Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation for this review. I hope Hodge received some compensation for his grief. Cover art is copyright Worthwhile Books.

This book is about a hedgehog called Hodge who lives in a hedge. All he wants is to be left alone. Then one day a little entitled mouse come along and asks to move in. No, he does not ask for some shelter from the bitter storm, à la weirdo woman in Beauty and the Beast. He wants to be Hodge’s permanent roommate. Excuse you?!

Hodge tells the little mouse to go away. The hedge is his. It legally belongs to him. This little mouse clearly cannot pay rent and has no intention to get a job to do so. Even then, Hodge does not want a roommate. Be gone, rodent!

What does the mouse do? Well, he and the other creatures in the forest decide to teach Hodge the wonders of sharing…by breaking and entering into his house. What sort of mixed-up moral is this? Who is trying to teach children to violate the personal property of hedgehogs? I am horrified.

The book admittedly has a nice rhyming scheme and rhythmic bounce. The autumn colours are very pretty and the ambiance of the story is homey and cosy.

Hodge the Hedgehog is not a bad read, if you ignore the fact that there is some seriously messed-up stuff going on in the story. Recommended for fans of other miscreants like The Cat in the Hat.