Finding friends isn't always easy, and the search for people to connect with can be a lonely one. In today's picture book you are going to meet an incredibly sweet little hedgehog who learns that she needs to find friendship, and who goes on an incredible journey to find it.
The Friend Ship
The Friend Ship
Kat Yeh
Illustrated by Chuck Groenink
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Disney Hyperion, 2016, 978-148470726-5
One day Hedgehog is lying curled up in a ball in “the
lonely little nook of a lonely little tree” when she hears two animals taking
about her. One animal tells the other that Hedgehog seems lonely, and then the
other animal says that things will be better when Hedgehog finds friendship.
All she has to do is to go and look for it.
Hedgehog is
inspired by this overheard conversation. The “Friend Ship” is out there waiting
for her and now she has to find it. Hedgehog quickly gets to work and builds a
boat. A beaver comes a long and asks her what she is doing. Hedgehog explains
that she will soon be setting off to find The Friend Ship. The beaver, who
wants a friend, asks if he can join Hedgehog in her quest, and she happily
agrees.
The two
travelers don’t travel far in their boat when they come across four deer.
Hedgehog asks the deer if they have seen The Friend Ship. The deer like the
idea of being on such a vessel; they would like to have friends too, and so
they ask if they can join Hedgehog and the beaver, who are happy to welcome the
deer on board.
Hedgehog and her
companions sail north and south. The head east as well, and every time they ask
someone if they have seen The Friend Ship the answer is no. Every time Hedgehog
is asked if an animal can join her quest she (and everyone else) always says
yes.
After a few days
of searching and asking, Hedgehog begins to lose hope, but the animals on the
ship with her don’t let her give up. They support and comfort her, telling her
that they will “stick with you till the end.”
This wonderful
picture book shows readers, in a sweet and gentle way, how sometimes the one
thing that we want the most in life can sometimes be found right under our
noses. In company with Hedgehog and her fellow travelers, we go on a wonderful
voyage of discovery and hope.
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