Hey there, Book Learners!
It’s officially spring, and even in Michigan, we seem to be moseying our way toward warmer weather.
This is cause for celebration in and of itself, but to make things even better, we also have a new book that just hit the shelves!
Check out the Kirkus review of Herodotus the Hedgehog!
Herodotus the Hedgehog is the charming story of a hedgehog named—you guessed it—Herodotus!
Herodotus is curious about the world and everything in it.
When he sees a bear in the forest leaving an offering of fruit and honey for the Mighty Bear Spirit, Herodotus is fascinated—he’s never heard of a Great Spirit before.
As Herodotus talks with the other animals in the forest, he finds out that they all have different beliefs. But eventually, he must decide what he himself believes in.
What I love about Herodotus the Hedgehog is how open and sincere it is. Because Herodotus is so keen to listen and understand others, the book encourages friendly, empathetic conversation.
So if you’d like to use this book in a classroom, or just want to get more out of it, check out these discussion questions:
- Herodotus is curious about many different things, and he likes to observe his surroundings and ask questions. Is there something that you’re curious about or interested in learning more about? How do you go about gathering information on a new topic or idea?
- Herodotus listens carefully to everyone’s ideas before deciding what he believes in. Do you have strongly held ideas or opinions? How did you form them? Do you talk about them with others?
- Hoopoe and Crow start arguing about whose beliefs are right. Can you think of some real-world examples of this? Do you think it’s possible for people to talk about important topics like religion or politics without arguing? If so, how?
- After talking to all the animals, Herodotus does some quiet thinking by himself. How can meditating or sitting in silence help you to think clearly? What conclusion do you think Herodotus comes to after he’s done thinking?
- Herodotus the hedgehog shares a name with an ancient Greek historian. Do some research on Herodotus the human. Are there any similarities between the two Herodotuses?
Purchase Herodotus the Hedgehog at Eerdmans.com, Amazon, or your local independent bookstore.
