From McKee (Zebra's Hiccups, 1993, etc.), the tale of the profound effects a simple hug can bestow. For each of the seven days leading up to Prince Peter's birthday, the king and queen ask him what he'd like for a present: a silver sword, perhaps, or a suit of armor. To each suggestion Prince Peter offers a respectful counter-suggestion: ``I'd like a teddy bear.'' When they relent, Prince Peter gets his teddy, but it is made of solid gold. How can one cuddle something so hard and cold? Prince Peter learns that he can, indeed, cuddle it and that there are a couple of other hard and cold creatures--the king and queen--who might benefit from a cuddle. McKee's text is nicely cadenced and lends itself to reading out loud. The illustrations are drenched in color, patterned and winsomely textured. (Picture book. 3-6)
