This is an illustrated animal adventure about aspiring to be a hero, searching for magic, and getting a chance to help a friend. Its final question leaves Monty’s wish unresolved.
More about this book
Monty the mole's favourite bedtime story is about a hero, a monster and a magic wand. Monty wants to be a hero too so he sneaks out at night in search of adventure. He meets Herbert the hedgehog and together they decide to be heroes and search for magic. Monty finds a conker shell and uses it as a helmet for protection in case they meet a monster! And they do - along comes a grumpy badger but Herbert uses his spikes to send him on his way. Then Herbert tumbles down a hole and it's Monty's chance to be a hero and help his friend. The heroes continue on their adventure and find what they think is a magic wand - a dandelion. They shake it but all the magic seems to disappear - or does it? Will Monty's wish come true?
heroismhelping a friendstory structureimaginationmagic
FictionPicture book
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Themes in Context
What makes a hero?
Monty wants to be a hero, and later gets the chance to help Herbert after Herbert tumbles into a hole.Exploratory / explanatoryExploratory / explanatory: the book explains or explores the subject without an established evaluative position.Exploratory / explanatory: the book explains or explores the subject without an established evaluative position.
How the book presents it: The plot places helping a friend within Monty’s chance to be a hero, without establishing a broader moral message.
Talk about: Would Monty’s help make him feel like a hero, even if his wish does not come true?
A bedtime story becomes an adventure
Monty’s favourite bedtime story features a hero, monster and magic wand; he then goes out looking for adventure and later mistakes a dandelion for a wand.Exploratory / explanatoryExploratory / explanatory: the book explains or explores the subject without an established evaluative position.Exploratory / explanatory: the book explains or explores the subject without an established evaluative position.
How the book presents it: The outline connects Monty’s wish to be a hero with a search for magic, then leaves the apparent magic open to interpretation.
Talk about: What might Monty mean when he wonders whether the magic has disappeared?
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Why It May Be Worth Reading
The story links heroism with helping a friend, while the mistaken dandelion wand brings a playful question about what counts as magic. It offers room to talk about both ideas without settling them.
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What Deserves Attention
The adventure includes a monster anticipated by Monty, a grumpy badger who is sent away by Herbert’s spikes, and Herbert tumbling into a hole. These moments may merit a quick check-in if peril worries your child.
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A Conversation Worth Having
What do you think makes someone a hero? If Monty’s wish does not come true in the way he hopes, could helping Herbert still matter to him?
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Reading Approach
Pause when Monty gets his chance to help Herbert and invite your child to guess what he might do. At the end, leave space for your own interpretations of the wish and the dandelion.
Confidence & Basis
Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.
What remains unconfirmed
What makes a hero?: Monty’s feelings and the outcome of his wish are not given.
A bedtime story becomes an adventure: The book’s ending and the answer to that question remain unclear.
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