Patch the Porcupine Scott Nelson spins a wonderful tale of a young porcupine who must overcome his problem of popping bicycle tires with his quills in “Patch the Porcupine and the Bike Shop Job.” (ISBN 0-9745715-3-9, KRBY Creations LLC, $14.95) Nelson both writes and illustrates this tale and uses his artistic talents to bring life to the story with bright and cheerful illustrations that are sure to capture the attention of young readers. Patch the Porcupine, who has a knack for fixing anything, takes a dream job in a Bike Repair Shop, but soon runs into the problem of popping bicycle tires with the quills on his paws. Nelson uses this character in conflict to demonstrate to children how to problem-solve, to keep a Can-Do Attitude, and to ask family and friends for help. Patch overcomes the problem by using protective gloves to stop his sharp quills from popping the tires. One of Nelson’s best benefits for readers of “Patch the Porcupine” is to provide a lesson to young children about overcoming problems. All children as they grow and develop will encounter frustrations when trying something new, and parents can use Patch as an example of how to persevere through these types of new experiences. Nelson is a full-time cartoonist and illustrator, having illustrated a series of children’s books for Golden Books. He has spent the last 17 years working in various medium and has been very successful in the greeting card marketplace with such companies as American Greetings, Paramount Greeting Cards, Hallmark U.K., and others. His greeting card experience is evident in “Patch the Porcupine and the Bike Shop Job” as he is able to capture the essence of an idea in a single illustration. The book has been produced with excellent printing inks and good clarity of the images. The paper stock used is a very heavy weight to increase the durability of the book in the hands of a child. “Patch the Porcupine” will be ideally suited for children ages 4-8 years old. As an added bonus at the end of the story, Patch offers real-life instructions on how to patch a bicycle tire, which may be of particular interest to older siblings. Nelson has put together an engaging and colorful picture book that will entertain and teach children for years to come.