Hug Machine

June 2, 2014
A boy shows ample pride in his hugging prowess in this ode to spreading joy, the first book Campbell (If Dogs Run Free) has both written and illustrated. There’s no one and nothing that the protagonist—clad in shorts, a striped polo, and red boots—won’t hug. He’s so confident about the power of his “irresistible” hugs to calm people down, cheer them up, or “make the biggest feel small. The smallest feel big,” that he calls himself the Hug Machine. Spiky porcupine? No problem. The Hug Machine dons a facemask, oven mitts, and a pillow before going in for the squeeze. Super-huge whale? The Hug Machine slides down the whale’s back and hugs in increments. After a long day of hug-giving, the Hug Machine “can hug no more” and is scooped up into his mother’s arms. Campbell’s simply outlined watercolors exude warmth, emotion, and sly humor, from the deadpan expressions of several surprised recipients of the Hug Machine’s hugs to his own serenely closed eyes during each hug, which make it clear that he’s giving each hug his utmost. Ages 4–8.

A feel-good ride, full of droll artistic asides and an abundance of caring.A little boy calls himself the Hug Machine. He is a squat little guy, with an oblong head and arms that would surely drag on the floor if he ever put them down. But that just means they are perfect for hugging. The Hug Machine wraps his arms around his family, neighbors, everyone he meets. He also hugs things that are hard (a rock), big (a bear), square (an ice cream truck) and spiky (a porcupine-while wearing adequate protection, of course). No one can resist his unbelievable hugging! Admittedly, the Hug Machine can look a tad forbidding while looking for his next cuddle recipient; his large eyes pop, and his arms stretch wide. But as soon as the hug starts, his face relaxes into a serene calm. With each hug, Campbell depicts him hilariously perched in the same position, as if he were perfectly inserted exactly where he should be. Unadorned, hand-lettered text and deliberately muted watercolors increase the warmth of this adorable little fellow. The story rests on a simple string of hugs and one plucky little hero doing his part to make the world a better place.In his first outing as an author, Campbell shines. (Picture book. 3-6) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 1-Much like cats, young children can be quite persnickety about whom they embrace and when. Not so with this story's protagonist, aka the Hug Machine. This boy takes it upon himself to calm and cheer everyone, and everything (rocks, trees), he encounters with a warm hug. He takes his work quite seriously and no challenge is too tough (a porcupine) or large (a whale) for him to wrap his arms around. It's a big, important job that requires frequent refueling (pizza) to keep his "hugging energy high," but he's up to the task. Finally, when he's about to collapse from exhaustion, he acquiesces to his mom's request and lets her hold the Hug Machine in her arms. Campbell's stylized watercolor cartoon art is the perfect foil for the straightforward text. The humor is deadpan and the illustrations, though quirky, are enormously appealing. The diminutive boy is depicted with large eyes and extra-long arms, so he's well prepared for his chosen mission. Absolutely irresistible.-Luann Toth, School Library Journal

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2014
Preschool-G From the title page, where the tiny hug machine boosts his biceps for a long day of hugging, to the exuberant tirelessness with which he dispenses embraces, this noodle-armed little boy who loves hugs is irrepressibly charming. Campbell's big-eyed, overall-sporting toddler in red boots will hug anything, and he is the best: No one can resist my unbelievable hugging. Grumpy neighbors, sad babies, mailboxes, trees, snakes, a giant whale, and even a porcupine are no match for the hug machine, particularly after he is refueled by pizza. In cartoony watercolors in muted, pinky tones on open white backgrounds, Campbell depicts the boy, who clearly takes hugging very seriously, clasping his long arms around bewildered, deadpan passersby until he collapses from exhaustion and receives a warm hug from his own mom. Though parents will likely want to dissuade their little ones from hugging total strangerslet alone a porcupine or bearit's a silly concept delightfully rendered, and the hug machine's enthusiasm for friendliness is hard not to love.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)