A Hug Is for Holding Me

October 1, 2018
A young girl compares hugs to things found in nature as she explores with her dad."A speckled egg can be a hug / nestled in a tree. // Eggs hold hatchlings / warm and snug. / Your hug is for / holding me." Feng's soft, pastel-colored illustrations show the father lifting the girl up to see the nest; the next page presents a close-up of their faces, full of wonder, as they see the mother bird and one egg cracked open to reveal the baby. But it won't be quite as easy for young children to make some of the other connections, as the metaphors are not as strong as in Wheeler's earlier Babies Can Sleep Anywhere (2017). Still, if the metaphors are obscure, the sentiment rings true. A cocoon is a hug; a page turn reveals a field of butterflies: "Your hug amazes me." A flower bud holds the bloom: "Your hug feels safe to me." And a seashell is a hug for the animals that may live in it: "Your hug is home to me." The final two spreads revisit the comparisons: "Your hug was made / for holding me... // my hug is for holding YOU!" Feng's artwork is lovely, stylized flora and fauna filling the pages, and the love between the two is evident. Both father and daughter have light skin, straight black hair, and rosy cheeks.Be prepared to take a walk in nature looking for hugs after sharing this one. (Picture book. 3-6)

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December 15, 2018
Preschool-G A hug can be many things. A fair-skinned father and daughter enjoy a walk outdoors. As the child explores, she compares the warmth and security she feels when her parent hugs her to other situations found in nature. The father holds her close, as a nest protects eggs and eggs cradle hatchlings. A cocoon is both strong and gentle. When it amazingly releases a butterfly, the family throws their arms wide in wonder. Just as flower buds and petals safeguard blooms, the child feels safe when her father hugs her. Seashells provide homes for creatures in the ocean, and the girl is at home in her father's arms. All of these natural elements remind the child how her father's hugs protect and care for her. Vivid illustrations portray a sumptuous environment, using many shades of green. The images invite readers to consider the settings from varying perspectives, from sweeping landscapes to extreme close-ups. The juxtaposition of the family affection and scientific information is unusual and effective.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)