Hedgehog Whodunit

by Heather Preusser, Gal Weizman (illustrator)

Hitch the Hedgehog wants nothing more than to nap. But when his informant, Vinnie the Rat, reveals the City Zoo’s panda has gone missing, Hitch is (reluctantly) on the case. Author Heather Preusseur expertly weaves witty and playful text in this chapter book series opener with black-and-white illustrations by renowned illustrator Gal Weizman.

All Hitch the Hedgehog wants to do is nap, but there’s a mystery to solve. Someone changed the sign at the panda exhibit of the City Zoo. Instead of “please feed the panda,” it says, “please free the panda,” and well . . . it’s pandemonium for Hitch! Along with his cohort, partner, and informant Vinnie the Rat, Hitch embarks on an adventure to catch the cagey culprit and return the panda to its bear-y perfect spot.

With hardboiled humor, fun animal facts, and a plethora of puns, Hitch and Vinnie’s detective shenanigans are full of hilarity and heart. This joyful series opener also has over 50 charming black-and-white illustrations, maps, and hidden clues! This book is perfect for fans of Leila and Nugget Mysteries, Enola Holmes, and The Critter Club.

Genres: Animals, Mystery

96 pages, Paperback

Published October 8, 2024

Reviews

[Gaia Cornwall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hedgehog Whodunit (to be a series!) is a great introduction to the longer chapter book format for those early readers . Full of animal facts, silly puns and illustrations throughout, it will keep kiddos giggling and engaged. Advanced vocabulary provides opportunities for kids to use context clues. Grown ups will appreciate the winks to classic whodunits. Can't wait for the next one coming in July!

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silly fun is found on every page of this lively whodunit. Witty banter full of puns, accompanied by engaging black and white illustrations, will keep readers turning the page! Preusser wonderfully captures the hardboiled voice of main character Hitch with his sidekick Vinnie for the chapter book level. The zoo setting provides plentiful action and colorful characters.

[Angela Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book! The two main characters, Hitch (the Hedgehog) and Vinnie (a Rat), are brimming with charm, relatability, and humor. Their adventure takes them on an adventure through the City Zoo to find Panda and is exactly the kind of book my sleuthing, animal-loving, joke-making, GT son would have devoured in his youth. A great read!

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chapter book mystery set in a zoo, with a hedgehog detective and a rat sidekick. Filled with puns that will make more savvy readers groan and smile, I think this would be a fun family read aloud.

Review based on an eARC received through Edelweiss+.

[Tiffany Painter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kid lit - This book is simply just fun to read. A chapter book with its own animal Sherlock Holmes and Watson pair solving mysteries. The word play will entertain even the adults, and the animal facts interwoven in the story will thrill all animal lovers. A must read for everyone.

[Stan Yan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fun, hilarious, gumshoe hedgehog PI book is full of SHARP puns, with a few sneaky unknown hedgehog facts rolled in along the way (I found myself looking things up along the way to see if they were really true).

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished this and moved it up a star. Probably because I'm a person who loves wordplay and what I call text onomatopoeia (the use of different fonts within the text to creat meaning. That and the humor might make this useful for reading teachers and tutors of middle grade kids. The frequent and precise food and cooking reference may attract the current crop of junior chefs. I hope this book has the success it deserves.