A cute book on the joys of hugs. It also tells that sometimes, you may be too tired to give hugs and sometimes you may not feel for a hug and that is okay. The illustrations are bright and coulourful.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

This story was cute, but it wasn't engaging enough for my kids to be interested in reading it more than once. At three (almost four) and six, they prefer stories with a little more content. I think it would be perfect for toddlers and younger preschoolers. The illustrations were great! They were so colorful and the looks on the faces of the girl and the animals was a fun little detail that my boys enjoyed.

3.5/5 stars

Title: Hug?
Author: Charlene Chua
Release Date: 9.1.2020
Review Date: 5.15.2020

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This one is really cute. It makes me think of my best friends hugs which have magical healing properties. The illustrations for this one are great too.

Picture book. A very simple text about a girl giving hugs. She starts out hugging her cat to help it feel better. Then the dog wants a hug, and then... As the animals get less and less huggable, the protagonist looks more and more frazzled until she finally puts her foot down. This is a story that can be used to introduce differences (ie some people like hugs, some don't) or personal boundaries (you don't have to hug someone if you don't want to). A very simple text makes the book accessible to beginning readers.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review a digital ARC.

Very cute book. Read to my niece and she enjoyed It. She walked around all day saying Hug? Hug? Hug?!

A humorous tale about a little girl who offers a hug to her sick cat. Following this act of kindness, a host of animal characters proclaim needs for hugs as well. A smelly skunk, a huge bear (who gets a bear hug, of course), an elephant, a dragon, a tiger, and more—all until it becomes too much for the little girl and she feels sick. This starts the cycle in reverse, with the cat offering the little girl a hug. The animals are shown hugging one another.

Adorable, fuzzy, warm bedtime story just before a hug goodnight (or any time of day). This one will become a “read it to me again” favorite. Whimsical, colorful illustrations accompany the fun text. Five stars.

The illustrations in this book are adorable! They definitely make the book!
There isn't much of a plot with this story, but it is still a cute book.
I would buy this book for my preschool classroom! I am sure my students would enjoy it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced digital copy of this book!

This is a very sweet book about hugs. It also teaches consent (every animal asks for a hug before giving or receiving one) and the ability to say no to a hug if you don't want one. I like that it shows that both options are ok and it's up to the child whether or not they want a hug. Illustrations are adorable, and my kids enjoyed reading it together. Thank you for Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Cute illustrations, shows that everyone needs a hug sometimes. But that doesn't mean its up to one person.

The book was about giving hugs to different aniamls, but also the importance of taking care of yourself. The plot moved forward with the help of the illustrations, showing the girl getting more and more emotionally drained. It is a simple book and one of importance to show younger children the importance of also taking care of yourself.

This is a simple little book without much of a story, but it's a cute take on the joys (and perils) of hugs. Perhaps the most valuable thing in it, aside from the sweet illustrations, is the message about consent.

A little girl is petting her cat when it throws up a hairball (as they do). It doesn't feel so good, so the girl asks if the cat would like a hug. Soon, everybody--from dogs to bears to porcupines--wants in on the hugging action, until the girl is so worn out from giving hugs that she doesn't feel so good herself. The tables then turn, with her cat asking if she would like a hug.

I like how everyone's asking for permission here. There are no uncomfortable, unwanted hugs (with the exception of when one of the animals tries to eat the cat). This book could be used as a springboard for a conversation about consent and personal boundaries.

The pictures are cute and the characters have great expressions. I've seen Chua's work before in Going Up! If you like her style, you'll find it's used to great effect here.

Overall, this is a strong picture book, even if the story is really more of an idea than a plot. But it works well for what it is, and it could help teach kids about consent in an easy-to-understand way.

A delightful storybook about a child wanting a hug!

This would be a fun read for a little one, little one's who still like lots of hugs and some quick tickles and laughs. The story follows a child asking everyone for a hug, and there is a moment of sadness without a hug, and of course joyful resolution.

Recommended for youngest ones, to read for quick hugs :)

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for an advance reader's copy for review. Honest opinion given.

This is a humorously and adorably illustrated story book.  It starts with a cat in need of a hug and...watch what comes next!  Young children and their adults will find this book to be delightful.


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title.

The illustrations make the book! And the simple text just adds to the charm. I would definitley recommend this one!

This story is so adorable. Its light-hearted, but also teaches children and when its appropriate to hug. I had to laugh at some of the animals who wanted hugs and the cats reaction to those animals.

For such a little book, this story carries a really big message – setting boundaries on your time and space. When I was growing up, hugs tended to be a form of hello and goodbye. You would get hugs as you came in the door and before you left. A common phrase was “Go and give Grandma and Grandaddy a hug before we go” or “Make sure you give Grandaddy and Grandma a hug and let them know you’re here” if someone else had opened the door at a holiday get together. This is great, but sometimes even little children can feel like maybe they just don’t want a hug right then.

In this book, it starts with a cat getting sick and telling a little girl that it doesn’t feel good. She asks the cat if it would like a hug and it says “Okay”. She hugs the little cat to help it feel better, but a dog sees and asks for a hug too. Then a few ducks all want a hug too. Even animals like a bear and tiger want hugs! By the end, eighteen (18) animals have wanted a hug, including the sick cat, and the girl just doesn’t feel up to it. She has to put in boundaries and the other creatures hug each other instead.

The main part of this story was wonderfully illustrated and told in so few words. Most of the words were “hug” and “okay”, which makes this great for smaller and younger kids who don’t have a huge vocabulary yet. It also has that wonderful message that both kids and parents need to hear – it’s OK to not feel up to a hug right now. One great idea is that if a kid seems reluctant to give a hug, ask them to do a high-five or give a wave or make a funny face. Maybe they just aren’t up to a hug but would still really love some interaction.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Hug? is a sweet children's picture book showing how hugs can make you feel better, but also the problem with giving too much of your self to others, in the form of hugs. It's a great way to show children how to set physical and emotional boundaries at a young age to keep themselves from feeling emotional burnout and recognizing what they might need to feel better.

The art is adorable and the characters are really cute. I especially liked the cat, but that isn't much of a surprise.

"Hug?" by Charlene Chua is a darling and comical book about a little girl who gives hugs to a whole host of animals. Each animal sees another animal being hugged and wants to get one too. The cast of characters waiting to be hugged is diverse, fun and engaging for readers of all ages! We particularly loved the Unicorn! The message is great for young children and the book allows for multiple opportunities to stop and discuss the different species interested in hugging. The wonderful illustrations were amazing too which was an added bonus. We loved this book and will be purchasing a copy!

Throw a cat into any book and I'm there. This is truly adorable; a little girl shows all sorts of animals the joys of hugs (also I'm pretty sure there's a subliminal message here about selfless love and putting others first but we can leave that be).

As the description says “sometimes a hug is just what you need and sometimes it is JUST NOT!” A good book to introduce consent and also the wonderful power of hugs.