Hug Time (by Patrick McDonnell)

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.

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.

Author: Patrick McDonnell
Illustrator: Patrick McDonnell
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Publication date: October 1, 2007
Number of pages: 48
Hardcover price: $14.99
Paperback price: $0.00
Read Aloud: 4
Read Alone: 6