Such a cute book! Hedgehog and Harry are great friends. Patience and acceptance are important parts of friendship and this book helps to demonstrate both. ( )

In three short stories, Hedgehog gets a new bike and then eventually goes riding with his friend Harry.

I like how this book essentially had three little vignettes that read nicely together but also could be read as separate stories with no issue. The illustrations are reminiscent of newspaper comic strips with their use of panels and conversation bubbles. The dialogue is simple enough that this title makes for a good book for relatively beginning readers while giving them the feeling of having read a big book.

The relationship between Hedgehog and Harry was sweet as both are clearly trying to be good friends. They also come up with clever solutions to fix their perceived problems. I do think it's odd that Hedgehog doesn't get a given name while Harry does, and Harry's species is not made more apparent (I'm guessing hamster or guinea pig?). Unfortunately, they are both male so once again girl readers get zero representation, even when it comes to talking animals. ( )

Hedgehog got a brand new bike. He want his best friend Harry to go riding with him but Harry doesn’t want to. ( )

This is another new title from the Acorn line from Scholastic. This one is an original and it's got a hedgehog and a guinea pig! Cuteness!

Hedgehog and Harry (it doesn't SAY they are a guinea pig, but they look like one to me. Also, they are not gendered, which is nice) are friends, much in the vein of Elephant and Piggie. Hedgehog is enthusiastic, eager to try new things, and wants his friend to come along. Harry is not so sure about new things and a little reluctant to step outside their comfort zone.

The first chapter features Hedgehog alone. He wants to ride his new bike, but he can't find his helmet! In the second chapter, the longest one, Hedgehog introduces Harry to his new bike. Harry is worried, first by the speed with which Harry approaches and then, gulp, Harry wants them to RIDE his bike! Harry finally admits that they can't ride without training wheels and Hedgehog cheerfully says "You will learn when you are ready." In the last chapter, the friends ride to Hedgehog's house and he finds the perfect snack for them to share.

At the end is an introduction to debut author Norm Feuti, a tutorial for drawing Hedgehog, and a few questions to encourage kids to tell their own story. The story is arranged in simple panels with broad white lines between them. Some illustrations are full-page and some are spot illustrations on a white background. Harry's speech bubbles are a pastel pink background and Hedgehog's are a light violet. The text is bold but not as large as a typical easy reader. It's about 300 in lexiles, so about the right level for a child moving to the upper end of easy readers.

Verdict: This is a light and fun addition to the new imprint, with gentle humor and an example of friendship and kindness.

ISBN: 9781338281392; Published 2019 by Scholastic; Purchased for the library