You Are Mine, Porcupine

By: Helen L. Wilbur
Illustrated by: Stephanie Fizer Coleman
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Publication Date: February 2020
ISBN: 978-1534110038
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld
Review Date: January 19, 2020

A sweet baby porcupine learns about the world around him in the new book You Are Mine, Porcupine.

The story opens with a little porcupup (the term for baby porcupines) exploring the woods. His mother keeps a close eye on him as they chew on tree stumps and eat clover, leaves, and dandelions. His mother warns him that there are many dangers in the woods, particularly for porcupines who move very slowly. But, she tells him, porcupines have quills that help protect them.

The woods are deep and dark. Beware!
They're full of hungry wolves and bear.
So don't forget those long, sharp spines
Protect all wandering porcupines.

There is so much to see in the woods and the little porcupup has wandered a bit too far from his mother. It isn't long before a wolf spots the baby and begins to follow him through the woods...

You Are Mine, Porcupine is a wonderful story about porcupines, a rodent who seems to get little coverage in children's books. While the wolf stalking the baby may frighten more sensitive readers, the mother's advice is taken to heart by her child so the story has a happy ending (the wolf gets a quick lesson on porcupine quills). Children will learn several facts about the small rodents simply by reading along and seeing what these cute creatures do during the day, as well as their nocturnal activities. As a bonus, there is a two-page spread at the back of the book with facts about porcupines.

Quill says: A cute little porcupine will enchant young readers as they learn about the small rodents and see that a mother's love knows no bounds.