such hero. Poor hedgehog, how disappointed he is. Even worse! He lies down on the ground, stretches out all four legs, and refuses to get up. How lucky that Pipe, a boy dressed as a fox, also lives in the forest! With true fox cunning, he takes on the task. (source: publisher)
Edited by: Mestna knjižnica Ljubljana
Comment:
A simple, friendly hedgehog, all prickles and a curious snout, suddenly feels the urge to give someone a hug. He’s quickly turned down by the elephant and the bear, who offer clever but far-fetched excuses (like “flutter disease” and “contagious unhappiness”). Only Pipe, a boy in a fox-head onesie, gives it to him straight: he won’t hug him. Well, he’s a hedgehog, and hedgehogs prick. Still, Pipe springs into action. First, he tries a treasure-hunt-style “marketing campaign”, but that flops. Then, putting his skills to work, he builds an ingenious “hugging machine”. It works, but the hugs feel stiff and mechanical. Finally, Pipe brings all his creativity and imagination together: he sews himself a special suit and fills it with warm air. But things go awry, and he nearly drowns in a nearby lake. The hedgehog, though not much of a swimmer, rushes to rescue him. Touched, Pipe gives him a spontaneous, heartfelt hug, setting off an unexpected chain of events … This original story, full of gentle humour in the author’s signature style and brought to life by Peter Škerl’s cosy, dynamic illustrations, makes for an exceptional Slovenian picture book. The book has received the Golden Pear Quality Badge, the Kristina Brenkova Award for Original Slovenian Picture Book, and has been selected for White Ravens, an annual selection of children’s and youth literature from around the world by the International Youth Library in Munich.