This companion picture book to Before we sleep brings back charming Little Red and his friend Hazel the dormouse, but also a new character, Brock the badger. Little Red is enjoying the sighs and smells of spring and thinking of a special surprise for Hazel, when she awakens from hibernation. But Little Red has a big worry too; during winter he made friends with Brock the badger. What if Hazel likes him better? So Little Red hides his new friendship and tries to pretend that nothing has changed. Of course, Hazel starts noticing that Little Red is acting strange, and eventually the three do meet with happy results.
This is a lengthier picture book, translated from the Italian, and the text is a little clunky. It's not something I'd grab off the shelf for a read-aloud. However, the real draw for me is the lovely illustrations. The sleek red fox, stripy badger, adorable teapot house Hazel lives in, are all charmingly set in lush green meadows sparkling with poppies, dandelions, and other flowers. It's a soothing and comforting story with all the lovely colors of spring.
Verdict: This would make a good one-on-one read aloud for a listener who can sit still for longer stories or a special gift for a child who likes nature illustrations.
ISBN: 9781636550282; Published March 2022 by Red Comet Press; Review copy provided by publisher; Kept for my personal collection
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