Everybody Deserves a Hug

Everybody Deserves a Hug is a 32 page full-color 8x10 childrens picture book. It delivers a timeless universal message of love kindness understanding and inclusion. Endearing and warm rhyming text amplifies the vivid and striking color illustrations created by his designer/illustrator daughter Renée. The illustrations exude the joy and hope exhibited by the books whimsical characters.From the first spread of the book: Everybody deserves a hug;A loving squeeze an inward tug.This picture book by a father-daughter team features adorable monsters sharing friendly hugs.As furry and multihued monsters demonstrate warm embraces the rhyming narration defines hugs as aloving squeeze an inward tug. No matter what size or age no matter the season the narrator continues everyone wants to be held sometimes. The poem goes on to describe different types of positive actions: helping a young child to stand cuddling in a group sharing a smile or laugh showing what makes eachindividual unique being respectful needing to cry and even letting people have their own space. Theinclusion of the last is an important balance to an otherwise high-contact work especially for youngsters whomay not like hugs as much as their peers. Renée Snelsons cartoonish monsters all have long eyelashes heart-shaped noses shaggy fur in a wide variety of beautifully tinted colors and expressive tails. The dynamicimages show plenty of action as well as an assortment of loving embraces. Doug Snelsons rhymes scan well although a few take the imagery astray or use a metaphor that might go over the heads of the youngestreaders: Everybody needs to love. / Around the world follow the dove.Lap cuddlers listening to this sweet read-aloud will get all the snuggles they need. -- Kirkus ReviewsThis book offers a very creative way to send a hug to grandchildren or others at a distance to let them know that sooner or later real hugs will be possible again... -- Dolores Long Gotta Love It