Hedgehog the Wonder Dog (Dannika Patterson, illus by Ross Morgan, Ford Street)

Hedgehog the Wonder Dog is a picture book with a beautiful aura around it, both visually and figuratively, telling a tender and soul-soothing story of the power of connection—in this case, the healing power of dogs. Dannika Patterson’s heartwarming, flowing text featuring alliteration and assonance, together with the evocative illustrations by Ross Morgan, shed a delicate light on childhood illness and treatment in a playful, spirited tone. The ‘extraordinary’ anything-but-ordinary Hedgehog may look curious to outsiders, but her owner, Jo, and child narrator, Sam, understand she is a ‘Wonder Dog’. While Hedgehog engages in daily adventures at the cafe, dog park, beach and in the garden, in a parallel yet contrasting world, Sam counts down the days of the week with hospital routines until it’s ‘superpower’ time with the fun-loving pooch. Hedgehog is illuminated with a magical, rainbow glow, while her surroundings and the hospital are etched with soft pencil lines and shading in deep crimson and navy paints mixed with digital art. Colourful, happy child-like pen drawings line the walls, signifying Sam’s uplifting moments. Hedgehog the Wonder Dog offers love, hope and reassurance to readers from age five and is a wonderful resource for educators, parents and medical staff, exemplifying the ‘extraordinary’ benefits of therapy dogs.

Romi Sharp is a picture book writer and digital marketer for children’s authors and publishers. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Category: Junior Reviews Think Australian top reviews