Ereth's Birthday (Tales from Dimwood Forest)

Animal story - porcupine takes care of some foxes.

Ereth’s Birthday by Avi is the fourth tale in the classic children’s series, Tales from Dimwood Forest. The book has been a Children’s Choice Nominee several times and was a Parent’s Guide Outstanding Achievement Winner in 2000.

Ereth Dorsatum, the crotchety, self-centered old porcupine, is

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having yet another birthday. With his best friend nowhere to be seen, Ereth attempts to fetch a block of salt to cheer himself up, but ends up with far more than he bargains for. A young fox mother is caught in a trap, and begs Ereth to look after her three kits—Nimble, Tumble and Flip—just until their father shows up to take them.

Bad-tempered Ereth could not be less suited to parenthood—isn’t he? But who could be better to teach the kits the ways of forest, and not to eat poor little field mice? Slowly Ereth learns to be a caring mentor to the kits, and they learn to appreciate him too. The porcupine is angry and brokenhearted when the kits’ father throws him out in a painful, touching scene. This lonely old porcupine will steal readers’ hearts as he admits his feelings and realizes the importance of honesty and family.

Descriptive text and Ereth’s amusing dialogue are interspersed with detailed charcoal illustrations. Children will treasure Avi’s classic tale for generations to come.

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A little simple at first, got more interesting further on. Very quick read.

Avi mixes the anthropomorphic bits with the realistic bits very well in this book. It's a nice change from "Ragweed" in that way. There are some parts which are actually quite funny, and others which are sad. And, as is usual with Avi, there is some gooey sentiment and awkward phrasing. Oh, well. I

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was prompted to look up all sorts of interesting facts about porcupines, fishers, and now foxes as a result of reading this book.

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