The Brambly Hedge stories are one of our happy places. We were first introduced to Jill Barklem's cozy characters and illustrations by a little second hand copy of "
A Spring Story". Surprisingly we were able to pick up a couple more of the stand alone stories at various thrift stores and used bookshops.
Jill Barklem
2015
Finally one Christmas, Charlotte received the giant "Complete Brambly Hedge" and we were able to pass off our other books to friends who we knew would enjoy them as we do. This collection includes several stories we had never seen before, and once again we simply poured over the illustrations. Sometimes when I would read it to Charlotte in bed we'd have to stop for several minutes on a page just so I could enjoy all the picture's details. (For this reason, I don't recommend this as a bedtime book. You really want to sit in the daylight and take your time looking at the pictures!)
Brambly Hedge is populated by a community of mice with names like "Poppy" and "Dusty" and "Wilfred". The stories are sweet and genial and full of all the gentle things that make you feel warm and fuzzy inside.
