A GREAT DAY FOR A HUG

On a farm, everybody’s job is important.

In this Dutch/Belgian import, all the typical farm animals (a rooster, a piglet, a goose, sheep, a duck, a goat, a rabbit, a cow, and a horse) have roles to play. Even little Chick can contribute. “He makes all the animals feel better with a smile or a warm hug!” The somewhat wordy plot of this slight story follows the spindly-legged young fowl all over the farm. Chick politely greets each animal then, when it asks for a kiss or hug, offers it. The cartoon critters drawn to exemplify the essential features of each species are all happy to accept Chick’s friendly overture. The goat, the rabbit, the cow, and the horse all get kisses. But the piglet is startled and runs away to a mud puddle. Chick helps the piglet out of the mud and gets muddy himself, and when Chick hugs its mommy, the mud is transferred to a very accommodating mother hen. No problem. Mommy and Chick share a bath before bedtime and a “sweet good-night kiss.” Each animal’s name is in bold when Chick first encounters them. Other words are italicized but not consistently. Pastoral farm scenes against pastel skies make for an idealized vision of farm life. There is no sign of a farmer.

Little chicks able to sit through the rather long story may also decide it’s “a great day for a hug."