I've been following the author, Chibird (Jacqueline Chen) on her Tumblr for years. Seeing her finally publish a book is great! If you need a happy feel good moment in your day, a motivational pick me up, or a tiny penguin telling you to practice some self care, please check out Loading Penguin Hugs and keep it on you, like a piece of emotional first aid.
Do not, however, read the book all the way through in one go. Part of the charm of following Chibird on Tumblr was that when I was down or when I was pointlessly combing the internet, having a post from her pop up into my feed once or twice a week was a nice ray of optimism or a piece of cute cheer that did exactly what it was designed to. Taken all at once in the megadose provided by this book somewhat ruins it - a little positivity never hurt anyone, too much seems less meaningful.
That's why one of my favorite things about this book is the index. Now, I am a nerd, but usually I'm all about the footnotes. However, the index is the perfect way to use the book. The index is organized by what you need, emotionally, or at least the intent of each little comic. Need motivation? There's a section for that. Having a bad day? The index will direct you to a round yellow chick with a friendly message.
Does this mean the book is too saccharine? Not in my opinion. Chibird's art is soft, comforting, and simple. The animal characters gently cheer you on, and the author's cartoon avatar appears with her own relatable struggles and doldrums. You never feel as if the messages are insincere, or as if you are being talked down to. If a book could be a friend, this book would be your friend that is honestly kind, but down to earth.
I recommend Chibird for school libraries, and anyone who needs cuteness and motivational penguins in their lives.

I could only read a couple of pages, because the other didn't load. But all that I read was really cute and uplifting! So I'd definitely like to read all of it, if I do get a proper file.

Well, if you like cute, inspirational comics like this, there are plenty more in this book from the same artist, Jacqueline Chen. They're all inspirational, positive, and heartwarming, perfect for when you've had a rough day or just need something feel-good in your life. 

As I was reading through this collection of images and comics, I found myself constantly bookmarking some pages, because a lot of these are relevant to either myself or to close friends. They're perfect for showing to others.

The one thing you should consider while reading this is that this isn't the sort of book you should read through all at once. Things can feel a bit repetitive or in-genuine if you do. Just take it in small sections, maybe just a page or so at a time. I'm taking away one star for this. As much as I love the comics and graphics in the book, they stand better on their own rather than as a cohesive collection. In some ways, they might be better on a website rather than a book.

Nevertheless, this is still quite the wholesome read, and I highly recommend it for anyone who loves cute gift books full of heartwarming, encouraging comics!

When the day isn't feeling too good or you just want to see a cute cast with inspirational quotes backing them up, Loading Penguin Hugs is a surefire sweet book that's a perfect gift whether to someone else or yourself!

For a variety of situations, whether work, school, or everyday life, Jacqueline Chen seems to have included a message for a lot of them. With versatility like that as well as a bright, adorable style of drawing, this book was soothing to read.

As much as I liked the art and I think that most of the messages would be great to flip to in times of need, I also thought that some seemed a little canned. The illustrations accompanying them might have brightened up the sentiment, but it was still a bit lacking behind the colorful picture.

The book is fairly short so if you decide to read it in one go, you'll have it done fairly soon after starting. Hopefully it'll bring a smile to your face long before the last page turns.

As expected from the cover, <i>Loading Penguin Hugs</i> was a cute and adorable read. Chen's minimalist art style is simple and clean while still being colorful, and it should appeal to a variety of readers. The short comics offer a wellspring of advice on various life happenings coupled with adorable representative images.

I'm not sure what more I can say about this collection of comic shorts beyond the fact that readers should hopefully be smiling by the end of the book. My only concern is that there were quite a few blank pages in the digital download, so I wonder if there were some comics that I missed out on reading or if there would be a placeholder on those pages.

I recommend <i>Loading Penguin Hugs</i> for readers in need of a pick-me-up and those who enjoy Chen's minimalist and cute images.

A collection of one page comics that will help bright a bad day, add a little cuteness in your life, encourage you to grow or enjoy the little blessings in life, motivate you, give your perfectionistic or procrastinating tendencies some redirection, give your self-esteem a little pick me up, or just encourage you to keep working hard.

I think the publisher needs to print this book in poster size so that people can tear out pages and plaster their walls with these comics. There is some really good and healthy advice in here for bad days, tough times, or for people who are just a little too hard on themselves. And they are so adorably cute. This would make the perfect Christmas gift for just about anyone. I can see it appealing to 4 year olds and 94 year olds alike. Definitely need to get a copy or four of this for our libraries. I can see these comics getting across messages to students who have heard these things from others but need the gentle, cute, subtle approach to really have that message sink in.

Notes on content: There's a cute ghost character, but it isn't scary at all. No content issues.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Very cute graphics + great message = fantastic book!
This is a book that you can pick up any time you need a smile.

Loading Penguin Hugs is an adorable graphic novel that brim with messages of positivity and hope that readers of all ages can relate to. While short and simple, it'll leave you feeling warm and full of smiles.

Cute and awesome book <3 Inspirational if you are a little down. I miss the penguins though, but I got my hug. A fictional hug of the heart.

