The Hedgehog Feast

by Edith Holden (Illustrator)

It was Autumn — the evenings were drawing in and the leaves were beginning to fall. Hugh and Hilda Hedgehog were to give a grand hibernation party the next day and all the arrangements had to be made! There were invitations to write and deliver and, of course, they had to decide what foods they were going to have...

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction

25 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Edith Blackwell Holden (September 26, 1871 – March 16, 1920) was born at Kings Norton, Worcester, in 1871, one of seven children of a Midlands paint manufacturer. The family lived in the small village of Olton in Warwickshire and it was there that she wrote and illustrated her book, The Country Diary of An Edwardian Lady. After attending art school, she worked as an illustrator, with her drawings (often of animals) being published in several books.

She later moved to London, and in 1911 met and married Ernest Smith, a sculptor; they lived in Chelsea, and had no children. On March 16th 1920, in her 49th year, Edith died tragically by drowning in the Thames at Kew, while gathering buds from chestnut trees.

Reviews

[Sheila]

This was my FAVORITE book as a kid. The images are beautiful and the characters are so engaging. It's a geat story about family and celebrations.

[Lisa Macklem]

Beautiful art. Drawn by Edith Holden around 1911, her water colours had the story added by her great niece. It's a fanciful little story, much in the vein of Beatrix Potter - unsurprisingly.

[Emily]

Simply beautiful!

[Natalie]

Edith Holden's old illustrations have been put together in a story written by her great niece. I think it would have been better if Edith could have told the story to accompany her illustrations, but unfortunately she died before that could ever happen.

[Sw33t_heart89]

Beautiful illustrations, the story is simple!

[Ashlea Marshall]

Lovely illustrations! I wish it were a bit longer, but that was probably limited by available illustrations after the author's death.

[Felicity Terry]

Painted Circa 1911 by Edith Holden famous for her The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady, the words added at a later date by her niece, Rowena Stott, I'm so excited to add The Hedgehog Feast to my collection of books featuring hedgehogs.

This is a truly sweet story; a perfect autumnal read as we follow the preparations pre-hibernation of Hugh and Hazel Hedgehog and their three children who are joined by their various animal friends.

Delightfully quaint. The illustrations (one of which is featured above right), of which there are a full-page coloured one and a smaller pen and ink drawing for every page of text, are beautiful; the story, engaging and a great introduction to the caring of our animal friends.

Copyright ... Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper

[Susan]

This is a cute little book about animals preparing for hibernation. The artist, Edith Holden, is well-known for her The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady, and the story to go with the drawings was written by her grandniece.

[R.L.T.K. Reginald]

A masterpiece within it's genre; utterly riveting, a must read.