★ The Hedgehog and the Bear is a work brimming with wisdom and warmth, blending literary grace with philosophical depth, and possessing a magical, soul-healing power.
★ Winner of the Yasnaya Polyana Literary Award and Booker Prize–listed author Aleksandra Nikolayenko ventures for the first time into the realm of fairy tales. The exquisite illustrations and felt-toy prototypes inside were handmade by the author herself.
★ With a singular perspective and delicate prose, Nikolayenko weaves philosophical reflection into fairy-tale narrative, allowing readers to explore the meaning of life while enjoying a light-hearted read, to re-examine what truly matters amid busy days, and to feel the beauty and hope hidden in everyday life.
★ More than a children’s story, the book is an honest fable about the adult world, deserving a place in every heart that still loves fairy tales.
★ Children and adults alike will discover insights of their own, understanding and seeing themselves reflected on every page.

“Keeping something even for yourself—there’s no greedier act on earth!”
“Truth is always afraid of being spoken out loud.”
“Everything in the world probably has meaning—even bees, even the things that look meaningless. There are more meanings than we can count; all we can do is guard the piece that belongs to us.”
“You’re right: the future can’t be dodged. It will come. Whatever you do, it will come.”

What do you do when your best friend thinks differently? How can you become brave when you’re scared? Must a dream be grand? … Day after day, Bear and Hedgehog face questions just like these.
The book tells of two best friends—polar opposites yet perfect complements. Bear is warm, direct, and restless as the sun; Hedgehog is timid, cautious, and delicate as moonlight. Though their natures differ, they are each other’s surest refuge. Together they keep one creed: “For everything good, against everything bad.” Side by side they weather storms, icy winters, fearsome lions, and the dangers of the forest.

Across fifty-nine sparkling mini-fairy-tales, the book braids the “life questions” no child can avoid. There is no heavy-handed preaching—only the wondrous adventures and tender dialogues of two friends, guiding young readers to think for themselves and to harvest qualities and wisdom that last a lifetime. At the same time, it is a truthful parable for adults: here, justice is not simple victory but eternal presence; the world has no end, for its border is the horizon; time is infinite, because however far the hands of the clock run, they only lengthen the road ahead.

The author not only built this miraculous world with words but also created black-and-white photo illustrations of the fluffy Hedgehog, Rabbit, Bear, and other characters. While writing, she even learned to craft wool animals; the endearing felt prototypes add vivid detail to the tale.

【Author】Alexandra Nikolayenko
One of the most powerful contemporary female writers in Russian literature! A literary star attracting widespread attention! Nikolayenko graduated from the National Moscow Stroganov University of Arts and Industry, but has loved words since childhood, starting her creative journey in high school. Besides being a writer, she is also a renowned illustrator, known for her unique black-and-white illustration style that carries deep meaning, with her works featured in many outstanding publications. Since entering the literary scene in 2016, Alexandra Nikolayenko has been prolific, with almost every work achieving tremendous success!

【Awards】
Killing Bobrykin: Winner of the 2017 Russian Literature Prize - Russian Booker Prize! Winner of the 2017 Russian Anti-Traditional Arts Award! Successfully staged at the Moscow Puppet Theatre!

The Postman from Heaven, Bulkin: Nominated for the 2019 Russian National Bestseller Award and the Russian Big Book Award! It has excellent sales and reputation, being referred to as the Russian version of The Little Prince!

The People Who Live As Usual: Nominated for one of the most prestigious awards in Russian literature, the Yasnaya Polyana Award (2021)! Russian President's cultural advisor Vladimir Ilyich Tolstoy also attended the book's launch event!

God of Ants: Requiem: Winner of one of the most prestigious awards in contemporary Russian literature, the Yasnaya Polyana Literary Award (2023) - "Best Contemporary Literature Work in Russia"!

Good-Night Blessings – 2
The Rain That Wouldn’t Stop – 7
Forest Law – 12
Don’t Open That Door! – 22
Why Do We Have to Work? – 25
Old Cat Gorgomesh – 28
No One – 33
Who Commands the Rain – 36
The Storm – 39
The Invisible Man – 43
While No One’s Watching – 49
You Won’t Understand! – 53
Hedgehog Wins Back Time – 58
A Brief Guide to Reducing Evil – 62
The Conscience-Less Bear – 68
The Lucky Needle – 73
The Good Old Days – 77
Instructions for Eating Strawberry Jam – 81
Spring Will Surely Come – 85
Bread-Head, Piece for You, Piece for Me – 89
Journey to the Sun – 96
Where Did Summer Go?
—A Love Fairy Tale – 101
The Farsighted Fox – 107
The Strange Little Path – 113
Where Are We Going? – 115
Together – 117
A Tale for Fyodor – 120
The Spell That Makes the World Disappear – 125
Don’t Vanish! – 129
The Giant Rabbit – 132
Until… – 134
Two-in-One – 137
A Gift of Memories to You – 140
Four Paws, Eight Legs – 146
Reasons to Make a Friend – 149
A Grand Dream – 152
The Goldfish – 154
Hedgehog Wants to Be Lion King – 160
Bear the Prophet – 166
Stopping Winter – 173
War and Peace – 179
Everything Has Meaning – 187
Packing Summer into a Basket – 193
Scaredy – 198
Two Hedgehogs Exactly Alike – 203
The Most Important Dream – 208
Where Are You Going? – 210
The Perfect Air-Raid Shelter – 212
No Place to Hide – 217
One and the Same Planet
—For Ira Dmitriyeva-Vann – 221
Falling Snow – 224
Looking for the Sun – 228
We Shall Become the Sea – 233
To Be Alive! – 238
I’ve Got an Idea! – 244
Just a Tiny Bit Left! – 249
Summer Returns – 254
I Will Never Forget – 261
From One Bedside Table to Another – 265