Best Picture Books About Squirrels and Hedgehogs (2026)

A parent or teacher hunting for a gentle animal story can find a squirrel chase, a beach outing, or a hedgehog with news to share in the best picture books about squirrels and hedgehogs. The list compares listed reading age, grade level, print length and series position.

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The books

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Who Is the Mystery Reader? by Willems	9.8/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Guess What!? by Willems	9.8/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Read All About It! by Hall	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
4	The Squirrels Who Squabbled by Bright	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Cat Next Door by Rubin	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon

1

Who Is the Mystery Reader? by Willems

Mo Willems·9.8/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits beginning readers who enjoy squirrel humor, jokes and quizzes; calm read-aloud fans may look elsewhere.

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Pros

• Extra jokes, quizzes and squirrel facts
• 96 pages, longer beginning-reader story
• Illustrated edition, October 1, 2019

Cons

• Series book; earlier volumes first
• No hedgehog character named
• Wide Preschool - 3 grade band

2

Guess What!? by Willems

Mo Willems·9.8/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits beginning readers who enjoy a beach outing with Zoom Squirrel and pals; hedgehog readers may skip it.

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Pros

• Extra jokes, quizzes and squirrel facts
• 96 pages, longer beginning-reader story
• Published October 5, 2021

Cons

• Reading age from customers only
• No hedgehog character named
• Narrower reading age than grade band

3

Read All About It! by Hall

Benjamin Hall·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits young readers who enjoy a hedgehog who speaks up to warn the forest; squirrel-only readers may skip it.

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Pros

• Hedgehog lead matches the hedgehog side
• Story centers on speaking up
• Published March 3, 2026, HarperCollins

Cons

• Reading age from customers only
• No squirrel character named
• Hungry bear warning brings peril to preview

4

The Squirrels Who Squabbled by Bright

Rachel Bright·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits preschool and kindergarten readers who enjoy two greedy squirrels chasing the last pinecone; hedgehog readers may skip it.

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Pros

• Friendship and sharing pinecone chase
• 32 pages, short read-aloud length
• Published September 17, 2019

Cons

• Reading age from customers only
• No hedgehog character named
• Follow-up to earlier books

5

Cat Next Door by Rubin

Adam Rubin·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits readers who enjoy squirrels outwitting a troublesome cat next door; hedgehog readers may skip it.

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Pros

• Squirrels devise a plan to stop the cat
• 32 pages, short read-aloud length
• Reprint edition, October 4, 2016, Clarion Books

Cons

• Title ages 4-7 differ from 3 - 7 years
• Book 3 of 3, series joined mid-way
• No hedgehog character named

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More picks to compare

• Hide and Seek, Nuts to Eat by GoldFor preschoolers and early learners curious about squirrel food cachingCheck on Amazon
• Nuts to You! by EhlertFor city squirrel adventures with plant, bird and insect labelsCheck on Amazon
• All Things Hedgehogs for Kids by ReadsFor young hedgehog fans who enjoy facts and real-life photosCheck on Amazon
• All Things Squirrels for Kids by ReadsFor young squirrel fans who enjoy facts and real-life photosCheck on Amazon
• Squirrels Leap, Squirrels SleepA squirrel story about leaping and sleepingCheck on Amazon

Compare the list

Book details as published on each listing, collected 4 November 2026.

How the Shelf Score was applied

The Shelf Score weighs fit, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level. All five listings give a reading age and a grade level. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best picture books about squirrels and hedgehogs

Match the reading age and grade level together

Guess What!? lists a reading age of 6 – 7 years, marked as from customers, beside grade level Preschool – 3, while The Squirrels Who Squabbled lists 3 – 7 years, marked as from customers, beside Preschool – Kindergarten. Browse all picture books for more choices.

Pick a series book or a story without a series

Those Darn Squirrels and the Cat Next Door sits as Book 3 of 3, so a new reader may start with an earlier squirrel story named in the description. Read All About It! lists no series. Browse all kids and teens books for wider choices.

Before you buy

• Check edition and publication date; picks span 2016 to 2026.
• For series books, confirm which book comes first.
• Compare reading age with grade level and note from-customers marks.

FAQ for readers

What ages do these squirrel and hedgehog picture books suit?

The five listings give reading ages of 3 – 7, 4 – 8 and 6 – 7 years, with all but one marked as from customers.

Where should a reader start with the Those Darn Squirrels series?

The Cat Next Door listing places that book as Book 3 of 3, so start with an earlier title named in the description, Those Darn Squirrels.

Which pick features a hedgehog?

Read All About It! features a hedgehog who warns the forest about a hungry bear, with a reading age of 4 – 8 years, marked as from customers.

Still deciding? Our top pickWho Is the Mystery Reader? by Willems

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