Norman didn't do it! (yes he did) by Ryan T Higgins

"Norman was a porcupine. Norman's best friend was Mildred. Mildred was a tree."

Norman has always done everything with Mildred - games, reading bedtime stories and talking. BUT one day another tree pops up out of the ground. 

"Suddenly, it was no longer just Norman and Mildred. Now it was Norman and Mildred and the other tree. This did not sit well with Norman."

Over time we watch as the other tree grows taller and seemingly closer until one day their leaves touch. For Norman this is the last straw! (Even though in this case there were no straws. Just branches.)

Norman is desperate so he makes a plan. He needs to get rid of this other tree - can you guess what he does? He digs it up and transplants it very very very far away on a tiny island in the middle of the river. BUT now Norman feels dreadful. He feels guilty. And should he think about how Mildred might be feeling. And what about the other tree all alone so far away. Oh and what if someone saw him move the little tree. They might tell Mildred!

"What if digging up your friend's friend in the middle of the night and taking that friend very very far away was NOT the right thing to do? What if it was the WRONG thing to do?"

The library I am lucky enough to visit each week adds a little sticker to the front cover of books they especially love - the sticker says "Our Picks" and Norman Didn't do it (yes he did) has very appropriately earned one of these stickers. This book should be added to your school library and preschool bookshelf and you should also borrow it from your local library or badger them to purchase it. I do have to add, though, that very sadly this book costs over AUS$35 here in Australia so you might need to wait for the paperback edition. My copy was published in September, 2021 so hopefully the paperback is not too far away. This book could also be one to read aloud in your library or as a discussion starter about friendship, jealousy, and fixing our mistakes. And of course you will talk about the issue of 'twos company - threes a crowd' and how best to navigate changes in friendship groups. 

Ryan T. Higgins' signature wit, whimsy, and humor brilliantly explore the depths and complexities of friendship. Publisher comment

Here are some other books by Ryan T Higgins:

Quill Soup by Alan Durant illustrated by Dale Blankenaar

A stranger arrives in the village. His name is Noko and he his a porcupine. Noko is tired and hungry. The villagers are suspicious of strangers. When Noko asks for something to eat every householder refuses him.  He asks the warthog, the rabbit, the monkey, aardvark, pangolin and the meerkat. 

"None of them, they said, had any food."

"He could see from the villagers' sleek coats and rounded bellies that they were lying."

Noko is smart. He asks for a pot and, as the villagers watch, he pulls three quills from his back and puts them in the pot. He tells the villagers that the king loves his quill soup. Noko tastes his soup and comments that it would taste even better with a few carrots. And so the trick begins. A variety of tasty ingredients are added to the soup and when it is ready every one enjoys a delicious bowl.

This is a richly handsome hardback book that retells the traditional story that many of us know as ‘Stone Soup’. But this time the story is in its African form. It’s an ancient story, but apt for our present time, and for our children. Should we share? With strangers? Awfully Big Reviews

In this video Alan Durant reads his book. Here are a set of activities to use with this book. Dale Blankenaar is an artist from South Africa. You can see some of his work here. Quill Soup won a prize in the Northern Lights Book Awards (Food category) in 2020. Trickers Tales are an interesting genre to include in a library program along with Tall Tales. I recommend Quill Soup as a worthwhile addition for your Primary school library

Companion reads:

A Friendship Yarn by Lisa Moser illustrated by Olga Demidova

Badger and Porcupine are the best of friends. They live near each other and they both like knitting. As they are out collecting firewood one day a peddler drops a ball of wool. It unrolls all over the forest. Badger has a kind thought. She plans to knit a backpack for picnics with her friend Porcupine. In turn, Porcupine has a kind thought. She decides to knit a tablecloth for when the pair of friends share their tea time.

The pair each pick up an end of the wool and they begin to knit but this is one long thread and eventually, as each pull the yarn onto the knitting needles, their projects begin to unravel. Sadly things now take an ugly turn. Porcupine thinks she should have the yarn. Badger things she should have it.

"Well, flatten my cake! You're wrong,' said Porcupine."

