HUG TIME

Jules (aka Shtinky Puddin’) finally gets his own picture-book platform to preach his environmentally friendly, endangered-species-loving message. In the pale colors of a Mutts Sunday comic strip, Jules the orange kitten sets out with a mission: to hug the whole world. “He hugged his best friends, Mooch, Noodles, and Earl, / A butterfly, buttercups, a little gray squirrel.” He works his way around the globe hugging chimps, pandas and wombats until he finds himself alone at the North Pole. After accepting an offered hug from a passing polar bear, Jules hurries home to hug the one he loves best: Doozy. Fans of the first two picture books featuring the Mutts crew will find this no less charming, though the message here is a bit more heavily laid on. The illustrations are the greatest strength here; and, like its predecessors, this would be a fine gift or story-time choice. (Picture book. 5-7)