Hedgehogs Don’t Eat Hamburgers

Vivian French's Hedgehogs Don't Eat Hamburgers is two sing-song, funny stories for 6 year olds about a little hedgehog who's very sure of himself.

What happens

Hector sees a picture of a hamburger on a paper bag and decides that's what he wants for tea. His dad tells him hedgehogs don't eat hamburgers. "I do," says Hector, and off he goes to find one.

Along the way he collects his friends. Hattie offers him fine fat snails. Harry offers slow slimy slugs. Hester offers big black beetles. Everyone tells him the same thing, and every time Hector says, "I do." And off they all go, singing "Here we go, here we go, here we go".

Then Fox pops out and kindly offers to show them the way (he licks his lips while he does it). Who's going to spot what Fox is really after before Hector does?

In the second story Hector makes up a cheeky song about Big Bad Badger. Everyone else is busy listening out for things that wriggle and rustle and creep. Hector is far too busy singing. So when the four of them climb up on a wall to sing it at the top of their voices, guess who's waiting at the bottom?

Hector's quick thinking is the best bit. He changes the words of his song SO fast.

These are perfect for a child who's just starting to read on their own. The repeating lines mean they'll soon be joining in and guessing what comes next, and the lists of snails, slugs and beetles are great fun to say out loud. There's a little lesson tucked in too, about listening and not showing off, but it never feels like one.

Who doesn't know a small person with very firm views on what's for tea? There's lovely comfort in the ending of each story as well, with everyone safely home and tucking into grubs.

Nothing here is too scary. Fox gets a nose full of prickles and runs all the way home to his mummy.

What to read next

If they'd like another very young animal who gets himself in a muddle, try Morris and the Cat Flap, about a fat ginger kitten who's sure the new cat flap is going to snap his tail off.