Remember Stanley? He’s the adorable little hedgehog who got some attention here on She Is Too Fond of Books after Brunonia Barry (The Lace Reader, The Map of True Places) wrote a post spotlighting a special bookstore – The Spirit of ’76 in Marblehead, Massachusetts.
Barry titled her post ”Sock Puppets, Hedgehogs, and Full-Time Writing.” The hedgehog was, of course, Stanley, who lives with Hilary Emerson Lay, the “Manager/Merchandiser/Enthusiastic Changer of Hair Color/Fearless Seller of Literature” at the bookstore. I can vouch for Hilary’s enthusiasm, bookselling skills, and awesome pink hair!
As much as we readers loved seeing Stanley on the blog, the folks at Animal Planet wanted to see him in person (in hedgehog?). Hilary arranged an incredible Hedgehog Party, complete with hedgie-themed snacks, stories, and a full-size Jan Brett hedgehog … and of course, the star of the show … Stanley!
The episode, called “Peculiar Pets,” will air next Saturday, December 11 at 8 pm on Discovery Channel. Other pets in the spotlight include a capybara, a teacup pig, a miniature pig, a miniature donkey, a pygmy goat and skunks! Set your DVRs now!












I’ll be at my parents’ then and we don’t have a DVR. I’ll try to remember to watch it, but no promises.
Alas, I don’t have a television, but I just checked out Hilary’s website — her artwork is great.
This is so cool! I just love hedgehogs and will be recording this show. Thanks, Dawn!
Awww.. so cool… my husband wants a hedgehog very much and I keep hedging
I’m definitely going to DVR this. When my daughter was little all she wanted was a hedgehog. We would go to the Wild Animal Park and spend hours watching the hedgehogs. Her Grandmother looked into getting her one but sadly they are not legal in California.
Stanley is just TOO cute! I’ll mark this on my calendar.
I’ll pass on the skunks but that hedgehog sure looks cute!
Cool .. and I want to see some of those other animals too.
What fun to get to see Stanly in person (?)!