The pair begin to knit again but this time the projects are utterly selfish - a net to catch walnuts which will not be shared; a hammock for one; a sail for a boat so "I can sail far, far away." Things become more and more heated until finally Porcupine cuts the yarn in half. The pair return to their homes but it's not too long before kindness triumphs. Porcupine begins her knitting and Badger begins her knitting. The pair meet outside in the cold dark night. Their new sweaters, gifts to one another, look brilliant and the reunited friends head home for toast with apple butter and a warm cup of tea. I did smile thinking about the porcupine putting on that cute red sweater.  You could compare this with The Bush Jumper by Jean Chapman and the scene where the echidna tries the sweater which was meant for the little koala.

There are many great books about knitting and friendship; kindness and giving; and disputes and their resolution. Here is a Pinterest collection from my friend at Kinderbookboard - Yarn Yarns.

I would pair A Friendship Yarn with a knitting book and  these two books about disputes and their resolution:

Mr Nick's Knitting

Iris and Isaac

Two for me, One for you

Here are the web sites for Lisa Moser and Olga Demidova.

Image source: Olga Demidova

A Porcupine named Fluffy by Helen Lester illustrated by Lynn Munsinger

Mr and Mrs Porcupine are delighted by the arrival of their first baby. They really want him to have exactly the 'right' name.  Spike - no. Lance - no. Needleroozer NO!

"Let's call him Fluffy. It's such a pretty name. Fluffy!"

Gradually Fluffy discovers he his actually not at all fluffy. He has spikes and prickles that punch holes in everything.  Fluffy looks for things that are fluffy hoping to get some ideas that might help him become fluffier. There are the clouds, pillows and a long soak in the bath. His efforts are useless but also hilarious (for the reader). One day, deep in thought, Fluffy meets a very large rhinoceros.

When Fluffy tells the rhino his name his reaction is exactly as you would expect:

"The rhinoceros smiled.
He giggled.
Then he laughed out loud.
He rolled on the ground.
He jiggled and slapped his knees.
He roared with laughter."

But wait a minute. What is the rhino's name?  Yes there is another laugh to come and perhaps a gentle lesson to learn and most importantly the beginning of a very special friendship.

Here are a set of teaching ideas and questions to use with this book. These are notes that support the audio version of this story along with ideas for using some other books by Helen Lester.

Here is a video of the whole book.  I love this book and would highly recommend it as a great addition for any primary school library.

This terrific tribute to self-acceptance comes complete with the cutest porcupine pictures on the planet!

I spied this book in a school library last week. I am a huge fan of the Tacky series also by this talented pair of Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger. This book was published in 1986 but I am so happy to report it is still available.  I would pair this book with Fearless by Colin Thompson and Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes.

Elmore by Holly Hobbie

Holly Hobbie

When you think of Holly Hobbie this image may come to mind :

Holly Hobbie is a name invented by Denise Holly Ulkinskas after she married Douglas Hobbie. Holly Hobbie is both a character and an author.  Her work was first featured on greeting cards. I remember buying one for a wedding in the 1980s. Later there were dolls, fabric, sewing patterns and other quite amazing merchandise.

In more recent times  you may know her as the author of the fabulous Toot and Puddle series. She has written twelve books about this delightful pair of pigs and there was a television series too.

And now we have have Elmore published this year.  Elmore is a porcupine. We don't have porcupines in Australia but children here find them fascinating.

Elmore lives alone in a ancient maple tree and his life is good but it is also lonely even though his mother did explain that the "L" in his name stood for love. Elmore sets about finding some company. He puts up a sign. "Friends Wanted".  But sadly the other forest animals find him too prickly.  "It was true if you got too close, you might get needled, nettled, prickled. Elmore didn't mean it. It just happened."

Elmore is a problem solver.  He needs friends. He understands the problem with his quills but these same quills could provide the solution. "They were there to protect him, like a coat of armor, but protect him from what? Elmore's life was peaceful. He was lucky."

Elmore notices all the quills scattered about his little home. I love the way some have stuck into his soft furnishings. He gathers the quills and puts them into small sets, tying each cluster with string.  Then Elmore puts up a new sign :

ELMORE

Quill pens

100% real 

Porcupine Quills

F R E E 

Everyone loves the quills. "They went like hotcakes."  Elmore suggests the forest animals could make ink from berries and use their pens to write notes to their friends.  On the last page Elmore receives a very special letter too.  Add this book to your collection of books about making friends and the importance of perseverance and problem solving. It is perfect.

I have two other Holly Hobbie books in my own collection.