Hug Me, Please!

PreS-Gr 1—Eating honey for breakfast makes Little Bear and Daddy Bear feel so wonderful that they decide to spread their joy by hugging all the denizens of the forest—from the tiniest caterpillar to the giant elk—because "hugging always makes you feel good." Unfailingly polite, the bears solicit every animal's explicit permission, even if some are reluctant to agree at first. Even a surprised (and somewhat terrified) hunter gets a huge bear hug. When they have shared their sweet embraces with everyone, the duo realize that they have missed someone very important—each other. Dziubak's humorous and expressive illustrations save this silly but warm story from being too saccharine. Some of the tableaux of the earnest bears gripping alarmed (though consenting) animals are giggle-inducing, while others are cozy and sweet.