A Milton Keynes mum has turned years of supporting a son with ADHD into Spikey the Hedgehog, a picture book for ages 4 to 8 about learning at your own pace.

A Milton Keynes parent has written and published a children’s picture book drawn from years of supporting a son with ADHD through school.

Emilya Costouva, who writes as Emka Bemka, has put Spikey the Hedgehog: The Magic of Learning on sale on Amazon, together with a companion activity pack. The book is a woodland adventure for children aged 4 to 8, according to its cover, and the message its author wants children to take from it is that learning is not a race.

Where the story came from

“As a parent of a child with ADHD, I spent many years supporting my son through challenges with confidence, learning, friendships, and school life,” Emilya told MK Daily.

“Inspired by that journey, I created Spikey the Hedgehog: The Magic of Learning, a children’s woodland adventure that encourages perseverance, kindness, friendship, curiosity, and self-belief.”

The front and back covers of Spikey the Hedgehog: The Magic of Learning. The front shows a hedgehog in a green scarf holding a magnifying glass beside a squirrel, an owl and a bluebird, with signs reading Adventure, Kindness, Friendship, Learning and a leaf reading For children aged 4 to 8 years old. The back shows the hedgehog walking down a woodland path towards a sunset past a sign reading Keep learning. Keep being kind. Keep believing in yourself. The magic is already inside you.
The front and back covers of Spikey the Hedgehog: The Magic of Learning. Photo: supplied by Emilya Costouva

What happens in the book

The two sample pages Emilya sent show where the book’s heart lies. On page 25, Spikey waves goodbye to his friends Hopper and Squibber at the end of the day. “School was hard,” the text reads. “But then he smiled. ‘Mum is home,’ thought Spikey. ‘She’ll give me the sweetest hug I need right now.’”

Page 25 of the book: Spikey the hedgehog, carrying books and a satchel, waves goodbye to a rabbit and a squirrel outside a cottage at sunset, with his mother in the doorway. The text reads: Spikey waved goodbye to Hopper and Squibber. School was hard. But then he smiled. Mum is home, thought Spikey. She'll give me the sweetest hug I need right now.
Page 25: Spikey home from school, with his mother at the door. Photo: supplied by Emilya Costouva

Two pages on, his mother sits with him over a book. “Learning helps you grow strong and wise,” she tells him. “With repetition and help from Mum, friends and teachers, anything is possible.” The page ends honestly: “Spikey wasn’t completely convinced.”

The book Spikey and his mother are reading carries the lessons in small print: “Repetition helps your brain remember”, “Friends learn together”, “Asking for help makes you stronger. There’s no shame in asking!” and “Teachers guide you forward”.

Page 27 of the book: Spikey and his mother sit in an armchair by a moonlit window reading a book whose pages say Repetition helps your brain remember, Friends learn together, Asking for help makes you stronger and Teachers guide you forward. The text reads: Mum smiled kindly. Learning helps you grow strong and wise. With repetition and help from Mum, friends and teachers, anything is possible. Spikey wasn't completely convinced.
Page 27: Spikey and his mother reading together. Photo: supplied by Emilya Costouva

“My goal is to help children understand that learning is not a race, that asking for help is a strength, and that every child has the potential to succeed in their own way,” Emilya said.

Why a hedgehog

Asked why she chose a hedgehog as her hero, Emilya said: “Hedgehogs are such a beloved part of British wildlife. Spikey represents kindness, curiosity, resilience, and the joy of learning. I wanted to create a character that children could relate to while encouraging positive values and a love of discovery.”

From one book to Spikey’s Woodland

The companion title is Spikey’s Woodland Reward, Learning and Kindness Pack, which its cover describes as “fun activities for bright young explorers” for ages 4 to 8, with rewards, activities, colouring and puzzles. It brings in the wider cast: Squibber the Squirrel, Hopper the Rabbit, Chickallina the Chicken, Bloomer the Bird, Spikey’s Mum, Squibber’s Dad and Grandma the Turtle.

Cover of Spikey's Woodland Reward, Learning and Kindness Pack by Emka Bemka, for ages 4 to 8, showing Spikey the hedgehog with a squirrel, a rabbit in glasses, a turtle in a headscarf, a chick with a red bow, a bluebird, an adult hedgehog and an adult squirrel in a flower meadow.
The cover of the companion activity pack, with the full Spikey's Woodland cast. Photo: supplied by Emilya Costouva

“What began as a story inspired by my son has grown into Spikey’s Woodland, an expanding children’s world that includes books, educational resources, a colouring book currently in development, and plans for future stories,” Emilya said.

“As a local Milton Keynes mum, I am proud to have turned a personal family experience into something that I hope will inspire and support other children and families.”

Where to find it

Spikey the Hedgehog: The Magic of Learning and the activity pack are both published on Amazon under the name Emka Bemka. A colouring book is in development, Emilya says, with more stories planned.

For now the books are sold only through Amazon. Emilya says she is exploring opportunities with local schools, libraries and bookshops, and is open to special discounts for schools, libraries and community groups. “I would be delighted to collaborate with organisations across Milton Keynes that share a passion for encouraging reading, learning, and personal development in children,” she said.

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