A Hedgehog’s Guide to Solving Problems, Building Confidence, and Asking for Help
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About the Book
Tackle problems big and small with Harriet the Helpful Hedgehog as she learns to become a problem solver!
Harriet is quick to cry before she even tries, thinking a problem will be too hard. With a little help from her teacher, she learns to identify whether a problem is small, medium, or big so she can decide how to react, what solutions to try, and when to ask for help. Soon, Harriet is even helping her friends solve their problems, too!
Part of the Caring Critters series, Harriet the Helpful Hedgehog is a heartwarming social-emotional learning story that helps children ages 4–8 build problem-solving skills, confidence, independence, flexible thinking, and emotional regulation.
What Kids Will Learn
- How to identify small, medium, and big problems
- How to match their reactions to the size of a problem
- Strategies for solving everyday problems independently
- How to think flexibly when things don’t go as planned
- When to ask a friend or trusted adult for help
- How to build confidence in their own problem-solving abilities
Why Families & Classrooms Love It
Do you have a child who cries, gets frustrated, or immediately asks for help when something feels difficult? Harriet the Helpful Hedgehog gives children practical strategies for handling those everyday challenges while helping them become more confident and independent.
Through relatable classroom situations, Harriet shows children that they don’t have to give up when something feels hard. Sometimes they can solve a problem themselves, sometimes they need help from a friend, and sometimes they need an adult. The goal isn’t to solve every problem alone, but to learn how to approach challenges with confidence.
The book also includes bonus problem-solving activities and practical tips for parents and teachers to continue the learning beyond the story.
Perfect For
- Parents helping children develop independence and confidence
- Preschool, kindergarten, and first-grade SEL lessons
- Teachers supporting students who struggle with frustration or problem-solving
- School counselors teaching coping skills and emotional regulation
- Classroom read-alouds about flexible thinking, perseverance, and asking for help
Related Resources and Activities
Continue building problem-solving skills after reading Harriet the Helpful Hedgehog! Use connected activities and classroom discussions to help children identify the size of a problem, brainstorm solutions, and practice deciding when to ask for help.
Trixie the Thoughtful Turtle Companion Curriculum
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Meet More Caring Critters!
Harriet is just one of the lovable characters in the Caring Critters series! Each story helps children ages 4–8 develop important social-emotional skills through relatable situations and practical lessons.
Felipe the Feeling Frog: Learn that all feelings are okay and discover strategies for managing emotions.
Trixie the Thoughtful Turtle: Learn to make thoughtful choices and understand how our actions affect others.
Harriet the Helpful Hedgehog: Build confidence, independence, and problem-solving skills.
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For Booksellers
Harriet the Helpful Hedgehog by Zeba McGibbon
Illustrated by Denyse Walker
ISBN: 979-8-9886778-2-6
Publication: November 2026
Author Visit
Bring the Caring Critters to your school! As a kindergarten teacher and children’s book author, I love helping children connect the lessons in my books to their own lives through interactive author visits.
For author and illustrator visit inquiries, email zeba@kindergartencafe.org
