A Hug Is for Holding Me

Be prepared to take a walk in nature looking for hugs after sharing this one. (Picture book. 3-6)

A father figure with long, exaggerated arms and his daughter, dressed in an orange A-line dress, meander through a springtime landscape. Using allusions to nature, Wheeler writes lyrically about what a hug can be. On one spread, cocoons of varying shapes and sizes hang from a branch: "Cocoons are strong/ yet gentle hugs." On a shoreline, soft waves crash against black rocks, and under the water is a diverse ecosystem with fish, coral, clams, and crabs: "A seashell is a kind of hug/ for creatures in the sea./ They tuck up tight inside their homes./ Your hug is home to me," Wheeler writes. But for the father and child, "My hug is for holding YOU!" Detailed art by Feng has a retro feel. The ornamentlike abundance of insects, flowers, and other natural objects brushes this familial journey with magic. Ages 3-5. (Dec.)