The Runaway Hug by Nick Bland and Freya Blackwood (Toronto, Scholastic Canada) $14.99
The Runaway Hug is a charming picture book collaboration between an Australian writer and an award-winning Australian illustrator.
Lucy asks her mother for a hug at bedtime and is told that she can have the very last one available. She accepts a really nice long hug and promises to return it as soon as she's finished with it. Daddy gets it and returns it followed by the twins and baby Lily. The problem arises when the dog tears off taking that precious hug with her. But before an upset Lucy can confess the loss to her mother, Annie jumps out of nowhere and returns the hug complete with licks. Lucy is able to give it back to her mother and on asking for a kiss she is told, "Of course you can. I have plenty of those." The breezy watercolour illustrations have all the charm of the beloved British illustrator Shirley Hughes.
A gentle little bedtime drama with an expected happy ending, the illustrations depict a slightly chaotic bedtime routine in a messy, busy and happy family.
Polar Bear Night by Lauren Thompson, pictures by Stephen Savage (New York, Cartwheel Books) $9.99
This is another happy match between author and illustrator. Thompson is the author of the beloved Little Quack series and Polar Bear Night has won several awards. A small bear cub wakes in the night and leaves her warm den and sleeping mother to explore. She sees the sleeping seals and whales and climbs a hill to watch and wait. A shower of stars lights up her den and everything the little bear loves as she finds her way home to her waiting mother. The text has a measured and hushed cadence in keeping with the quiet stillness of the polar night.
The book is available in both hardcover and board book formats but the shinier board pages serve to enhance the gorgeous artwork. The illustrations are linocuts and the blocky shapes of the animals and polar vistas are striking in their simplicity. Every baby should have this book in their personal library.
Fox and Squirrel by Ruth Ohi (Toronto, North Winds Press) $14.99
A Canadian picture book title about a friendship between two very different animals. Fox and Squirrel have a conversation about their differences and conclude that their similarities are much more important. The illustrations add an element of humour to the text. When Fox agrees that he also likes nuts and berries he qualifies his statement by adding "sometimes." The reader then sees Fox leaping in the air to swipe at an escaping bird! The sprightly little figures scamper happily through a book that defines friendship in a very basic way. Ohi has been nominated for many awards for her books and deserves recognition for this one as well.
Some other picture books about love and friendship are as follows:
Amos and Boris by William Steig
Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
George and Martha by James Marshall
The Happy Lion by Louise Fatio
Koala Lou by Mem Fox
Moon Rabbit by Natalie Russell
Polar Bear Morning by Lauren Thompson
Scaredy Squirrel Finds a Friend by Melanie Watt
Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton
Fran Ashdown was the head of the children's dept. at the Capilano Branch of the NV Public Library. She is very fond of hugs especially ones from grandkids. For more information check your local libraries.
