I have been on a picture book binge. I need a little something to read, but not too difficult to process. Not to say picture books are simple, but I needed something that would take my mind off current events, personal issues and such. It does not take a lot of effort to read one, but you never know what gem you will be able to find.
I picked up One Hug the other night. Katrina Moore’s story is a sweet, rhyming story about family and how many different hugs there are out there. It is about a young boy who learns about hugs throughout the book and finally the special hugs that happen when his relatives from China come. But once you say that, there is not much else to talk about with the story. However, Julia Woolf’s illustrations deserve something a little longer. They are absolutely cozy. They are bright, but not overpowering, modern and not pushy. They have good colors and the people are familiar. They are your family and friends. It is a happy book, a book to read to your child and the slightly older child (just starting to read) could start reading (with possibly some help.) The illustrations are what makes the story and you could make your own story from them as well.
The best part of the book is the anyone factor. This is a book about family, the race of the family is not an issue, but you see the culture (the dinner at the end mixes Chinese foods, chopsticks with hamburgers and other American foods). This is the best page of the book. The entire point of the story: family and togetherness are highlighted simply but importantly. Everyone can find something to like about this book.