The Hedgehog's Dilemma

By Toon Tellegen

"A woodland reflection on the perils of overthinking… all contained within a delightful little volume with line illustrations by Annemarie van Haeringen. Just as The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse threaded the line between adult and younger readers, so too has Tellegen written a tale that speaks equally eloquently to an audience of all ages… Those in search of a cosy, gently delivered philosophy will melt." —Financial Times

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER: The first in a series of witty, philosophical animal stories with whimsical illustrations—for adult fans of The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and His Horse!

We’ve all been there: When a lonely hedgehog hosts a party for his friends, he’s suddenly wracked by social anxiety and self-doubt…

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...

An international bestseller, with more than 1 million copies sold in the Netherlands, The Hedgehog’s Dilemma is the perfect gift for the shy, retiring ‘hedgehog’ in your life. This lovely—and loving book—addresses deep emotional and philosophical themes with humor, kindness, and intelligence.

Hardcover
176 pages
Pushkin Press, 2025
5.35 x 0.69 x 7.28 inches
ISBN 9781805331711
Fiction