Horn Book (Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2012)

Ready to find a sweetheart on Valentine's Day, a hedgehog goes looking for someone to hug. Unfortunately, the other animals reject him because his prickles make hugging painful. Then Hannah the armadillo, who's impervious to prickles, writes him a note, "I like your spikes," and he gets his hug at last. Textured illustrations in vivid colors complete this brief, amusing, adult-geared story.

Kirkus Reviews

Dear Hedgehug eagerly anticipates Valentine's Day. But when he goes out, heart in hand, he finds his loving gestures are quite unwelcome. Pinto's first story comes from a set of drawings he made that later became a film. Now that film has been adapted into this picture book. There are books aplenty about hedgehogs and other prickly creatures having difficulty finding love. But the childlike, painterly look of the illustrations, along with Hedgehug's sweet determination, just may motivate readers to make room for this tale. Hedgehug appears so swept up in the excitement of sharing his valentine heart that he does not take time to properly get to know the objects of his rather instantaneous affection. Doris the Bunny and Edie the Owl are quite rude. With an "OUCH!" and an "ARGGGGHHH!", they rebuff his spiky embrace and reject his "stupid" and "silly" heart. Alone and dejected, he looks up to find a fearsome boar that delivers a loud "THUMP." Poor Hedgehug's heart is crumpled, and he learns a sharp lesson that "Love hurts." All seems lost until thick-skinned Hannah the armadillo appears on the scene. She has patched up the seemingly ruined valentine, which now reads, "i think you're special! P.S. I like your spikes." With just enough heart-beating action and well-placed sound effects, this could become a new holiday favorite for preschoolers still puzzling out how to best share their own feelings. (Picture book. 3-6)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

The third picture book published in recent months to deal with the romantic misadventures of a hedgehog or porcupine (along with Hugs from Pearl and Mr. Prickles), this debut offering is based on Pinto-s 2007 animated short of the same name. It-s February 13, and Hedgehug has big plans for the next day: -Tomorrow I-m going to be in love, he thought.- But when he tries to give various animals a homemade valentine (and a hug), it turns out that love hurts, both for the recipients (-You spiked me,- complains the bunny, Hedgehug-s quills poking out of her chest) and, in the case of a gruff boar, for Hedgehug himself. Pinto-s thickly painted cartoons effectively play up his long-suffering protagonist-s willingness to love, which he finds in the sweet finale. Up to age 7. (Dec.)

School Library Journal (Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2011)

Gr 5-7 Jefferson is a complicated figure. His contribution to the founding of our nation was immeasurable, but he was much less successful in managing his personal affairs. In this warts-and-all picture of the president, Miller recounts Jefferson's early life, his rise to prominence in the political arena, and his later years. In lucid prose, the author gives a thorough account of the achievements for which Jefferson is most famous, but also draws attention to the irony of his slave ownership (especially in his relations with the Hemings family), and makes ample reference to the man's extravagant lifestyle that led to serious debt. The well-chosen activities are age appropriate, relate directly to the text, and offer a range of options. Black-and-white photos and images of artifacts and period artwork illustrate the text. The page layout is attractive, with wide borders trimmed in color. Miller's book is a good choice for those looking for an honest appraisal of the man. Thomas Jefferson (DK, 2009) also mentions the president's slave ownership and his debt problems but handles both with a lighter touch. Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT