Who Lives at Copper Beech Farm?
Copper Beech Farm is home to the Prickle family of hedgehogs. It is intended for 5 and 6 year olds, but will need help from older children or adults because it has some odd words in it. The hero of the story is Dixie Prickle, and we find out about the scrapes he encounters and the animals with whom he shares his world. This is the first book about the Prickles and more will follow. I hope your children enjoy it!
Rex
Rex
Excerpts from the Book
These are just a few page excerpts from the book to give you a taste.
Page 5.
“Myrtle, call the boys. We have too many people in here and somebody must move out.” Gilbert Prickle was reclining on a bed of straw, dressed in his fawn corduroy jacket with monogrammed silk slippers. In his left hand was a cup of what he called Plum Tea, which he made in an old Tate and Lyle syrup tin bearing a picture of a lion and the motto “Strength through Sweetness”. Myrtle thought it was rather strong tea. If he had two cups of it on Christmas morning he was likely to go to sleep and wake up with a headache.
“Myrtle, call the boys. We have too many people in here and somebody must move out.” Gilbert Prickle was reclining on a bed of straw, dressed in his fawn corduroy jacket with monogrammed silk slippers. In his left hand was a cup of what he called Plum Tea, which he made in an old Tate and Lyle syrup tin bearing a picture of a lion and the motto “Strength through Sweetness”. Myrtle thought it was rather strong tea. If he had two cups of it on Christmas morning he was likely to go to sleep and wake up with a headache.
Myrtle was the most beautiful hedgehog that Gilbert had ever seen. She had pink lips and perfect teeth, and her topknot was tied in a light blue ribbon. Best of all, she was very round, which among hedgehogs is a sign on of great beauty.
Page 8
The Prickle family lived in a tangle of weeds and brambles woven around a pile of farmyard scrap iron. There were old ploughs and harrows, cast iron fences and the odd wheel and milk churn. They had chosen it because it was safe from badgers and nestled against the north wall of the pigsty. There was a brick missing from the pigsty wall, and they sometimes went through the hole to steal some piggy biscuits. These were very hard and they were frightened by Miss Mango, a vast hairy pink pig that lived in the stye. She was said to be very grumpy, so the Bert family avoided her when she was awake. They were known as the Berts because all the boy’s names ended in Bert.
The Prickle family lived in a tangle of weeds and brambles woven around a pile of farmyard scrap iron. There were old ploughs and harrows, cast iron fences and the odd wheel and milk churn. They had chosen it because it was safe from badgers and nestled against the north wall of the pigsty. There was a brick missing from the pigsty wall, and they sometimes went through the hole to steal some piggy biscuits. These were very hard and they were frightened by Miss Mango, a vast hairy pink pig that lived in the stye. She was said to be very grumpy, so the Bert family avoided her when she was awake. They were known as the Berts because all the boy’s names ended in Bert.
Page 10
“Well, that sorts it.” Said Gilbert to his assembled family. “We’ll have to move out now and all find new homes. There’s plenty of space under the summer house and the pond will give us slugs galore. We’ll ask Miss Mango if we can spend a night or two in her stye while we get organised.”
“Well, that sorts it.” Said Gilbert to his assembled family. “We’ll have to move out now and all find new homes. There’s plenty of space under the summer house and the pond will give us slugs galore. We’ll ask Miss Mango if we can spend a night or two in her stye while we get organised.”
“I’ll go!” said Dixie. “I’m only little and she won’t hurt me. She might not even see me!” With that, he scampered off before anyone could stop him. When he poked his nose through the hole in the brick wall, he realised that he might have been a bit foolish. There, almost touching him, was a giant pair of hairy pink nostrils blowing bubbles of slime at him.
The Illustrations
A few of the beautiful illustrations from the book. Please click on an image to view at a larger size.
The British Hedgehog Protection Society recommends we all encourage hedgehogs into our gardens.
Details
Paperback : 32 pages
Beautifully illustrated
Dimensions : 8.5 x 0.08 x 8.5 inches
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