The Hedgehog's Dilemma and The Cricket's Healing

By: Toon Tellegen, David Colmer

Narrated by: Matt Addis

The Hedgehog's Dilemma: The hedgehog is feeling rather lonely, so one day he decides to invite all the other animals for a party. But the hedgehog is also rather a shy, reserved animal and is terribly worried about doing or saying something he shouldn't, and about all the things that could go wrong.

What if nobody comes? What if too many of them come? What if the elephant shows up and breaks all the furniture? Will anyone be able to hear the hedgehog talk above the frog's croaking? Maybe inviting the others over wasn't such a good idea after all ...

The Cricket's Healing: One day, the cricket notices a strange feeling in his head – a heavy, unwavering feeling. The animals start calling him 'the gloomy cricket'. Only after a long time and a lot of effort does that feeling disappear from his head again.

©1999, 2014 Toon Tellegen (P)2026 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

'Toon Tellegen's stories provide endless pleasure.' (on The Hedgehog's Dilemma) (Die Zeit)

'Those in search of a cosy, gently delivered philosophy will melt.' (on The Hedgehog's Dilemma) (Financial Times)

'The spiky little mammals can never get close to each other, but this novel urges us to put away our prickles.' (on The Hedgehog's Dilemma) (Sunday Times)