Little Lost Hedgehog (RSPCA Fiction) by Jill Hucklesby
| Little Lost Hedgehog (RSPCA Fiction) by Jill Hucklesby | |
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| Category: Confident Readers | |
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Reviewer: Sue Magee
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| Summary: The first in a promising series looking at animal rescue for young readers. Recommended for boys or girls. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 144 | Date: January 2013 |
| Publisher: Scholastic | |
| ISBN: 978-1407133218 | |
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Grace Fallon was out in her garden one evening, doing what she did every night - making certain that her pet rabbits were fed, watered and safe. When she saw a movement in the flower bed she went to investigate and found a baby hedgehog - or a hoglet as they're correctly called. Wisely she didn't attempt to touch the animal but told her parents and then kept watch from inside the house. When the hoglet reappeared and looked rather distressed her mother rang the RSPCA and was told to give it some food - dog food and crushed dog biscuits (NEVER milk as it can make any hog very sick). Later someone from the RSPCA came round to collect the hoglet and take it to their centre for care.
It's a remarkably detailed story about the life of the Fallon family, how they came to rescue the hoglet and what happened afterwards. I've been involved in hedgehog care and can vouch for the fact that it's also essentially accurate, although the purist in me would have liked a little more emphasis on when hogs should be 'rescued' and when they should be left to their own devices. Many a feeding mother has been 'rescued' - leaving her young unfed. I did like that the point was made that hogs should be returned to the location from which they came, if at all possible.
It's a good story with the points being gently woven through the narrative - at no point does it seem preachy or too worthy. It's very easy reading too and ideally suited for the seven plus age group. The 'heroine' is a girl but there's nothing about the story which is too girly for it to be enjoyed by a boy.
For every book sold a minimum of 15p will be donated to the RSPCA. Little Lost Hedgehog is part of a series and we've also seen Lamb All Alone by Katie Davies and Puppy Gets Stuck by Sue Mongredien both of which we can also recommend.
We'd like to thank the publishers for sending copies to the Bookbag.
Children who enjoy this type of book will also appreciate Archie the Guide Dog Puppy: Hero in Training by Sam Hay. Younger children who would like to know more about hedgehogs will love Rabbit's Wish by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Little Lost Hedgehog (RSPCA Fiction) by Jill Hucklesby at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
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