Hedgehog's Magic Tricks [Hardcover]

A gentle picture book demonstrates that sometimes a little help from friends is all the magic you need.

Like many amateur magicians, Hedgehog finds that his tricks don’t always proceed as planned. Mouse doesn’t quite disappear, Rabbit (being larger than Hedgehog) is difficult to pull from the hat, and Duckling is not quite brave enough to endure a turn as magician’s helper. But when Hedgehog’s friends see how sad he is, they provide a surprise that results in everyone agreeing that Hedgehog is very good at magic after all. Preschoolers will delight in the sweet illustrations and in seeing what Hedgehog doesn’t — his friends helping to make his day magical.In story and artwork as delicate as milkweed floss, Paul tells the story of young Hedgehog’s tribulations as a budding magician...The story has a sweetness that can’t be denied, and the artwork is both delicate, as if painted on bone china, and transporting: For all its etherealness, you could take a bite out of the cake.
—Kirkus Reviews

At its heart, this gentle story is about empathy—always a good lesson for kids learning the push and pull of a social world.
—Booklist Online

A sweet story about the magic of friendship.
—School Library Journal

A charming story with equally delightful illustrations, this selection on friendship and kindness is lovely.
—GreatestBooksForKids.com (syndicated by Kendal Rautzhan)Ruth Paulis an award-winning author and illustrator from New Zealand. She draws on everyday life for inspiration and ideas, and is particularly interested in how people get along. She lives in the country with her husband and two young sons in a straw-bale house powered by its own remote electricity system.CN