Hedgehog the Wonder Dog is a picture book full of heart, hope and furry, four-legged love. It is a tender story about the healing power of therapy dogs and the courage of brave kids undergoing treatment in hospital.
Anyone can see that Hedgehog is no ordinary dog. Tell her to sit and she'll shake a paw; tell her to fetch and she rolls over. But it's only children like Sam who can sense her true superpowers. Told through a dual narrative, the story follows Hedgehog's week of ordinary adventures. She visits the café, the dog park, the beach, the garden with her handler, Jo. This is contrasted alongside Sam's parallel week of hospital routines, as he counts down the sleeps until Friday, when Hedgehog visits him in hospital. No matter what kind of Friday Sam is having, Hedgehog makes him smile and brings comfort.
Written by Dannika Patterson in flowing prose peppered with alliteration and assonance, and illustrated by Ross Morgan in richly layered pencil, paint and digital work, this is a book that handles childhood illness and hospital treatment with enormous delicacy. Hedgehog glows in warm rainbow light; Sam's world is rendered in deeper crimson and navy, softened by his own bright child-like drawings on the walls.
Writing for Books+Publishing, reviewer Romi Sharp described the book as having a beautiful aura, both visually and figuratively, and called it a soul-soothing story about the power of connection. Sharp recommends it as a resource for educators, parents and medical staff. Reviewing for Reading Time, Pamela Ueckerman described it as a sweet, subtle and beautifully written story about the comfort and healing a companion animal can bring.
Hedgehog the Wonder Dog was shortlisted for the 2023 Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards.
It's a valuable comfort read for children facing hospital stays or treatment, and a warm, accessible way into conversations about illness, empathy and the extraordinary work of therapy animals.
Curriculum links include narrative writing, literary devices, days of the week and counting. A full set of teaching notes is available for this title, via author Dannika Patterson’s website as well as Ford Street Publishing’s website.
Hedgehog the Wonder Dog is a picture book full of heart, hope and furry, four-legged love. It is a tender story about the healing power of therapy dogs and the courage of brave kids undergoing treatment in hospital.
Anyone can see that Hedgehog is no ordinary dog. Tell her to sit and she'll shake a paw; tell her to fetch and she rolls over. But it's only children like Sam who can sense her true superpowers. Told through a dual narrative, the story follows Hedgehog's week of ordinary adventures. She visits the café, the dog park, the beach, the garden with her handler, Jo. This is contrasted alongside Sam's parallel week of hospital routines, as he counts down the sleeps until Friday, when Hedgehog visits him in hospital. No matter what kind of Friday Sam is having, Hedgehog makes him smile and brings comfort.
Written by Dannika Patterson in flowing prose peppered with alliteration and assonance, and illustrated by Ross Morgan in richly layered pencil, paint and digital work, this is a book that handles childhood illness and hospital treatment with enormous delicacy. Hedgehog glows in warm rainbow light; Sam's world is rendered in deeper crimson and navy, softened by his own bright child-like drawings on the walls.
Writing for Books+Publishing, reviewer Romi Sharp described the book as having a beautiful aura, both visually and figuratively, and called it a soul-soothing story about the power of connection. Sharp recommends it as a resource for educators, parents and medical staff. Reviewing for Reading Time, Pamela Ueckerman described it as a sweet, subtle and beautifully written story about the comfort and healing a companion animal can bring.
Hedgehog the Wonder Dog was shortlisted for the 2023 Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards.
It's a valuable comfort read for children facing hospital stays or treatment, and a warm, accessible way into conversations about illness, empathy and the extraordinary work of therapy animals.
Curriculum links include narrative writing, literary devices, days of the week and counting. A full set of teaching notes is available for this title, via author Dannika Patterson’s website as well as Ford Street Publishing’s website.
