Parents' Guide to Hug Time

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Common Sense Media Review

By Heidi Kotansky , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 2+

Adorable kitten shares the importance of love.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 2+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

Jules the kitten has a lot of love and wants to share it with the whole world. With his \"Hug To-Do List,\" he sets off on a journey from his backyard to Africa, India, and the North Pole hugging people, trees, and animals along the way.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

If every adult would read this happy-smiley book, the world just might be a better place. It's a very simple story: A friendly feline, Jules, has so much love to give that he needs to dole it out, one hug at a time. Yes, the book gets a bit cheesy ("The world is so big, and yet so small. It's time that we embrace it all."), but readers -- especially young ones who still have an unconditional acceptance of others -- won't mind at all. What they'll come away with is a touching story filled with a sense of adventure.

Through the lovely watercolor illustrations, kids will learn what a wombat is and where a baobab tree grows. They'll find out that despite the miles between all of Earth's inhabitants, the world is actually fairly small. They'll also discover just how powerful a hug can be. Kids and adults alike will be left feeling warm and fuzzy -- and ready to hug their neighbors.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the importance of hugs. How does getting -- or giving -- a hug make you feel? Why is that contact with loved ones important? Families can also talk about the different countries and animals they see in the book.

Book Details

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