I love Dick King-Smith's work. There was a time when I read nothing except his books. I devoured story after story, the way children do when they get hooked on to an author. I remember just one book I didn't enjoy - Godhanger. But everything else? I loved. And that's why we're rereading The Hodgeheg, one of my favourites! It's a sweet story about one determined hedgehog who makes it his mission to find out how to cross a road safely. How do humans cross? Can't a hedgehog do the same? Here's what we'll do with this book at my book club. Slang The Hodgeheg begins with another hedgehog having 'copped it'. Later on, we have the phrase 'that's flat'.What do these phrases mean? The way in which words and phrases develop regional variations is fascinating. I remember reading the phrase 'I bet a monkey' while I was reading Georgette Heyer. I first … [Read more...]