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.
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