A hedgehog gets a sock stuck on his head, and to avoid embarrassment he tells the other farm animals it's his stylish new hat, starting a new fad that causes some inconvenience for the little girl of the farm. It's cute, but it's a slightly different but also slightly less satisfying spin on Jan Brett's previous and better book, The Mitten. ( )

I really enjoyed reading this book. The illustrations were very detailed and I thought it was really cool how there was foreshadowing images on each of the pages. The story is a good one to read to others about always being yourself and not being worried about fitting in all of the time. ( )

Jan Brett writes a beautiful story but the true star of the show are her gorgeous illustrations. I love how the stunning art in the central picture is augmented by the secondary story being told in the images in the side bar. She is a tee master of her craft. ( )

Folllwing the pattern of Brett's highly successful book The Mitten, this book gives reades another bunch of animals with a penchant for adopting human clothing to combat the winter cold. The adorable hedgehog who gets himself stuck to a wolly winter sock is a quick thinker - telling the other farm animals that he found himself a fantastic hat as he secretly struggles to extricate himself. By the time his spines are detangled the rest of the animals have adopted their own silly hats and the hedgehog is the last one laughing. ( )

Hedgie the hedgehog discovers the wisdom of the adage, "Don't go poking your nose where it doesn't belong" only after curiosity gets this prickly fellow in a pickle. When Lisa's red and white woolen stocking blows off the clothesline, Hedgie finds it and sticks his nose inside, only to discover his prickles prevent him from pulling out of it. Soon all the farm animals are coming around to chuckle at silly Hedgie's stocking hat. But in the end, nimble-witted Hedgie gets the last laugh. This magnificently illustrated companion book to artist (and hedgehog owner) Jan Brett's classic The Mitten was the winner of the prestigious 1998 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. Young readers can spend hours with this one short book, poring over the pleasing, spirited details of Brett's trademark picture borders. Throughout, Lisa can be seen in these artful frames, making preparations for the cold Scandinavian winter, never realizing that her clothesline is becoming more line than clothes. If it were possible to wrap oneself up in these warm, cozy illustrations, readers would be set for the winter. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter -- www.thriftbooks.com