Vroege RecensentenIan Humpheryes

Spring had definitely arrived in the woodland, thick beautiful carpets of Bluebell flowers stretch as far as you could see under the trees, baby animals were being born, including an over adventurous chick who tries to fly and lands himself in trouble.

The little Hedgehog is always there to help (although no one can help him from feeling lonely) and finds a mystery to solve in the woodland as well.

Reviewed by Constance Stadler for Readers' Favorite:

"The Tale of the Little Lonely Hedgehog (Tales from the Bluebell Woods) begins on a note of happiness and a bit of anticipation on a beautiful spring day when Hedgehog decides it is time for a walk. As he begins his forest rambles, there is something unusual about this day. Along the way, friends such as Badger want to know why he hadn't said hello when he came by before. This query was somewhat confusing, as Hedgehog had not passed by his friend that day. However, there was much to see as he strolled down the familiar path. The abundance of children among his many friends created a sense of longing for a family of his own. As author Ian Humpheryes develops this character, Hedgehog proves himself a caring friend when a baby bird is in need. When he sees footprints that match his own, he is initially puzzled, but by the end of the tale, there are answers to all his questions.

The story centers on a theme in many children's books but is rarely the primary focus: how having a family can make the world joyously different. It also underscores that going out of your way to help others matters and having a giving nature makes you feel better about yourself. The gentle quality of the writing is one of the book's strengths, and the accompanying illustrations complement this tone. A curious child will gain much by reading Ian Humpheryes' creative and thoughtful book, such as considering aspects of their life that they likely haven’t appreciated as much as they should. The Tale of the Little Lonely Hedgehog will help the young reader learn invaluable life lessons while being wonderfully immersed in this enchanting tale."

The series Tales from the Bluebell Woods introduces animals you might find in a typical woodland. The main character is a wise Hedgehog who lives in a hollow log who has many friends in the woods around him.

In this story, it has been raining and raining for ages which eventually causes a stream to flood and endanger some the animals who live near it. Hedgehog with a little help from his friends saves the day and everyone is alright in the end.

Hedgehogs usually sleep through the long winter months but this year one sleepy Hedgehog woke up unexpectedly.

It was cold and strange snow stuff everywhere but more importantly there was something special in the air, something he had never seen before - Christmas.

Join the Hedgehog as he travels through the woods meeting friends and discovering more about this wonderful season.

Imagine you are living in a rockpool that is uncovered by the sea twice a day. Here you will meet lots of different animals that the sea brings in, sometimes dangers and don’t forget to watch out for the greedy seagulls!

This book meets a type of baby shark who looks scary to the animals in the rockpool and we learn why it is good to talk about our worries and fears.

At the end of each book, there is a page for adults to share with the readers that produce interesting facts about the animals or provide more depth on the issue depicted in the story.

I am a marine biologist working for over 40 years in this field and have a deep love and understanding for the animals and plants of our oceans. I spent much of my childhood ‘rock-pooling’ and this led me onto a lifelong career protecting and learning about the sea and its inhabitants. Maybe one child reading these books will feel inspired to learn more and explore the sea for themselves thus setting them on to a fantastic journey of discovery.

Imagine you are living in a rockpool that is uncovered by the sea twice a day. Here you will meet lots of different animals that the sea brings in, sometimes dangers and don’t forget to watch out for the greedy seagulls!

This book meets a beautiful animal that is hit on the head by a stone and has forgotten who they are and a cheeky hermit crab who loves to find new shells to live in.

At the end of each book, there is a page for adults to share with the readers that produce interesting facts about the animals or provide more depth on the issue depicted on the story.

I am a marine biologist working for over 40 years in this field and have a deep love and understanding for the animals and plants of our oceans. I spent much of my childhood ‘rock-pooling’ and this led me onto a lifelong career protecting and learning about the sea and its inhabitants. Maybe one child reading these books will feel inspired to learn more and explore the sea for themselves thus setting them on to a fantastic journey of discovery.