As a children’s author of board books through picture books (Baby Code series, Chicks!,Bizarre Birds, and The Biggest Pumpkin) and as a librarian, I love books that make children feel good and loved. When I was working on my picture book The Giant Hug, I researched what other hug books had been published. There weren’t many back in 2002, but I continued to be on the lookout even after mine was published. I’m happy to report that there are quite a few hug books out there now, spreading love, hugs, and kindness to readers of all ages. We all need them!
I wrote...
The Giant Hug
By
Sandra Horning,
Valeri Gorbachev
What is my book about?
How do you give a hug when your granny lives far away? Send it through the mail, of course! This sweet story makes a perfect gift for a special person in your life, whether they live near or far.
Owen’s hug travels across the country in a series of hilarious, sometimes awkward, always heartfelt embraces between animals of different shapes and sizes. Valeri Gorbachev’s adorable artwork pairs beautifully with Sandra Horning’s charming text, and makes for a fun, funny, and educational read-aloud. An unexpected twist at the end will delight readers and have kids asking for this book again and again.
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The Books I Picked & Why
Hug
By
Jez Alborough
Why this book?
Hug, an almost wordless picture book by author-illustrator Jez Alborough, shows Bobo the monkey saying “Hug” over and over again as he watches his jungle friends embrace. The expressive animals make it clear that they’re enjoying their cuddles. At the end, Bobo finally gets the big hug he desires. The board book edition makes a wonderful present for little ones who like to look at books and bite them too. Plus, “hug” is a great word to add to a toddler’s growing vocabulary.
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Bird Hugs
By
Ged Adamson
Why this book?
I couldn’t resist a title with two of my favorite things, hugs and birds. (In fact, I’ve written early readers about birds.)Bird Hugs, by author-illustrator Ged Adamson, tells the story of Bernard, a sweet little bird with wings too long to fly. He tries to fly many times, but isn’t successful. He feels useless and lonely until he meets an orangutan who needs a hug. It turns out Bernard’s long wings are just perfect for hugging. One hug leads to another and soon all the animals come to Bernard when they need comfort. Bird Hugs tells a lovely story with a positive message about fitting in when you’re different and, of course, how a hug can brighten your day.
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Hugs and Kisses for the Grouchy Ladybug
By
Eric Carle
Why this book?
I was delighted when Eric Carle wroteHugs and Kisses for The Grouchy Ladybug because I read many of his books during my preschool story time at the library. They are just right for the under-five age group. Hug and Kisses for The Grouchy Ladybug is a small and cute book, perfect for little hands to hold. Like many of Carle’s stories, each page has a different animal that young children can proudly identify. Each animal shows what happens when they receive hugs and kisses. They smile, clap, and jump across the page. Fans of The Grouchy Ladybug will enjoy learning that even the grouchy ladybug smiles when she receives hugs and kisses.
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How to Hug a Pufferfish
By
Ellie Peterson
Why this book?
Author-illustrator Ellie Peterson’s recently published book How to Hug a Pufferfishis much needed in today’s world. It’s a story not only about giving hugs, but also about asking permission to give a hug. In an engaging and fun way with cartoonish illustrations, Peterson uses the prickly pufferfish to humorously show that not everyone wants to receive a hug all the time. If you’re a pufferfish, you need to be asked. It’s a book about consent for the youngest readers, presented in the sweetest age-appropriate way you can imagine. I will definitely be reading this at my story time, and might even gift this to a few prickly adults!
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Group Hug
By
Jean Reidy,
Joey Chou
Why this book?
Jean Reidy’sGroup Hug begins with a slug “needing someone to hug.” Slug offers a hug to a lonely beetle and together they then offer a hug to a mouse. The circle of comfort grows with animals of different sizes and emotions. When a bear comes along, the group is afraid, but slug presses on to include the bear. Reidy’s rhyming text and Chou’s bright art beautifully show that both the hugger and huggee experience joy from the hug. This makes another great story time read to spread kindness and understanding.
