Hector is a worrier. He worries about being too cold, about falling down, and other things if he leaves his house. This causes him to not do things with his friends. Until he gets an invitation to a party and he decides to be brave and go. Author includes notes for parents, teachers, and caregivers about how to help children that struggle with leaving safe zones and how to address the worry, model and practice, try something new, resist reassurance seeking, praise effort and bravery, and seek support.

I am Hector. And I loved this book.
As someone who has always (through child and adulthood) been one that gravitates towards staying home, I connected deeply with this story and with Hector the hedgehog. Magination Press did an excellent job in publishing an informative picture book (another favourite of mine is "This Day in June") that keeps the story and fun at the center of the learning experience. The end pages provide helpful information for adults (parents, caregivers) on how to help youngsters who have a tendency to worry and not want to try new things. I won't hesitate to recommend this title in my library and am excited to purchase my own copy for home!

Hector's Favorite Place is a very sweet little book about a homebody hedgehog named Hector. Hector loves spending time at home doing his favorite things but his friends want him to come out and have some fun with them. Hector wants to have fun too but he worries about things. He worries about a lot of things. Can Hector overcome his worries and join his friends at a special party?
Cute illustrations and a great story make this a worthwhile read, especially for little worriers.

A cute story of a hedgehog who's fears keep him home. Hector soon learns to get over his fears, get out and have some fun with his friends. An educational read for anxious children.

Hector is a hedgehog that loves his home. He worries that if he goes outside he might get lost, or fall while skating, or think the music's too loud. Hector has to be brave, and leave his home to reconnect with his friends. The story is not bad, but it’s been done before. It gets a little wordy. To me the best part are the illustrations.

First of all let me say I love the little character Hector. He is just a darling little hedgehog. Hector prefers to stay in his comfy home doing all the things he loves: reading books quietly, playing his piano softly, painting lovely abstracts on canvas, and of course, eating the delicious meals that he himself prepares. Inside his home he feels safe and cozy and has no trouble whatsoever keeping himself busy.

When he gets offers to go out and join his friends for a walk in the forest on the first snowy day, or skate on the frozen pond, that's when worry starts nibbling at him. At first he's excited and wants to go but then he starts thinks about all the negative "what if"s" if he leaves his home, and then sadly his anxieties totally take over and Hector declines the invitations.

Then one day Hector has a Eureka moment. He acknowledges that his worries are holding him back from enjoying his life to the fullest and he's missing out on many adventures and opportunities for fun that are offered to him.

He bravely accepts an invitation to the Winter Forest Party and in so doing his life drastically changes for the better. The beautiful, vibrantly coloured illustrations are full of emotion and heart and perfectly tie in with the message of facing down fears and moving forward with your life in a positive manner. The book includes a portion for adults with tips to help children manage their worries and with support overcome them. I highly recommend this book.

This book is adorable! I think kids will really like the bright and fun illustrations and who wouldn't love Hector? This is an anxious, agoraphobic hedgehog after my own heart. I loved how Hector finally pushed himself out of his comfort zone by visualizing something good happening rather the something bad and found he enjoyed himself. The notes at the back for parents and caregivers is also helpful. I can see using this with students or recommending it to parents.

Hector's Favorite Place is a wonderfully written and illustrated children's story, primarily about a hedgehog who is more cautious and wary than most. He worries about "what if" and he realizes eventually it's a problem and he needs to try. He hides behind a tree at a party, but closes his eyes and soon gets lost in the music and begins to loosen up. He begins to try all the things he worried about and realizes that he's really alright. The theme of worry and children who are more cautious may help those children who are more reticent and unable to show risk in their behavior. This book may be a great way to open up the lines of conversation with the child and parent and discuss how some of their own child's behavior may be able to be changed slowly. This may reduce the fears of the child.
What I liked about the book was an afterward, where the author, who is a psychologist, discusses how this book might be used in families and even in counseling. Kudos with a "how-to" section for those parenting a kid that unlike most.


Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for a pre-publication ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a super adorable read that had my kids captured. The illustrations were also fantastic and went with the story really well.

Hector's Favorite Place is a cute little tale about Hector, a hedgehog who worries. The story shows us how Hector misses out on doing some things he loves because he's too worried about unlikely (or easily managed) problems that might happen. One day Hector decides to be brave and slowly eases into enjoying himself at a party. Jo Rooks has written a practical story with sweet little pictures that will be enjoyed by most little ones -- even those who don't worry too much.

To me, though, the resources for caregivers section at the back of the book was what really elevated this book into a must-have for any adult trying to help a worrier be less worried. There is some excellent advice offered in a very readable format.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with this free electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This children's picture book is published by Magination Press, through the American Psychological Association. In it we meet Hector the Hedgehog who loves his home. He is repeatedly faced with friends' invitations to engage in fun activities, and while he initially is drawn to them, he lets his fears and worries take over so that he decides it's better to remain home than face potential dangers ("What if he got cold and caught the flu?"). Hector does reach a point where he pushes himself to face his fears and he is pleasantly surprised when nothing bad happens.

The illustrations are engaging and will charm both children and adults.

This book would be a good addition to the home libraries of those children who wrestle with frequent fears and anxieties. It would model how someone is fearful finds the strength to be brave. For additional ways for parents or other adults to make further connections, at the close of the book there are recommendations about how best to address situations if children struggle with fears similar to what Hector faces. Parents, teachers, or caregivers who are lost for how to approach repeated fears will find concrete support in the closing notes.

A lovely little book with stunning illustrations. I loved the storyline and loved the fact that there was a little moral lesson to be learned

Oh, this was good! I've know a worry wort child or two over the years and this book would have been lovely to have had. Hector hedgehogs favorite place is his home. It's comfy and safe and it has everything he needs init. So why leave to go places? His friends invite him to go hiking in the snow, ice skating and to a party. Will Hector go??? He used to love doing those things! Now worries are getting in the way of enjoying a full life. Illustrations were lovely and I can't wait to see them in color in a book! Nice addition to any collection!