Benjamin Hall Turns His Ukraine War Survival Story Into Powerful Children’s Book Inspired By A Lucky Hedgehog 🦔💛

Fox News war correspondent Benjamin Hall has spent years reporting from some of the most dangerous places on Earth — but nothing could have prepared him for the day the story became his own.

The veteran journalist had covered conflict in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, travelling through war zones where danger was never far away. But on March 14, 2022, while reporting on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Hall’s life changed forever.

He was travelling through the devastated village of Horenka, near Kyiv, with cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski and Ukrainian producer Sasha Kuvshynova when their vehicle was struck.

In seconds, everything turned black. 💔

The attack killed Zakrzewski, 55, and Kuvshynova, 24. Hall survived — but his injuries were catastrophic. He was airlifted from Kyiv to Germany before being transferred to Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas, where doctors performed nearly 30 surgeries.

The physical toll was almost unimaginable.

His right leg was amputated below the knee. His left foot was amputated. His left eye was blinded after shrapnel destroyed the iris, lens and cornea. His hands and neck were severely injured.

Yet through pain, trauma and the long road of recovery, Hall held onto one small symbol of hope: a stuffed hedgehog. 🦔

The toy had travelled with him on assignments, tucked inside his body armour like a quiet reminder of home. After the attack, it became far more than a keepsake. It became a lifeline — a symbol of survival, love and the family waiting for him.

Hall has now turned that deeply personal memory into his first children’s book, Read All About It!, inspired by courage, journalism and the little hedgehog that helped him keep fighting.

In an interview with PEOPLE, Hall explained that the hedgehog reminded him of his daughters — Honor, Iris, Hero and Sage — and strengthened his determination to make it back to them.

“It was this reminder of my children and my family, and I was going home,” he said.

Those words carry enormous emotional weight.

Because for Hall, recovery was not only about learning to live with devastating injuries. It was about finding a reason to push through every operation, every painful day, and every moment when the future must have felt terrifyingly uncertain.

That reason was family. ❤️

Read All About It! takes that spirit and transforms it into a story for children. At its heart is a small but determined character who finds himself facing a much bigger mission — a reminder that courage is not about size, strength or status. Sometimes, the smallest voice can make the biggest difference.

The book explores bravery, curiosity and the responsibility to act when something is wrong. Through the hedgehog’s journey, young readers are encouraged to think about truth, teamwork and the power of stepping forward instead of standing by.

For Hall, those lessons are not abstract.

They come from life.

From war.

From loss.

From survival.

And from the profession he has devoted his life to. 📚

The journalist also used the project to highlight why reporting matters. In a world filled with noise, fear and misinformation, Hall believes the truth is essential. Journalists, he explained, play a vital role in helping people understand what is happening around them — especially in places where darkness can easily hide.

That message gives the book a deeper meaning. It is not simply a sweet children’s story. It is a gentle introduction to the idea that facts matter, voices matter, and people have a responsibility to care about the world beyond themselves.

But Hall also understood that children need lightness, warmth and humour. The story balances serious themes with playful moments, ending with a charming detail: even after saving the day, the hedgehog still manages to lose his bag.

That small touch makes the story feel human, funny and relatable — exactly the kind of moment children remember. ✨

Hall said creating the book became a true family effort. He regularly asked his daughters for their opinions as the story developed, letting them help shape its tone and direction.

That makes the project even more touching.

The same children who gave him strength during recovery are now part of the book inspired by that survival.

After years of reporting on suffering, destruction and conflict, Hall has created something hopeful. Something tender. Something designed not to frighten children, but to inspire them.

His story is marked by tragedy, but it is not defined by it.

Benjamin Hall survived the unthinkable.

He came home.

And now, through a lucky little hedgehog, he is teaching children that bravery can be small, truth can be powerful, and love can carry us through even the darkest days. 🦔💛