A big black bear is so full of love and happiness that he hugs every living thing he encounters: “No animal was too big… / Too small… / Too smelly… / Or too scary to hug.” His favorite things to hug, however, are trees of all types and sizes. One day he sees a big man with an axe staring at a stately tree. At first black bear thinks the man loves trees as much as he does. When black bear realizes the man’s intention, he tries to attack; but he can’t. Instead “…he decided to do what he did best”—that is, hug—with predictable (and entirely acceptable) results. Canadian commercial artist Oldland’s full-bleed and spot illustrations created in Photoshop have the look of woodcut prints except for the woodsman, who stands out from nature because of his heavy black outline. The startled animals on the receiving end of the Little Orphan Annie–eyed black bear’s hugs will incite giggles. This debut is a treat for the tree hugger in all of us. (Picture book. 3-7)
