• Age: 3 to 7
• Grade: p to 2
• Reading age: 3 to 7

How many hugs is too many? This girl's had enough! This humorous picture book explores compassion and the importance of setting boundaries.

After coughing up a hairball, a girl's cat doesn't feel well. So the girl offers to give her cat a hug, which makes the cat --- and the girl --- feel better. A dog notices and asks for a hug, too. Then some ducks come along asking for hugs. And a skunk . . . and a bear --- and a porcupine! One animal after another comes asking the girl for a hug until she's simply had enough. How much more of this can she take?

With spare text and wonderfully expressive illustrations, Charlene Chua has created a playful, funny picture book with an original premise. The story shows how important hugs can be to our happiness --- even the most unlikely of creatures sometimes need one! --- but that doesn't mean they're always welcome. The book is full of laugh-out-loud moments, most of which are found in illustrations that vividly portray the girl's emotions as she grows more worn out with every encounter, encouraging visual literacy. Each spread also shows a hint of the animal that will appear next, building anticipation for what's to come. There are character education connections here to compassion, tolerance and empathy, and a terrific opportunity for discussions about boundaries.

CHARLENE CHUA a illustré de nombreux livres pour les enfants de tous les âges. Ses illustrations lui ont valu de nombreuses récompenses et les livres qu’elle a illustrés ont été mis en nomination pour USBBY Outstanding International Books, OLA Best Bets, une récompense Shining Willow, et Kirkus Best books. Son premier livre Hug? a été publié en 2020. Elle vit à Hamilton avec son époux.

CHARLENE CHUA has illustrated more than a dozen books, including Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao, The Pencil, and Hug?, and her work has been nominated for the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award, the Forest of Reading Awards, the Shining Willow Award, and the First Nation Communities READ Award. Charlene lives in Hamilton, Ontario.

Charlene Chua's profile page

• Winner, Best Canadian Picture Books of 2020, CBC Books

Chua does grant our protagonist plenty of room to resist unwanted affection, a sentiment that is sure to hit home for listeners who aren't as physically demonstrative as others, but the book will also please those who just want a lot of goofy hugging.

The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

A cheerful, funny, and timely story that belongs in all collections.

School Library Journal

... a clever approach at setting boundaries, a humorous tone, and a situation many kids will see themselves in.—Book Riot

This silly romp is sure to elicit giggles while promoting emotional intelligence.

Kirkus Reviews

... an excellent choice for home libraries for children and their caregivers to discuss emotions, feelings, and setting limits.

CM Magazine