Same love, different hug

PreS-Gr 2--A young brown-skinned, brown-haired child with large glasses and freckles lists a variety of hugs when showing love to family and friends. There is no one-size-fits-all; different people like different kinds of hugs. Some people don't enjoy that kind of contact at all, preferring to show they care in another way, such as a "secret" handshake. In another example, a youngster's sister is ill in bed and prefers to be serenaded by guitar rather than being touched. Told in a relaxed rhyming scheme, Hovorka's book informs readers of the types of hugs and non-hugs that are available for sharing. Digital illustrations reveal a multicultural community with varying hair colors and skin tones but all enjoying being together, sometimes with hugs and sometimes without. Simple backgrounds let the people be the center of attention with pictures in an array of sizes from vignettes to full spreads. VERDICT This book illustrates that love can be shown with a hug, but it is perfectly acceptable to find another way to communicate affection.--Maryann H. Owen

What kind of a hugger are you--"rough, tough never enough" or "gentle, slow don't-let-go"? Although Hovorka's children found it hard to give her hugs for fear of hurting her due to her disability, they soon discovered that there were many different ways to hug--a realization that led to this book. Readers may already be familiar with bear hugs, but what about "don't-look-back sneak-attack" hugs or a "big-grin around-we-spin" hug, shared in an accompanying illustration by a child and an adult wheelchair user twirling around together? Sometimes it's best to save a hug for later, send a "stay-in-place need-my-space wave," or create a secret handshake instead. Group hugs can be the cure for a day when "sadness swells to the brim," and celebration days usually require a "skip, prance happy-dance HUG!" The brief, fun rhymes and creative names for the hug variations make reading aloud fun for storytellers and listeners alike. By turns soothing and action-packed, earth-toned cartoon illustrations capture a wide range of situations, from quiet, loving support when someone is sick or in need of alone time to the playful exuberance of big celebrations. Depicting a diverse group of people modeling many versions of loving behavior, these images are ideal for young readers exploring social-emotional skills and learning to respect others' personal boundaries and preferences. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Will show readers that their options for expressing affection are many. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.