Hedgehugs and the Hattiepillar

Starred review from October 1, 2016
Hedgehog best friends Horace and Hattie are back, this time marveling at the wonder that is metamorphosis.As in their first outing, this book begins by introducing the two friends, sharing what they like to do together as well as apart. One day, the two find something small and shiny and smooth under a leaf. They are lucky enough to witness the caterpillar hatching from this egg (egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly, and metamorphosis are never used in the text). The wriggly, stripy thing starts to eat, and it eats and eats and eats and gets bigger, until one day it made a soft, silky bed, and there it slept for many days and many nights. The two then spy the cocoon opening; something beautiful, colorful, and wonderful crawls out and then flutters away. Taken with this process, Horace and Hattie decide to try it themselves. They eat and eat and eat, then pile flowers in a heap and crawl in to sleep. They emerge transformed and colorful, the petals stuck to their spines, and they can even flyon their swings. The duo are delightfully nave and filled with wonder and imagination. Tappers textured, digital illustrations have lots of details that will provoke smiles, as when Horace angrily points his finger in a go away gesture at a hungry bird, protecting the caterpillar. A delightful way to share metamorphosis with the littlest listeners. (Picture book. 3-7)

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December 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 2-Horace and Hattie, the endearing hedgehogs from Hedgehugs, are back. While the best friends are out adventuring, they watch a caterpillar's transformation into a butterfly. After careful observation, they get the idea to eat tons and nap in a soft and silky bed, hoping that they, too, will awaken as colorful and wonderful as the butterfly. So after much munching and crunching, the two make a bed of flowers to nestle into and fall asleep. When they awaken, they question whether they have changed. Tapper's adorable artwork is a perfect complement to the simple text. VERDICT While perhaps not a must-purchase, this appealing read-aloud addresses both metamorphosis and how we can all be colorful and wonderful in our own ways.-Shana Morales, Windsor Public Library, CT

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