The Hedgehog's Holiday Hotel

The Hedgehog's Holiday Hotel - Author : Ebru Mina TOMURCUK

In a cozy burrow under a big oak tree lived a small hedgehog with warm brown fur and a cream belly. He wore a mustardyellow apron with a front pocket and tiny round glasses on a cord. One sunny morning, he decided to open a holiday hotel for traveling animals. 'Every guest will feel welcome here,' he said with a gentle smile. 1

The hedgehog cleaned his burrow from top to bottom. He put fresh leaves on the floor and set out a tiny welcome sign. 'A hotel needs rooms,' he thought, 'and rooms need to be cozy.' He looked around his small home and wondered what his guests might need. He polished his round glasses and got to work. 2

Soon the first guest arrived. It was a very tall giraffe with a golden-orange coat and brown patches. She wore a long skyblue scarf wrapped around her neck. 'Welcome!' said the hedgehog. But when the giraffe bent her long neck to step inside, her head bumped the ceiling. 'Oh dear,' said the hedgehog. 'We need a taller room for you!' 3

The giraffe smiled politely. 'I am a little shy,' she said, 'but I do need space to stand up straight.' The hedgehog thought hard. 'We can build a tall room with a high ceiling,' he said. The giraffe helped measure with her long neck. Together they planned a room that reached up, up, up, with a window at the top for her to peek out. 4

Next came a rabbit with soft grey fur and long upright ears. She wore a green knitted vest and carried a small canvas bag. 'Welcome!' said the hedgehog. The rabbit hopped inside and looked around. 'It's lovely,' she said, 'but I need somewhere soft to rest my paws.' She twitched her pink nose and smiled. 'Maybe some cushions and rugs?' 5

The hedgehog nodded. 'A soft room for you!' he said. The rabbit helped gather moss and fluffy grass. They made a bed with pillows and a rug woven from dandelion fluff. 'This will be perfect for my feet,' said the rabbit, wiggling her toes in her soft slippers. The hedgehog wrote 'Soft Room' on a little sign. 6

Then a tiny mouse arrived, no bigger than a teacup. She wore a red woolly hat and a tiny red scarf. 'Welcome!' said the hedgehog. The mouse looked around with big round eyes. 'It's a bit chilly,' she whispered. 'I need a warm room.' She wrapped her little scarf tighter. The hedgehog saw her small paws shiver and knew just what to do. 7

The hedgehog found a snug corner near the fire. 'We can make a warm room here,' he said. The mouse helped gather soft wool and warm blankets. They lined the walls with dry leaves and made a tiny bed with a hot water bottle. 'Oh, this is cozy!' squeaked the mouse, her big ears twitching with joy. 'I feel warm already.' 8

Now the hedgehog had three guests, each needing something different. The giraffe needed height. The rabbit needed softness. The mouse needed warmth. The hedgehog looked at his small burrow and scratched his head. 'How can I make rooms that suit everyone?' he wondered. He sat down on a mushroom and thought and thought. 9

The rabbit hopped over. 'What's wrong?' she asked. The hedgehog explained his problem. 'We can help!' said the rabbit. 'Many paws make light work.' The giraffe nodded from her tall room. 'I can reach high places,' she said. The mouse squeaked, 'I can find cozy corners.' The hedgehog smiled. 'Then let's work together!' 10

They started with the tall room. The giraffe stretched her long neck and hung curtains from the ceiling. The rabbit carried soft cushions up a ladder. The mouse found a tiny lamp for the corner. The hedgehog measured and hammered and sewed. Soon the tall room had a high ceiling, a soft rug, and a warm glow. 'It's perfect!' said the giraffe. 11

Next they made the soft room. The rabbit piled cushions high and spread rugs on the floor. The giraffe passed soft blankets down from above. The mouse tucked tiny pillows into every corner. The hedgehog sewed a curtain with his own paws. 'It feels like a cloud!' said the rabbit, hopping onto the bed. 'I could sleep here all day.' 12

Finally they made the warm room. The mouse showed them where the fire's heat reached best. The rabbit brought soft wool to line the walls. The giraffe hung a thick curtain to keep out drafts. The hedgehog placed a tiny bed near the fire. 'It's as warm as toast!' squeaked the mouse, snuggling under her blanket with a happy sigh. 13

That evening, all the guests gathered in the main room. The giraffe sipped tea from a tall cup. The rabbit nibbled carrots on a soft cushion. The mouse curled up in a warm woolly nest. The hedgehog looked around and felt proud. 'Everyone has a room that fits them,' he said. 'That's what a good hotel is for.' 14

The next morning, the guests thanked the hedgehog. 'You thought about what we needed,' said the giraffe. 'You made us feel special,' said the rabbit. 'And welcome,' squeaked the mouse. The hedgehog's round glasses fogged up with happy tears. 'You helped me,' he said.