Hedgehog the wonder dog by Dannika Patterson and Ross Morgan

The child in bed cannot wait until Friday. He counts the sleeps until Friday comes around. On Friday Hedgehog visits. Through the week Hedgehog the wonder dog does what dogs do. She visits the cafe with Jo who must tell people what sort of dog she is when questioned because she looks unlike the other dogs and she puts up her paw to shake hands when commanded to sit, she rolls over when commanded to fetch.

On alternate pages we see the child in bed, a drinking cup with a straw, the occasional nurse, the beanie, and readers will gradually realise that this child is in hospital, seemingly as a long term patient. We see through the evocative illustrations the routine of simply staying in bed, a warmer day meaning the child can sit outside. His life is bookended by the appearance of Hedgehog on Fridays a welcome respite to the routine within the hospital room that is his home. Children will empathise with the child, restrained by an unknown illness, away from home, not seeing his family or his dog when he wishes to. Friday brings a welcome sight as Hedgehog arrives: just sitting with him if that is what he wants, bringing love into his world, sleeping with him if he is not able to do anything else, sometimes playing with her, telling her to fetch or roll over. Hedgehog is a wonder dog, able to sense what the child wants and work her magic accordingly.

The image of Hedgehog throughout the book will bring tears of laughter and recognition as readers see what the dog means to the child in hospital.

Each page showing the child in hospital gives another level of life as a patient, leading up to the last image of the child in a recliner, a drip in his arm.

Many readers will have some knowledge of hospitals but this book shows a ward mostly unknown, one with long term patients of their own age. The gentle illustrations are perfectly placed to contrast the restraints of life as a patient with the freedom of life at home where Hedgehog can do as he pleases. The illustrations are richly detailed and layered with the images of separation, while contrasting  life at hospital with that of being at home.

This warm and touching story of children with cancer, of therapy dogs, of the contrast between home and hospital, is an invaluable book to have at any time, but particularly when a child in the class has to spend time away from home. The story evokes the special needs of children for whom a hospital room is their home for a while and will give the readers some insight into their world. Teacher's notes are available.

Themes: Cancer, Hospital, Therapy dogs, Separation, Medical practice.

Fran Knight