The fifth book in the beloved Poppy series by Newbery Medal-winning
author Avi, with illustrations from Caldecott Medal-winning artist Brian
Floca.
Erethizon Dorsatum--better known as Ereth, the self-centered,
foul-tempered old porcupine--is having a birthday. And he fully expects
his best friend Poppy, a deer mouse, to help him celebrate in a grand
manner.
But Poppy has gone off somewhere with her husband, Rye, and it appears
she has forgotten all about it. "Belching Beavers," says Ereth, "I am
not angry!" (Though perhaps he is--and more than just a little.)
Ereth knows his special occasion deserves a special treat--even if he
has to get it for himself. And what treat could be more special than
tasty salt? But the nearest salt is located deep in the forest, in a
cabin occupied by fur hunters, who have set out traps to capture the
Dimwood Forest animals.
In one of the traps, Ereth finds Leaper the Fox--who, with her dying
breath, begs the prickly porcupine to take care of her three boisterous
young kits, Tumble, Nimble, and Flip. "Jellied walrus warts!" Ereth
exclaims, but reluctantly agrees.
Certainly this day is not going as he planned--and it's only just the
beginning! Not only does Ereth suddenly have a rambunctious new family
to take care of, but he's being stalked by Marty the Fisher, the one
creature in Dimwood Forest who can do him harm.
And Bounder, the father of the three little foxes, remembers all too
well the nose full of quills he got a while back from the grumpy old
animal who now fancies himself the leader of the den. He too sets out to
show Ereth who's boss.
Throw in an unexpected snowstorm, and all in all, it adds up to one
birthday Ereth the porcupine is never going to forget, not even if he
lives to be a hundred and twenty-two!
