Reviewed by Susan Hancy
Hedgehog is a scruffy-looking mutt who rolls over when
told to fetch and shakes her paw when told to sit. Others tried to guess what
type of dog she is, but no one can see her superpowers except for Sam – a sick
boy in hospital counting down the sleeps until Friday, which is the day that Hedgehog
always comes to visit him.
Simply yet beautifully told, we learn about the
ordinary dog activities that Hedgehog does at home during the week, while Sam
goes through the routine associated with his long-term stay in hospital.
Thursdays are typically days that Sam undergoes testing, and we learn through
the illustrations by Ross Morgan that on some Fridays he undergoes chemotherapy.
That’s why it’s so important to him to have Hedgehog to snuggle with on Fridays
– for Hedgehog to just stay with Sam and to understand what’s going on for him.
This book was great for a discussion with my own kids
about children with cancer, what life in the hospital can be like for them and
how horrible chemotherapy can make them feel. The combination of story and
illustrations strikes a nice balance between presenting this sad situation
versus some of the more fun activities that Sam does to pass his time earlier
in the week and how he loves playing with Hedgehog when he comes to visit. The
final page shows Hedgehog and a bunch of other superhero dogs have successfully
passed on their superpowers to make their respective child owners into
superheroes, so my kids and I have chosen to believe that Sam has made a full
recovery.
Recommended for children aged 5 to 8 years.
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