Product Description

"Like a wordless book, the story unfolds through a series of expressive pictures. . . .Alborough makes clear . . . the elation the animals gain from their shared affection." —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review)


Bobo needs a hug. But his friends don't seem to understand. "Hug," he implores, time and again. Time and again his puzzled pals — from the smallest chameleon to the tallest giraffe — shrug and cuddle with their jungle mothers. As the lonely chimp's plea escalates, his friends grow concerned. Can the elephants lead Bobo to his heart's desire? Jez Alborough transforms a total of three words — and some of the most tenderly expressive animals ever created — into an endearing tribute to love and belonging.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #191684 in Books
• Published on: 2005-08-23
• Released on: 2005-08-23
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 9.26" h x .82" w x 10.61" l, 1.73 pounds
• Binding: Board book
• 32 pages

From Amazon.com
How can it be that a book with only one word--hug--repeated throughout, can be so good? The proof is in the pudding (or the wilds of Africa) in Jez Alborough's picture book Hug, a delightful mini odyssey of a baby chimpanzee on the hunt for his mum and a cuddle.

Our little friend wanders through the trees, witnessing many other animals from chameleons to giraffes as they snuggle together. "Hug," he says, happily, at first, but then with growing despair as he sees there are no hugs for him. The story is told purely by the expression on the little chimp's face as his hopes are built up and dashed again until eventually, with a huge smile, he finds his mum and reaps the reward.

Hug is a clever, unusual book that portrays the art of children's illustration at its very best: a story brought to life with the stroke of a brush through facial expressions and body language that children will immediately understand.

Ideal for sharing with small ones, this lovely book is a warm, comforting read that cannot fail to please. (Ages 1 to 4)

From Publishers Weekly
With a cheerful chimp nearly as sweet as Curious George and a text of only three words, Alborough (It's the Bear!; Where's My Teddy?) celebrates the pleasure of giving and receiving good hugs, as well as the joy inherent in finding just the right word. "HUG," says a tiny chimp as he watches two lizards embrace and two pythons entwine. "HUG," he explains to a mother elephant and her baby who notice the chimp's forlorn expression. They decide to help him find what he's looking for and ride past an affectionate lion family, two giraffes and two hippos. But the disappointed chimp simply dissolves into tearsDto the consternation of all the jungle animals. Suddenly the chimp's mother appears. "BOBO," she shouts; "MUMMY," answers the chimp, and readers quickly realize that it's not just a hug the chimp wants, but a hug from his very own mother. Like a wordless book, the story unfolds through a series of expressive pictures rather than language. Alborough makes clear the chimp's distress as he tries to communicate with only the repeated word "HUG," and the elation the animals gain from their shared affection. Ages 2-up.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1-This picture-book protagonist is even more endearing than Alborough's bears in Where's My Teddy? (1992) and My Friend Bear (1998, both Candlewick). Bobo, a tiny chimp, searches the jungle for a hug. Witnessing elephant, iguana, giraffe, and other parent-child couples embracing reduces him to tears, until his mother finally appears to make things right. Cross-species hugs complete the satisfying and reassuring tale. Marker-pen illustrations expertly run the range of brilliant blue skies to tan dusty trails. The rounded cartoon figures demonstrate an array of emotions to augment the text that consists of only three words: "HUG," "BOBO," and "MOMMY." From the warm golden cover to the animal grins at the end, Alborough's simplicity results in another gem.
Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.