HUGVILLE

Hugville is famous for its unique hugs and its hospitality; the mayor invites one and all to come for a sampling. Bouncy rhyming couplets describe each hug: Monkey, Octopus, Tornado (beware—bad-hair day potential), Itchy Dog, Phone (for long-distance huggers), Pogo Stick and Chicken (be careful not to lay an egg), while Murray cleverly manages to illustrate the seemingly impossible. Amid the talk of specific hugs there are also details about life in Hugville. Children attend hugging school, physicians prescribe hugs and the whole town gathers each night to pull a hug out of the Hug Jug. The sweet ending inspires one final squeeze: “Pretend that your arms are all covered with glue / And hug the one reading this story to you!” Murray’s illustrations are filled with silly details and vibrant colors: yellow skies and blue people. His cartoon characters appear ready to leap off the pages and into a favorite television show. Crandall includes a “Hug Jug Kit”—a strip of squares that can be cut out and placed in a container. Feeling silly? Pull a square out and deliver the named hug. A cute way to spice up one’s hug life. (Picture book. 3-7)