This is a really heartwarming and truly well-done book! There were two main things that I enjoyed about this book:
1. Axolotl and lionfish fun facts. These are both very fascinating animals, and I know that kids will love learning about them and seeing them as fun and quirky characters. I learned a thing or two about each animal, and I love how the author incorporated axolotl traits into the story (axolotls losing their limbs but being able to grow them back). This was so clever!
2. The *small* consent details. Consent wasn't thrown into the reader's face, but it was definitely present enough to where it sets a good example for young readers. Hugs asks everyone to give him a hug IF THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WITH IT. This is utterly amazing, and I am so grateful that the author included that.
Lastly, all of the drawings were so adorable and colorful, making for a unique and spectacular book. Bravo!

This is a weird little chapter book that I ended up really liking. It’s a cross between a picture book and a chapter book but it’s harder than an easy reader. You have an axolotl who is named Hugs and that’s what they love to do. However, Hugs-a-lotl loses both of their arms and must to wait for them to grow back. While they’re growing back, who will hug for them. He has someone who will raise a hand in class, someone who will paint a picture, someone who will read to them, but not someone who will hug for them. So Hugs-a-lotl sets out on a clever plan to find the best hugger in town. This book is a little weird but altogether it just works and kids are gonna love it.

Helping launch this set of very early readers, these three simple chapters convey what happens when the axolotl who gives out the daily hug, er, loses his arms due to an exercising accident. The world of these books is one where all the axolotls are named after what they do best, but the whole system is up the spout if Hugs-a-lotl can't hug.

So, ignoring the fact very few of the target readership will know anything about the axolotl, much less pronounce it with ease, we have a simple and pictorial tale. It is a fully-rounded effort, taking us properly to a decent ending, even if it's one containing zero surprise. We then get the scientific bit, about how cockamamie the world of these books actually is, and you can then be forgiven for wondering if this is a fever dream. Highly implausible characters, highly implausible utopian setting, monstrously bizarre (and illustrated) loss of limb as plot point, and little biological veracity? As reasonable as this is, and as much as I love axolotls, I'd rather not be forced to pick a series where all those issues are getting in the way of my enjoyment. Two and a half stars.

My loves all things Axolotls so we were excited to get an ARC for this book! She enjoyed it so much and was able to read it too me. We will recommend this one!

I loved the bright, energetic pictures in this little reader. The story is so cute -- everyone in the story is so affectionate. But how to keep giving and receiving hugs after the axolotl’s arms fall off? This is a funny, sweet story. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

I love the idea of using Axolotls for a book since they are not as well known as bears or whatever. This book was cute and I would give it to someone with a child.

Thank you to Netgalley and Picture Window Books for the opportunity to read and review this book
This is an adorable picture book with beautiful art and a sweet story. This is great in-between from a picture book to a chapter book. I am curious to see what happens next from this series. 4 out of 5 stars

I read this book to my children. It was definitely geared more towards 4+. I thought it was cute and taught a sweet lesson about working together and being kind. My children really loved the artwork and the axolotl! There is a sweet message between the magic of hugs, and having a friend that can help you in need. I couldn't recommend a cuter or better little quick read for my children. I would definitely read again, and recommend others do as well.

I am an adult, and I pride myself on being an adult with a child-like sense of wonder. I was unable to apply that to this book and found a lot of areas that I could nitpick. Those areas, such as the lionfish and axolotl being together were addressed at the end of the story, which I very much appreciate.

Some of my students are obsessed with axolotls. One little girl has asked for an axolotl book every time she has ever come into the library. The fact that our state book awards have one and it is not being read until Axolotl Day in February or so, has her very upset (but understanding because she wants to celebrate Axolotl Day!). I want to add more books for her, so I may get this book despite it just not being my personal jam.

I think there are good things about this story that just do not appeal to me but I can see appealing to some students.

Thank you to Net Galley and Capstone for the eARC!

Very cute and short little story. Love the back matter with facts about axolotls. Axolotls are huge with our patrons, so a early reader series all about them is perfect for our shelves!

This is a story about Hugs-a-lotl, the Axolotl whose job is to hug the people of his town. Unfortunately he loses his arms (don't worry they can grow back!). He needs to find someone who can him with his job!

This book would do well with kids who are between the ages of 4-9. I unfortunately do not have a science class to read it too, but I do have a real life Axolotl that I read it too and they gave it a thumbs up! The illustrations are beautifully done, and I think kids will enjoy it.

Once you finish the book, there is a glossary, fun facts about the Axolotl and the fish who saves the day, and a group questions that go along with the story.

Overall I think this was a really cute children's book!

My daughter, like many other children at the moment, is absolutely obsessed with Axolotls, so I knew she would enjoy reading this book.
Really cute heartwarming read, with really cute illustrations too.
I especially liked the little facts at the end of the book, about some of the fish/sea life that are mentioned in the book.
Only thing I didn't like is that it read as everyone hugged hug-a-lotl, but there are plenty of children including my ASD son, who really don't like hugs and that is okay too.

An adorable book with fun facts at the end for kids to learn more about different sea creatures. This book also covers being helpful and kind to others, although I wish it talked more about boundaries. The topic of hugging is cute, but not all of us are huggers out there!

I thought that this book was fantastic!

The book had some lovely wording to tell the story and my daughter thought it was brilliant, she is mad on Axolotls so I guessed that this was going to be a big hit with her and she loved it!

The illustrations are great and help bring the book to life. The writing style was perfect for the age range (the age range given is ages 5-8) - my daughter is 7 and read the book to me herself so it met the target for me there as a mum too.

We have quite a few cuddly axolotls in our house but this is the first book I have seen with them as the main characters and we were so pleased to see that it is the first book in a series - we can't wait to get the next one!

It is 5 stars from me for this one - very highly recommended!

This story was so sweet! My son laughed what hugs a lotl’s arms flew off.
Loved how they found a solution to the hugging problem and everyone was happy in the end!

Kids love axolotls so I love that this is a book with them as the main characters. This will draw kids to the book. It is a cute early chapter/beginning reader story. Simple, sweet and entertaining.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so sweet! The illustrations were down right adorable and this book will be well loved by kids. It was great to have the Axolotl facts in the book as kids love those little creatures. This will be a great kids book.

This book is so cute. I love it illustrations and the different colors used in it. The story itself was also so cute. I loved at the end of the book. The information on different underwater creatures was super cute.