Hey Duggee: The Shape Badge

Hey Duggee: The Shape Badge is a colourful early-learning board book that helps preschool children recognise and compare shapes through an entertaining story featuring Duggee and the Squirrels. Children can join Tag, Norrie, Roly, Happy, and Betty as they practise their shape skills and help a group of animals find suitable shelters before the rain begins.

Some shapes are easy for the Squirrels to recognise, but others are more challenging. When the weather changes, Duggee turns their lesson into a useful mission. The Squirrels must carefully examine the available shelters and decide which shape fits each animal.

Published by BBC Children’s Books, Hey Duggee: The Shape Badge combines familiar characters, simple storytelling, shape recognition, problem-solving, and a rewarding badge ending. It is an excellent first-concept book for children aged approximately two years and above.

Practise Shapes with the Squirrels

The Squirrels are learning about shapes at the clubhouse. They need to look carefully, compare the outlines, and remember the names of different shapes.

Parents can read the story aloud and encourage children to point to each shape as it appears. Adults can also trace around the outline with a finger while saying the shape’s name clearly.

Useful questions include:

• “What shape can you see?”
• “Can you trace around it with your finger?”
• “Which shapes look the same?”
• “How many sides does this shape have?”
• “Can you find another shape like it?”
• “Which shelter will fit this animal?”

These questions encourage children to observe, listen, compare, and explain their choices.

Help the Animals Before It Rains

The approaching rain gives the Squirrels a reason to use their new shape knowledge. They must help the animals find shelters that fit them correctly before the rain starts.

This turns shape recognition into a simple problem-solving activity. Rather than memorising isolated names, children see how shapes can be matched and used for a purpose.

Parents can pause before revealing the answer and ask the child to make a prediction. Even if the first choice is incorrect, adults can encourage another attempt by comparing the animal with the available shelter.

The activity may help children practise:

• Visual matching
• Comparing size and shape
• Logical thinking
• Making predictions
• Problem-solving
• Patience
• Persistence

Recognising Common Shapes

Children encounter shapes everywhere, from toys and books to windows, plates, road signs, and buildings. Hey Duggee: The Shape Badge provides a friendly introduction to recognising shapes in colourful illustrations.

After reading, families can search for familiar shapes around the home. For example:

• A plate may look like a circle
• A window may be a square or rectangle
• A slice of food may resemble a triangle
• A book may look like a rectangle
• A decorative item may have a star shape

Connecting shapes in the story with real objects can help children understand that these concepts exist beyond the book.

Understanding Shape Features

As children become more confident, parents can introduce simple descriptions of each shape. They can talk about whether a shape has straight or curved edges, how many sides it has, and whether its sides appear equal.

Adults might say:

• “A circle is round.”
• “A triangle has three sides.”
• “A square has four equal sides.”
• “A rectangle has four sides.”
• “This shape has curved edges.”
• “That shape has pointed corners.”

Very young children do not need to memorise every definition. Repeatedly hearing the descriptions helps build familiarity.

Learning About Size and Fit

The story also introduces the idea that objects can have the same general shape but different sizes. A small shelter may not fit a large animal, even if its outline appears correct.

Parents can demonstrate size differences using safe objects, such as stacking cups, building blocks, boxes, or shape-sorter toys. Children can compare which items fit inside a container and which are too large.

These activities may support:

• Spatial awareness
• Size comparison
• Hand-eye coordination
• Trial-and-error learning
• Understanding fit
• Early mathematical reasoning

Build Shape Pictures

Families can extend the story by creating pictures from simple shapes. Adults can draw or cut out shapes and help children arrange them into familiar objects.

For example:

• A square and triangle can make a house
• Circles can become wheels
• A rectangle can form a door
• A triangle can become a roof
• Several shapes can create a Squirrel Club character

Children can colour the shapes before arranging them. This activity combines shape recognition with creativity and fine motor practice.

Supporting Early Vocabulary

Shape words become easier to remember when they are used regularly in conversation. Parents can repeat the names while pointing to the relevant pictures and invite children to say them too.

The story can introduce vocabulary connected with:

• Shapes
• Sizes
• Animals
• Weather
• Shelters
• Positions
• Matching
• Movement

Adults can also practise positional words by asking whether a shape is above, below, beside, inside, or behind another object.

Encouraging Observation and Concentration

Finding the correct shelter requires children to examine details rather than choosing randomly. They must compare the animal with different possibilities and decide which one appears most suitable.

Sharing Hey Duggee: The Shape Badge may encourage:

• Visual concentration
• Attention to detail
• Shape recognition
• Memory
• Comparison
• Logical thinking
• Listening and comprehension
• Early communication

Children can explore the story at their own pace and revisit the illustrations whenever they want more practice.

Learning About Helping Others

The Squirrels use their new skills to help the animals find shelter. This gives parents an opportunity to discuss kindness, teamwork, and responsibility.

Adults can ask:

• “Why do the animals need shelter?”
• “How are the Squirrels helping?”
• “Why is it useful to work together?”
• “How can we help someone today?”

The story demonstrates that learning can be useful when it helps solve a real problem.

Earn the Shape Badge

After recognising the shapes and helping the animals, the Squirrels can earn their Shape Badge. The badge provides a satisfying conclusion and celebrates everything they have learned.

Parents can pretend to award their child a Shape Badge after finishing the story. Children might also draw their own badge using circles, triangles, squares, or other favourite shapes.

This positive ending can build confidence and encourage children to look for more shapes in their surroundings.

A Durable Board Book for Little Hands

The sturdy board-book format is appropriate for toddlers and preschool children who are still developing careful page-turning skills. Thick pages are easier for small fingers to hold than ordinary paper pages.

Its compact square design makes it convenient for reading at home or carrying during journeys. Children can return to the story repeatedly as their ability to recognise and describe shapes develops.

About Hey Duggee

Hey Duggee is a BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning animated preschool series about a friendly dog who runs the Squirrel Club. Duggee guides Tag, Norrie, Roly, Happy, and Betty through games, outdoor adventures, creative challenges, and early-learning experiences.

Featuring the voice of comedian and presenter Alexander Armstrong, the programme encourages children to be active, curious, helpful, cooperative, and imaginative. The Squirrels usually earn a badge after completing their challenge before celebrating with a famous Duggee Hug.

Families can explore more titles through the official Hey Duggee book collection.

Who Should Read The Shape Badge?

This book is suitable for:

• Children from approximately two years old
• Preschoolers learning first shapes
• Young Hey Duggee fans
• Children developing visual-matching skills
• Families practising early mathematical concepts
• Nurseries and preschool classrooms
• Parents looking for durable board books
• Anyone searching for an educational toddler gift

The physical board-book specifications are confirmed by the Hatchards publication listing, while the story and series information is available from Penguin UK.

Book Links

View the official book information:
Hey Duggee: The Shape Badge – Penguin UK

Explore more books in the series:
Hey Duggee Book Collection – Penguin UK

Find the Shapes and Earn a Badge

Hey Duggee: The Shape Badge turns shape recognition into an entertaining Squirrel Club adventure. As children help the animals find suitable shelters, they can practise matching, comparing, observing, and solving simple problems.

With its familiar characters, sturdy pages, colourful illustrations, and rewarding badge ending, this delightful board book provides an enjoyable first introduction to shapes for every curious little Squirrel. Ah-woof!