Mr. Prickly - by Betina Birkjær (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

From the author of Monster-Scared and the duo behind Coffee, Rabbit, Snowdrop, Lost (a 2022 Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Book) comes a charming, beautifully illustrated story about being kind to yourself when things pile up.

There is so much for Mr. Prickly to do before hibernation: rake the leaves, fix the chair that tilts, put in one last load of darks before winter... He tries to tackle his chores as efficiently as his neighbors, but it's an awfully long to-do list for a hedgehog.

Then a gust of wind pushes through the window, whirling everything around, even the words on his list. His heart begins to thump--what was he supposed to do? Rake the laundry? Wash the leaves? Will he be able to finish his list on time?

Mr. Prickly is a sweet and humorous spin on the tasks we struggle to tackle--and how the light of the morning can turn everything around.

Review Quotes

"A sympathetic exploration of the dance between agency and anxiety in conquering a common childhood fear."--Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"This perceptive exploration of big feelings both allows the protagonist to take actions that validate their experience and lets readers know they're not alone."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Betina Birkjær made her debut as a children's author in 2014. She has a degree in drama and trained as a scenic artist. Since 2004, she has worked as a performer, and since 2011, as an installation artist. Additionally, in 2005, she began working with the Spanish theater group Teatro de los Sentidos, and she is also the artistic director of Luna Park Performing Arts. Her English-language debut, Coffee, Rabbit, Snowdrop, Lost, was a 2022 Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Book.

Anna Margrethe Kjærgaard is a well-established Danish illustrator. She trained at the Danish School of Design and Akademia Sztuk Pieknich in Poland. She has illustrated many stories, easy-readers, and picture books. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Danish Ministry of Culture's illustrator award.