Big Hugs Little Hugs

November 14, 2011
This jubilant ode to the joys of hugging boldly announces its message on the first page: “Everyone hugs all over the world.” What follows are tidy snippets of text that declare what animals like to hug (“Cats hug/ Dogs hug/ Bears hug/ Hogs hug”), as well as where, how, and when this hugging takes place. Bond (the If You Give... series) works in torn- and cut-paper collage, her cheerful animal families showing various happy emotions, from elated roosters hugging on an indoor perch to contented rabbits embracing under an abstract sun. Stark white pages contrast with the bright colors and soft textures of the various papers Bond uses; geographical locations are just hinted at—a few brushstrokes create a snowy scene for two deer, while a polka-dot sun hangs over foxlike robots that prove that, even in the future, hugging is still a celebrated way to show one’s affection. The book’s many whimsical touches should prove both comforting and entertaining. Agency: namelos. Ages 3–up.

December 1, 2011
Bond, illustrator of the If You Give… series, falls short in her attempt to celebrate hugs of all kinds everywhere. Despite an illustrative technique that resembles collage with various textured papers, the mostly bright and seemingly tactile creatures still appear flat as they lie upon stark white backgrounds. The brief text begins with the statement, "Everyone hugs all over the world." The litany of mostly opposite pairs fails to engage young readers as the pages flip by. First comes a list of different animal hugs (cats/dogs, hamsters/hippos), followed by directional concepts (upstairs/downstairs, inside/outside, here/there) and then more opposites (winter/summer, day/night). The last two double-page spreads come full circle to reiterate the initial declaration. The final spread then shows all of the animals featured in the story, reduced in size and floating around the Earth. Though individual illustrations display Bond's customary whimsy, poor contrast in some makes the animals difficult to distinguish. She is to be applauded for expanding beyond her usual style, but this métier needs more development—or perhaps a real narrative line—to work well. Although obviously well-intentioned, there is little here to set this apart from the multitude of books on hugs and other demonstrations of affection. Pass. (Picture book. 2-4)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

December 1, 2011

PreS-Gr 1-Short and sweet, this ode to the embrace emphasizes that "Everyone hugs all over the world." Employing cheerful imagery and a concise narrative, Bond uses each page to show when, where, and how a different creature hugs. Preschoolers will be immediately drawn to the variety of smiling creatures depicted (many unnamed, but familiar for the most part), while older kids will appreciate the array of simple opposite pairings. "Upstairs/Downstairs/Inside/Outside/... Big hugs/Little hugs/In winter/And summer...." Amusingly, the author even includes a dinosaur family "In the past" and some smiling robotic creatures ."..In the future." Charming line drawings of parent-and-child animal pairs, inked on collaged handmade paper, perfectly complement the precious subject matter. Cut origami-paper accents add personality to Bond's already pleasant art. While perhaps not literally true that octopuses, hippos, and chickens all hug, the pleasure shared is aptly conveyed. A good choice for storytime repertoires.-Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2012
Preschool Absolutely adorable animals, an ultrasimple text, and a clean design make this offering from Bond (illustrator of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, 1985) a winner for the youngest of children. Sure, it's based on a false premisemost animals do not, in fact, hugbut this litany of loving creatures gets the point across that caring is cool. Striking collage art shows all kinds of animals, large (elephants) and small (ants), from all areas of the globe (penguins, pandas), and from settings both domestic (dogs, cats) and wild (bats, hippos). In most cases, the background is pure, fresh white, though occasionally there will be a simple brushstroke to indicate the environment, such as a few bluish streaks behind the penguins to suggest ice. There is more here than meets the eye; worked into all the hugging are key concepts for preschoolers, including relative sizes ( Big hugs / Little hugs ), positioning ( Inside / Outside ), locations ( Upstairs / Downstairs ), and more. Resistance is futile.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)