Embrace lovable books about hugs
Luci Hand June 29, 2012 2:44PM
Article Extras
Updated: August 2, 2012 6:08AM
One of the sad things about teaching now is that teachers are not allowed to touch children.
One of the satisfactions for both myself, and I think for my students, was the hugs we could share.
It’s a wonderful feeling to have a little one run up and hug you. And a wonderful feeling to be able to hug them back.
James Mayhew tells all about hugs in “Where’s My Hug?” This delightful story introduces Jake who is definitely too big for hugs when he gets to school.
His mom wants to give him one but he fights it. After a bad day, Jake asks his mom where his hug is and she tells him she gave it to Dad.
Jake goes to Dad and asks for his hug only to be told that Dad had given it to the cat. Cat tells him that he gave it to a witch who gave him a tasty fish.
Witch gave it to a wizard who was having spell trouble. Wizard gave it to a knight who was going to fight a dragon. The knight gave it to his princess who tamed the dragon with it.
Jake demands his hug from the dragon but the dragon wants a “please” and then gives him a dragon-sized hug. Jake flies home just in time for dinner.
We leave him negotiating hugs with his mother as he really wants to keep the one from the dragon.
‘Hugging Hour’
Drool is missing her parents even though she enjoys staying with her grandma. In “Hugging Hour” by Aileen Leijten, Drew, who wants to be called Drool, is sure that her parents left her to be an orphan.
Grandma declares 3 o’clock hugging hour and they sit and hug. Grandma has planned a menu of all desserts for Drool and even that doesn’t dull the pain of being left an orphan.
We watch as Drool and Grandma’s pet chicken, Kip, play and bake triple-decker cupcakes, taking time out for hugs, yet all the while there’s an underlying sadness.
Then, the doorbell rings and it’s Mom and Dad. Drool is not an orphan after all.
Then we learn that this is Drool’s first sleepover and we rejoice as she asks when she can go back.
‘I Want a Hug’
Unfortunately, some of us have trouble getting hugs.
In “I Want A Hug” by John A. Rowe, Elvis wants a hug. The problem is that he is too prickly. He is a porcupine.
We watch as Elvis goes all over town, spotting others hugging and asking to be included, only to be turned down.
Kittens, dogs, owls — all kinds of creatures — but no one will hug him. The train station doesn’t help. The hospital doesn’t help. Then he meets Colin the Crocodile who is looking for a little kiss. Elvis promptly volunteers. Colin sweeps him up in a great big hug and Elvis gives Colin a great big kiss.
Crocodile skin can stand porcupine prickles, and Elvis knows how rejection feels.
