The Adventures of Henry the Hedgehog is a children’s picture book written by Renea Skelton and illustrated by Kylie Box. When Henry meets a sad skunk named Shelly, he sits with her and learns why she is so sad. Shelly tells of the bullying and stereotyping she hears from other animals each and every day, all of which makes her very depressed. Not only does Shelly wish she was something other than a skunk, but she feels very much alone. Henry is shocked to hear of how his friends treat Shelly and when one of them insults her in his presence, Henry is very disappointed. Shelly is touched by how much Henry cares about her sorrow, and soon learns to stand up for herself.

This amazing children’s tale hit very close to home for me. Being bullied is hard and it takes a lot of courage to stand up to bullies. Renea Skelton’s beautifully written tale teaches children and adults alike that each individual, whether an animal or a human being, is unique and has a beauty about themselves which cannot be duplicated. A simple act of kindness is all it takes to not only remove the stressful wall which makes so many people - young and old - feel isolated but also to make them feel loved and accepted for who they are. The illustrations brought The Adventures of Henry the Hedgehog beautifully to life and the tale, along with the eye-opening facts about skunks, made me want to add this wonderful picture book to my children’s library at home. I very much recommend The Adventures of Henry the Hedgehog not only to children of early reading age but also to parents of children who want to teach their child acceptance, love, and friendship toward others.

The Adventures of Henry the Hedgehog: The Watering Hole by Dr. Renea Skelton is a 30-page, colorful children’s illustrated book for young readers of all ages. It also provides useful guidelines for parents and teachers at the end of the book to help children with their negative feelings. This story’s primary characters are Henry, a hedgehog, and his friend Shelly, a skunk. Henry’s day is going fine until he finds Shelly in a state of sadness and depression. Through his friendship, he helps Shelly see her value and helps her to accept herself as she is, no matter the negative opinions of others she must deal with all the time.

All kids go through periods of sadness and other negative emotions; that’s just life here on planet Earth. But what this book attempts to show children is how important they are. Taking Shelly as an example, the story lists important facts about her life cycle (in how long skunks live), their environments, and other interesting tidbits about their lives. And since the “stink” part here is an issue in this book, it goes on to explain how that very quality can help save a skunk’s life. I think that The Adventures of Henry the Hedgehog: The Watering Hole by Dr. Renea Skelton would be most effective if parents and teachers take a leadership role and use the suggestions provided. That way it isn’t just a cute story of two friends who help each other; rather it becomes a gateway of sorts. A guide to help children move from negative emotions and feelings to those of self-acceptance and worth. Highly recommended.