Henry the Hedgegnome fans dress up to celebrate World Book Day

Henry the Hedgegnome fans dress up to celebrate World Book Day

Richard Heddington is a local author living in Plymstock and writes and illustrates the Henry the Hedgegnome books. With the celebration of World Book Day growing every year, there is ever more pressure on parents to dress their children as their favourite book character.

This year saw a new kid on the block in the form of Henry the Hedgegnome. Richard was chuffed when the picture of Eira dressed as Henry the Hedgegnome was posted onto the Henry the Hedgegnome Facebook page and instantly replied saying well done Eira (and well done mummy). However, it turns out he was mistaken, and the credit for creating the spiky costume goes to daddy. Oops.Shortly after the picture of Eira posted to the Facebook page it was closely followed by one of Jessica, who wanted to wear her Henry the Hedgegnome T-shirt to pre-school.

The rise in popularity of Henry the Hedgegnome has been rather unique. The first half of the story took about forty years, while the second half is not much longer than a year.
Richard first drew the character Henry the Hedgegnome in an art lesson in school during the 1970’s when he was a young teenager. It wasn’t until nearly forty years later, when he was reading bedtime stories to his granddaughter, that he realised that the illustrated short story was an ideal format for Henry the Hedgegnome. So, early in 2016 children were introduced to Henry the Hedgegnome books. In the year that followed, two more titles were published and Richard went full-time as an author.

Which brings us to World Book Day 2017, and a growing army of little fans is opting for Henry the Hedgegnome as their favourite children’s book character.

More information about Henry the Hedgegnome can be found on his website at: http://hedgegnomes.co.uk
The full story of his creation can be read at: http://hedgegnomes.co.uk/about/