I stumbled upon this quirky little book about a hedgehog when my daughter was just a year old. To be honest, it was a bit pricey (around 500 rubles), and I wasn't immediately sold on buying it, but I just couldn't shake it off. I ended up closing the Wildberries page, but I couldn't get it out of my head. A bit later, I went back and finally made the purchase.
This series features two books in this format: 'Hedgehog Seeks Mom' and 'Mouse Seeks Home' by the same author, Julia Vesyova.
I really liked both of them, but I just couldn't decide which one to choose. After a lot of deliberation, I settled on the hedgehog. At first, it seemed more charming than the mouse, but the psychological aspect worried me - wouldn't it scare my little one that the hedgehog lost its mom? But later, I thought that maybe it could actually be a good thing to discuss and play with during reading.
So, the book 'Hedgehog Seeks Mom' was eventually purchased with some effort.
Just look at how adorable this character is! How could I resist it? Even while ordering, I imagined my daughter's reaction and how she'd point at it with her finger.
The book is colorful, with cute illustrations.
Main characters: hedgehog and owl.
The story is about a hedgehog who went for a walk with its mom, got distracted, and got lost.
My mom and I went for a walk, and I started playing around,And... I got lost, and... I got lost...
A friendly owl they met on the way helps the hedgehog find its way.
And... I'm so happy!
I'm so happy to have found my way!
I love how the little hedgehog experiences a whole range of emotions in this story: fear, wonder, sadness, anger, and joy.
This little reader can learn to recognize and experience these emotions alongside the little hedgehog, thanks to this book.
I found the story to be engaging and easy to read, told in a poetic form.
The book is made of thick cardboard, but not as thick as the one in the book about the teddy bear. There's no plastic coating on the pages, and the corners got a bit rough. Unfortunately, there's no water or tooth protection, although it's hard to rip it apart, except for the windows, which I think can be easily removed if you want to.
Size: 17*17 cm
The book is relatively compact.
Features:
'Hedgehog looks for mom' is a unique book, and its main feature is the built-in rotating disk that allows you to change the hedgehog's eyes and create different emotions.
It looks like a little gear, and that's what the whole system rotates:
Each page turn is made on one template: on the left, there's the text with regular pictures and an opening window, and on the right, there's the hedgehog with holes around its eyes and a signed emotion, which the hedgehog experiences in this part of the story.
Age restriction: 3+. That's what's stated on the book cover. However, the product card on the marketplace had a restriction of '1+ '
Our experience with the book:
I guess my daughter's initial reactions were a bit different than what I expected... Yeah, she liked the little hedgehog and the windows, but at the time, this book didn't have the original gear, changing eyes, or even the windows that really caught her attention. There was no expected excitement... And for some reason, she quickly lost interest in the book. We'd occasionally flip through it, look at the pictures, and open the windows, but that was it – it would sit on the shelf for a while, and she just wasn't interested. I was surprised.
Later on, she developed an interest, but that happened closer to two years old, I think. At the time of purchase, my little one wasn't mature enough for this book yet. Now, we periodically read this story, and she opens the windows with interest, finds some of them amusing, comments on them, and spins the wheel. Sometimes she'll take it off the shelf herself and ask to read it. That's what they mean by 'giving it time'!
I really like this book, and the kid seems to enjoy it too, even if it took a while to grow on her.
My concerns about the storyline were unwarranted. The story didn't scare her.
This book about a hedgehog can teach a child that it's not a good idea to run away from mom during a walk. But if you do get lost, mom will definitely find you, which is also important. We've used this story as a great example to discuss things like that with our child.
The ability to choose eyes that match the situation is super helpful in developing emotional intelligence. As we read through the story, I usually ask my daughter, 'What's the hedgehog feeling in this situation? What emotion is he experiencing?' and she responds.
While the facial expressions can be a bit hit or miss, I love watching the little one spin the wheel and create these adorable, sometimes unexpected, facial expressions – it's so much fun!
During our playtime, I often take turns adjusting the facial expressions and asking questions, or vice versa, trying to guess the emotion. There are so many ways to interact with this book!
So, let me summarize all the goodies:
+ The book is super compact
+ The story is engaging, with lovable characters
+ The illustrations are vibrant and colorful
+ The book has interactive windows
+ The original feature of the spinning wheel is a great way to develop fine motor skills
+ It also helps develop emotional intelligence and teaches kids to recognize emotions.
As for the downsides, I wouldn't say there are any major complaints. I think it's worth noting that younger kids might not fully understand the concept – that's why age restrictions are in place, right?
I highly recommend this book – it's both fun and educational!
Want to check out our other favorite books? Here are some reviews:
❤️Playing with Papa. Sandra Grimm
❤️I Can Do It! The Pot. A Book for Grown-Up Boys. Heidi Howarth
❤️Kitten Shmyak Conquered Our Hearts. One of the Stories from This Book Helped My Daughter Overcome Fears
❤️Kitten Shmyak and Sea Stories. Rob Scotton
❤️ Shmyak. Sweet or Sour. Rob Scotton
❤️The Big Book of Useful Tales. Elena Ulyeva
But what really sets this product apart is the customer support. I had a question about the return policy, and I was blown away by how quickly and helpfully they responded. They even threw in a few extra tips on how to get the most out of my purchase. I've never experienced customer support like that before, and it's definitely added a ton of value to my overall experience.