Quigley the Quiet Hedgehog
Quigley the Quiet Hedgehog
Author: Claudine Norden
Illustrator: Bonnie Wiegand
Publisher: Hoberman, 2018
Format: Hardback
Price: $14.95
Ages: 4-8
I was generously gifted the book Quigley the Quiet Hedgehog by the author Claudine Norden. This review expresses my thoughts on her book. This review is part of Multicultural Children’s Book Day, occurring on January 29, 2021.
Quigley is a tiny, quiet hedgehog, but this does not prevent her from having a healthy dose of self-confidence. She* understands that it is her nature to stand back and watch things unfold, processing them at a pace comfortable for her. Quigley knows this may be different from others, but she also has a place in the world. She does not need to shout, as she knows, “I am seen. I have clout.” And she confidently states, “Shy is cautious, I don’t have shame.”
Quigley describes how she enjoys reading and playing on her own. She explains, “My adventures are my own, when I create…my mind has grown!” She requests, “Give me space to just be me.” And lets the reader know, “I’m okay all by myself. In fact, it’s really good for my health.”
Thoughtful illustrations by Bonnie Wiegard play an important role in communicating Quigley’s messages since the book contains sparse, selective text. Pictures provide information and context that bring the story to life. The illustrator has perfectly captured the story’s tone, creating drawings that look like pages from a coloring book. And the use of watercolors gives the appearance of a child coloring with a crayon.
Diversity comes in all forms, but this is the first book I have read about introverts. I am happy to see this as I was timid as a child and young adult. Outgoing people find it hard to understand introverts,which often leads to marginalization. This book explains why a person is introverted and that, despite this trait, still has a lot to offer the world. Written by an author who is an extrovert mother to an introverted child, this book helps the reader see into and make sense of the world of introverts. With understanding comes caring, respect, empathy, and inclusion.
This book does a great job of imparting an important message in a kid-friendly way through story and art. With an author’s note in the back and other resources provided, this book is a valuable asset to parents and educators. Highly recommended!
*Note, I believe the author purposely left the gender of the main character ambiguous so that all children could identify with Quigley. However, since the author dedicated the book to her daughter, and for simplicity, I have used female pronouns to refer to Quigley.
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