[Ad-gifted] As a mum to a four-year-old, I’m always a bit wary of “birthday books” because they can set expectations quite high. The Birthday: A Big Hedgehog and Little Hedgehog Adventure by Britta Teckentrup, actually does the opposite, and that’s what makes it stand out.
Published by Prestel The story follows Little Hedgehog on their birthday. They wake up full of excitement, expecting something special to happen. But as the day goes on, nothing seems to be happening at all. No visitors arrive, no big celebration appears, and you can feel Little Hedgehog becoming more and more confused and disappointed.
Big Hedgehog gently carries on with the day, trying to keep things calm and reassuring, but you really feel that build-up of emotion that young children get when something they’ve been looking forward to doesn’t happen how they imagined.
Then, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that something has been planned after all. The ending brings everything together in a lovely, understated way, showing that Little Hedgehog is cared for and remembered, just not in the big, obvious way they expected.
What Did We Think of The Birthday Book?
I really enjoyed this story, it felt very true to how children experience things and sparked some cute conversations at bedtime with Kitt reminiscing about his own birthday back in January.
What I liked most is that it doesn’t rush past those disappointed feelings, it sits with them which gives you a chance to talk about those feelings with your child. That’s quite rare in children’s books, especially around birthdays where everything is usually lovely but can be quite confusing for a child.
The message is subtle but important and it shows that love and thoughtfulness don’t always look how we expect them to, and that was something I really connected with as a parent.
The illustrations are soft and calming, which works really well alongside the story. They’re not overly busy, so younger children can follow along easily, but there’s still enough there to keep them engaged and to spark additional conversation as the story unfolds.
If I had one small criticism, it’s that some children might find the “nothing is happening” part a bit frustrating if they’re expecting a typical birthday story. But that’s probably where the value of the book is, especially if you’re reading it together and talking it through.
Overall, this is a gentle, emotionally aware book. It’s less about parties and presents and more about feelings and reassurance. For me, that makes it a special one to read with Kitt, especially around birthdays or when he’s building something up in his head and it doesn’t quite go to plan.
How much does The Birthday book cost and where can I buy it?
The Birthday: A Big Hedgehog and Little Hedgehog Adventure costs £10.65 and you can buy it from Amazon, here. Do check the price on the website, as this might change.
About The Birthday Book
Publisher : Prestel
Pring Length : 32 pages
ISBN-13 : 978-3791376431
Item weight: 402g
Reading age : 3 – 7 years
Dimensions : 22.23 x 0.99 x 29.21 cm
About the Author
Britta Teckentrup is an acclaimed German author, illustrator and fine artist who has created over 120 children’s picture books translated into more than 30 languages. Known for her distinctive, textured style using collage and paper-cutting techniques, she is best known for The Memory Tree and the nature-themed Peek-Through series.
Review by: Becky McManus
You may also want to read this:
Children’s Book Review: The Rug Bear by Emma Rattray
Children’s Book Review: How to Draw Cute Animals Drawings
Children’s Book Review: Bobby and Bubba‘s Small Adventures
* We were sent a copy of the book for free in return for a review. All opinions are our own.
