Match Made in Heaven: Hedgehug--A Sharp Lesson In Love by Benn Sutton

HEDGEHOG SAT AT HIS TABLE DRAWING RED CRAYON HEARTS.

TOMORROW WAS VALENTINE'S DAY, THE DAY HE HAD BEEN WAITING AND WAITING FOR.

"TOMORROW I AM GOING TO BE IN LOVE," HE SAID.

Hedgehog hopefully sets forth with his Valentine heart in hand, his heart on his sleeve, so to speak, believing as he says, "Love is everywhere!"

Looking for the object of his affections, he spots a pretty little white bunny sitting alone in the snow. He gives her a big red heart and a hug and gets a strong response, all right!

"OUCH!"

Bunny blows him off, throwing his crayoned heart down behind her as she stomps away.

Undeterred, Hedgehog moves on to try the same opening moves with Owl and Boar, with similar results.

"LOVE HURTS!"

His homemade Valentine heart is ripped and his own heart seems broken. Then he meets up with just the right honey of a lady with whom to share his hugs--Hannah Armadillo, who, not surprisingly, doesn't mind hedgehog hugs at all.

Dan Pinto and Benn Sutton's lookin'-for-love-in-all-the-wrong-places story, Hedgehug: A Sharp Lesson in Love (HarperCollins) is a sweet story of finding just the right Valentine in time for the big day. Love, it seems, is more than skin deep--but a thick skin helps!

Pinto's illustrations are done up in appealingly childlike style and the text is simple enough for early readers to negotiate.  Pair this one with either of two other lonely prickly guy tales, Paul Schmid's Hugs from Pearl (see my review here.) or Scott Magoon's Mr. Prickles: A Quill-Fated Love Story. (see review here.)