How Herons and Hedgehogs Heal Us – 31 October 2025

On Tuesday Jay Griffiths and Gareth Howell-Jones are coming to the shop to talk about how animals, hedgehogs included, heal us. Since I was once rescued from a difficult situation by a hedgehog, a hedgehog which had itself been saved by my mother and named Lord Emsworth by my father, I fully endorse this message.

Jay Grifiths’ latest book, How Animals Heal Us, is lovely. So much more than a paean to relaxing with a purring cat (which does have pain-relieving powers, releasing oxytocin) or the benefits of caring for animals in combating loneliness, the author’s deep research looks at how animals can heal individuals, both physically and mentally, but also society. If that sounds far-fetched, come and chat to her about ethics and wolves.

When I wrote about this book a few months ago, I mentioned spiders dreaming, laughter in rats and dogs detecting diseases. Add to that, orienteering pigs, babysitting parrots and empathetic woodlice. It’s such a good book I might be encouraged to turn off Radio 4 during my walk to work to enjoy some curative birdsong. Though that risks missing an interview about the powers of birdsong.

Jay will be in conversation with Gareth Howell-Jones, an author encouraging us to stand still and see the world afresh. In Your Lowly Hedgehog Knows, he too writes about woodlice, as well as trees, creativity, his invisible childhood friend and the animal we all profess to love which is nevertheless endangered because of us, hedgehogs.

Though we can’t provide a therapy skunk to keep you company during the event, we will offer a soothing drink and a hope-filled conversation. Maybe a spider too, since they seem to feel at home here, but no promises. Do come and join us at 6pm on 4 November.

Perhaps not featuring on Tuesday will be some of the more curious animals in A Venetian Bestiary by Jan Morris. The healing powers of a crocodile, not to mention a griffin, may need more research. But this stunning new edition of the great travel writer’s journey through the mighty menagerie of that city, conducted at a rate of knots, may in turn cause you to stop and consider.

Morris draws the reader’s attention to the beasts in paintings, sculpture and engravings, ‘beasts tender and ferocious, historical and imaginary, repulsive and enchanting.’ It’s a beautiful book and a brilliant way of taking a trip through Venetian history and art, in which herons pleasingly have a rôle.

The healing power of a horse is central to Willy Vlautin’s novel, The Horse. The horse in question shows up outside Al Ward’s shack, blind and vulnerable. Al lives in the middle of nowhere in Nevada. It is snowing and his car won’t start. While he ponders how to get help and tries to share some of the more unlikely flavours of Campbell’s condensed soup with the creature, Al reminisces about a life spent playing gigs, writing country songs for talented but intoxicated musicians and the love stories that failed along the way.

The lists of song titles are ridiculous. The outfits (and the hair) greasy. The tequila fiery. The story one of mercy and kindness and grimy romance.

Animals turn out to be the least of one’s concerns in the absolutely horrible book The Lamb by Lucy Rose. But it is Halloween. So, if you would like a novel about a mother and a daughter living in a woodland, taking in the lost people who come to their home, caring for them, then killing and eating them, this one is for you. Everyone else, skip past this and for goodness’ sake don’t think about human fingers in batter. I think it testament to the writing that I felt genuinely sick and also hungry whilst reading this.

Doubtless there are many intelligent creatures out there with extraordinary and enchanting abilities. But, I implore you, Don’t Trust Fish! Neil Sharpson’s picture book, illustrated by Dan Santat, is an important education in these rule-breaking beings. Some have gills. Some have lungs. Some lay eggs. Some don’t. What is going on?Fish spend all their time in water. Where we can’t see them. What are they plotting? Fish hang out in schools. What are they learning? I think we should be told.

In Godfather Death by Sally Nicholls, illustrated by Júlia Sardà, a fisherman is wondering who he can trust to be godfather to his son. God himself offers but his track history with human suffering is less than ideal. Satan throws his horns into the ring but he may not prove a great rôle model. Then Death puts himself forward. He’s the only honest man, treating everyone equally. And he’s known the family since the dawn of time. What’s not to like?

You can put your whole-hearted trust in the Adventuremice. In the latest adventure, Mousehole to the Centre of the Earth by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre, Uncle Bernie has invented a (not remotely) boring machine, so that they can tunnel deep into the ground and find out the secrets of the Earth’s core. It doesn’t have a reverse gear but I’m sure that won’t cause any problems…

The Feathered Book by Charlie Nutbrown confirms the restorative power of books and animals combined. Despite Ticklepenny the Dormouse standing guard and the system of alarms and booby traps, a book has been stolen from the library. The Feathered Book itself, which holds the centuries-old secrets to Prendergast the Raven’s mysterious experiments in alchemy.

Having given up on his attempts to become a painter, botanist and shipwright, Monty the Fox has recently decided that he will make a great detective. His best friend, Nettle (a rabbit, don’t question it) is sceptical. But when librarian Pecksniff the Squirrel asks them to solve the crime which threatens the very future of the library they must help. Even getting to the scene proves difficult when they are attacked by a pirate otter. Don’t trust otters. Charlie Nutbrown is a fantastic writer. That’s his real name so he sort of had to be.

May your weekend be therapeutic, feathered and fish-free,
Lizzie