TRUMAN TOAD AND THE QUEST FOR THE PERFECT HUG

In this German import, a narcissistic amphibian longs for a hug that’s just right.

Since Truman Toad is the kind of animal who needs no one but himself to be happy, he generally leads a rather carefree, if egotistic, life, talking only to himself and, on occasion, his geranium. That changes the night he dreams of the perfect hug; he soon sets out to find it among his friends. Unfortunately, Truman’s standards prove far too high; no hug fulfills his deep-seated need. After an amusing array of failures, he puts an ad in the paper requesting “the second half of a perfect hug.” Alas, even these attempts fall short of his expectations, though everyone else seems to be having a lovely time sharing hugs. Only when Truman realizes that he needs to let go of the concept of “perfect” does he discover precisely what he seeks. Kuhl’s visuals are an engrossing mix of William Steig’s and Arnold Lobel’s illustrations, with hijinks and hilarity apparent in the ridiculous assortment of different animals: a squirrel and a butterfly eagerly embracing; a snail and a mouse tentatively eyeing each other. Lavie’s prose is perfect in pitch, tone, and phrasing, as when an overexcited Truman sets off “with the special grace of a toad.”

A warm embrace of both story and image, this lesson in appreciating what you have delights in every way.