I saw Jacqueline Chen's comics first on Tumblr (back when I still used Tumblr) and I adored the cute and simple drawing styles she uses. The messages she delivers with her comics are just like her drawing style, cute and simple. Some of these messages are so simple but yet so important to see in word form. This book is indeed very heartwarming.

I absolutely love Chibird to begin with, so I was really excited to read this, and it is exactly what I needed today. Jacqueline Chen specializes in motivational comics, and this entire book is just full of motivation, inspiration, optimism, hope, love, warmth, positivity, and cuteness. If there has ever been a warm, cozy hug in book form, Loading Penguin Hugs is it. ♥

All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

My full review appears on Weekend Notes. Thanks to the publishers for sharing this book. It's very cute.

This is a super cute collection of mostly 1-page comics - think Instagram posts rather than a comic to be read cover to cover. Each comic is motivational and encouraging in nature. Adorable drawings and a good message for kids to adults.

Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this cute book in exchange for my honest review.

Uneven comic strip collection that basically boils down to cutesy motivational cartoons.
Starts with a ghost hug. “You can’t feel it, but it’s there!” I call it a virtual hug, but okay.
Reasons to get out of bed was fun.
I’m gonna try really hard to forget just how much penguins smell. Thankfully I only saw one in here, though it wasn’t giving hugs. Lots of cuter animals, though. (Just occurred to me the penguins might still be loading, considering the title.)
“I made brief contact with a dog!” might just be too cute, as is “I’m awesome trash!”
“Self-love hedgehog” made me think of something completely different.
This will likely end up being TOO sweet even if you’re not all that cynical.

Not a serious read but still nice to leaf through. Some pages are motivating, some actually made me sad.

I never seen these comics before, or I should say, I have seen them before, but only as GIFs. :P So it was quite a surprise to see this one on Netgalley, and I was curious what would be in this bundle.

Well, I certainly felt warm and fluffy and happy when I read it. This was just the book I needed in these days full of stress and worries. Which causes my self esteem to take a nosedive for the worst. This book just oozes positivity and encouragement. Of course with all the cuteness and sweetness. From penguins to ghosts to some comics featuring, what I at least assume, the artist herself.

At times it was a bit too much, I think that this is more of a book you want to open up at random pages whenever you feel bleh and need motivation.
I really noticed that I did get a bit tired of all the: You can do it's, you are amazing after 30 pages of it.
It is like with many things, you need the right amount of things, if it is too much you will start to dislike it.

The art is very adorable, the style fits well with the positivity and encouragement this book oozes.

All in all, definitely a book I would recommend. Again, maybe not to read in one go, but definitely something to add to your collection to open on those hard and bleak days.

Loading Penguin Hugs has got to be one of the cutest books I’ve read in quite some time. The whole book is full of single page comics and words of encouragement, but it’s all just so happy and cheerful. It’s impossible not to smile while reading.
You may recognize the style and name of the comic, Chibird. This is the same one we all know and love from the internet, however the publisher promised that the book is full of all new comics. So if you think you’ve seen them all, guess again! Plus I’ve been told that the physical copy comes with stickers, which sounds amazing.
Jessica Chen has been behind Chibird for years, actively seeking to help bring cheer and joy to others. It’s hard not to appreciate and respect that goal of hers. It’s not every day you see somebody that caring or wholesome.
I really enjoyed reading Loading Penguin Hugs. Many of the pages made me smile, some made me laugh, and others gave me a wistful sensation. Regardless of which emotion they made me feel at the time, the overall feeling was a positive one. Honestly, I think it would do a lot of us some good to see a different one of these images every day (note to self: check and see if there’s a 365 calendar of Chibird comics).

I really enjoy the author's Chibird comics; they're cute, encouraging and hopeful. This book is a bit much to read all in one sitting- it came across a bit twee and overly motivational- but it would be great to dip into every now and then when you feel low. It would also make a lovely gift, especially for existing fans.

If you have ever seen the sending hugs gif, and I'm sure you have, then this comic book collection will have a similar feel to you. You actually might have seen a few of these short comics before reading this book. This book is another cute, comic collection that just makes you feel good. Actually, that is this book's purpose. In addition to the really cute artwork, the point of the book is to be able to open it when you are having a rough day to have a reminder that you can do whatever it is you are struggling with. I LOVE that.

If you can't tell from the cover, the artwork in this book is adorable! There are these really cute little penguins, dogs, and other animals in it that really make you feel all warm and fuzzy. There is even an entire panel of "Positive Puppers" which I loved so much. They are all so cute!

I like that the message behind this book is positive reinforcements. At the back of the book there is even an index for if you are feeling a certain way you can turn to a short comic to help you. As a negative, cynical person, whom has never felt like they have ever been "good enough" a lot of these comics had things I definitely needed to hear. If you are down in the dumps and need some motivation, or just some support this is a great place to find that.

This is a short read, it's only about 88 pages long. I actually flipped through the whole thing on my lunch break. So it's definitely a book I recommend if you want a short but fun read.

*I received an egalley of this comic from Netgalley

I did not know this writer, and now I have become a fan of her traits and her cute messages, full of encouragement and high spirits. To each page a different drawing with great phrases to start the day with a happy smile. Just looking at this cover made me want to hug this penguin and take him or me.