EVERYBODY DESERVES A HUG

This picture book by a father-daughter team features adorable monsters sharing friendly hugs.

As furry and multihued monsters demonstrate warm embraces, the rhyming narration defines hugs as “a loving squeeze, an inward tug.” No matter what size or age, no matter the season, the narrator continues, everyone wants to be held sometimes. The poem goes on to describe different types of positive actions: helping a young child to stand, cuddling in a group, sharing a smile or laugh, showing what makes each individual unique, being respectful, needing to cry, and even letting people have their own space. The inclusion of the last is an important balance to an otherwise high-contact work, especially for youngsters who may not like hugs as much as their peers. Renée Snelson’s cartoonish monsters all have long eyelashes, heart-shaped noses, shaggy fur in a wide variety of beautifully tinted colors, and expressive tails. The dynamic images show plenty of action as well as an assortment of loving embraces. Doug Snelson’s rhymes scan well, although a few take the imagery astray or use a metaphor that might go over the heads of the youngest readers: “Everybody needs to love. / Around the world, follow the dove.”

Lap cuddlers listening to this sweet read-aloud will get all the snuggles they need.