Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The third picture book published in recent months to deal with the romantic misadventures of a hedgehog or porcupine (along with Hugs from Pearl and Mr. Prickles), this debut offering is based on Pinto's 2007 animated short of the same name. It's February 13, and Hedgehug has big plans for the next day: "Tomorrow I'm going to be in love, he thought." But when he tries to give various animals a homemade valentine (and a hug), it turns out that love hurts, both for the recipients ("You spiked me," complains the bunny, Hedgehug's quills poking out of her chest) and, in the case of a gruff boar, for Hedgehug himself. Pinto's thickly painted cartoons effectively play up his long-suffering protagonist's willingness to love, which he finds in the sweet finale. Up to age 7. (Dec.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Hedgehug has been waiting eagerly for Valentine's Day because he is certain he will fall in love on that day. He has even made a valentine to give to his special sweetheart when he finds her. However, when the day finally comes, Hedgehug runs into trouble. In quick succession, a bunny, an owl, and a boar all reject him when he tries to hug them. The boar adds insult to injury by butting him and ruining his valentine. But as Hedgehug turns to go home, very sad and lonely, there is a tap on his shoulder and an armadillo hands him his own discarded valentine with his name crossed out and hers added, saying "P.S. I like your spikes." The small book's illustrations are done in bright colors painted as if they were collages done by a very young child, and in a couple of cases the almost impressionistic pictures are a little hard to decipher. For instance, it is hard to tell at first that Hedgehug even has spikes. Patti Stren's Hug Me (HarperCollins, 2001) has a similar story line, but features a porcupine that wants hugs. An additional purchase.-Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
(Picture book. 3-6)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
