Hedgehogs Don't Wear Underwear

by Marissa Valdez, Marissa Valdez (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

You've never met a hedgehog like Jacque. This adorable little guy has a mighty obsession that makes him rather unique, and that in itself is a celebration of identity and individuality.

From #1 New York Times-bestselling Marissa Valdez comes a hilariously zany and uproariously fun story of an underwear-obsessed hedgehog — perfect for fans of Dragons Love Tacos and Millie Fleur's Poison Garden!

Derrière to be different with Jacques the hedgehog!

Jacques is a little French hedgehog with a BIG secret — he loves wearing underwear! But the hedgehog world has rules . . . You see, hedgehogs eat grubs. They make nests. They snort with their sniffly snouts. They do NOT. WEAR. UNDERWEAR. So what's a critter to do about his undercover love of underpants?

Will Jacques muster the bravery he needs to fully embrace himself and share his love of tighty-whities with the world?

Get ready to fall head over heinie for this hilarious and unforgettable tale of identity, self-acceptance — and undies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250424587
Publisher:	Roaring Brook Press
Publication date:	04/01/2025
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	45 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Marissa Valdez is the #1 New York Times bestselling children’s book illustrator of the Ambitious Girl series by Meena Harris and the Hattie Harmony books by Elizabeth Olsen and Robbie Arnett. A former preschool teacher and an avid gnome collector, Marissa adores all things silly and funny. She spends her spare time looking out for real-life hedgehogs with her two cats (who do not wear underwear) and husband (who does) in Birmingham, England. She is a lifelong fan of London, France, and underpants, and Hedgehogs Don’t Wear Underwear is her first picture book as an author-illustrator.
Marissa Valdez is the #1 New York Times bestselling children’s book illustrator of the Ambitious Girl series by Meena Harris and the Hattie Harmony books by Elizabeth Olsen and Robbie Arnett. A former preschool teacher and an avid gnome collector, Marissa adores all things silly and funny.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Hedgehogs Don't Wear Underwear:

"Sure to have little ones giggling." — Kirkus Reviews

"Sublimely silly." — Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

2025-02-01
Jacques is a hedgehog with a big secret: “I wear real, bona fide underwear.”

Our narrator received a mysterious package one day; an illustration shows a pair of underwear tied to a balloon with a note “from the Universe” floating down into Jacques’ burrow. Hedgehogs don’t wear underwear, however. Will Jacques be shunned? Jacques worries but comes to a decision: “I have to wear them. When I do I feel special.” Determined, Jacques, who’s been invited to a party, makes a dramatic entrance, with undies in hand. Jacques’ declaration (“I WEAR UNDERWEAR”) is met with remarks of dismay, before another hedgehog opens up about similar fears and shows off a pair of cowboy boots. More hedgehogs introduce themselves with their own confessions. The story ends with Jacques unveiling a painting of the underwear in a gallery filled with hedgehogs wearing all sorts of attire. Though the book is simple in plot, characters, and setting, it wins in its balance of bathroom humor, dramatic storytelling, and celebrations of individual expression. French words are peppered throughout, adding to the fun without detracting from the story for those unfamiliar with the language. The cartoonish illustrations brim with fun; Valdez relies heavily on geometric shapes (triangle noses for the hedgehogs; huge circles for their eyes). Details such as speech bubbles and recurring turtle and snake characters contribute to the outlandish humor.

Sure to have little ones giggling.(Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews