Description · A Warm World Born from a Caring Heart No two children in the world are exactly alike. Even identical twins have different personalities and different likes and dislikes. Each small difference becomes a part of who they are, making every child wonderfully unique. Just as children sometimes feel curious about themselves, sometimes loving it and sometimes not, the little hedgehog in this story doesn't like its own sharp spines. But instead of simply disliking them, the hedgehog wonders if there's something wonderful it could do with those very spines it once resented. After much thought, the hedgehog decides to use its spines to make gifts for its friends. The hedgehog shares gifts with all the animals in the forest, and in turn, each animal who receives one begins to wish they could give something special back to the hedgehog. This desire to give something good to a cherished friend spreads through the whole forest, just like the warmth of spring. At its heart, Spring Gifts Have Arrived is about the true meaning of giving: that both the giver and the receiver share in the joy of knowing they are precious to one another. After reading this book, children may find themselves smiling and feeling a flutter of excitement as they imagine how happy a friend will be to receive a gift. It also gently encourages readers to think about what kind of gift truly makes someone feel special. · A Gentle Portrait of the Changing Seasons Spring Gifts Have Arrived beautifully captures the joy of animals welcoming spring. They ask each other, "How did you get through the winter?" and greet one another with warm hugs. Watching them share snacks in the warm sunshine and play together reminds us of the comforting truth that spring always follows even the harshest winter. For children who, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, haven't been able to meet friends or share snacks together, this story seems to gently whisper: after winter, spring will surely come again. But after spring comes, winter will return once more. The hedgehog wants to help its animal friends stay warmer through the coming winter. As the hedgehog prepares gifts starting from spring with its friends' winter in mind, time continues to flow steadily onward. While knitting each stitch with care, the hedgehog surely thought of the friend who would someday wear that scarf. A gift that takes a long time to prepare with love feels all the more precious and moving, because it carries within it a deep sense of respect and appreciation for the one receiving it. The animal friends who received gifts likely spent the long winter warmly, preparing gifts of their own for the hedgehog and imagining how delighted it would be to see them upon waking in spring. Young readers of this book will naturally follow the beautiful flow of the seasons and be inspired to think about how to spend the winter wisely and warmly. · A New Work by Makiko Toyofuku, Who Portrays Children's Hearts with Delicate Care In her previous book, Ballerina Rabbit, Makiko Toyofuku told the story of a rabbit learning ballet, capturing the fear and excitement of trying something new, and the courage to pursue what you love despite the challenges. Spring Gifts Have Arrived is her latest work, and like her previous book, it delicately portrays a child's inner world—this time through the beloved character of a hedgehog. Though smaller than the other animals, the hedgehog captivates readers with its shyly blushing cheeks and expressive face that changes just like a real child's, depending on its feelings. Even the hedgehog's sharp spines are transformed by Toyofuku's gentle touch into something so soft-looking you'll want to reach out and stroke them. The warm watercolor tones and the lovely depiction of the forest make you want to linger over every page, and the delicate detail given to each animal adds to the joy of discovering something new with every look.