So Many Cuddles

PreS—A young dark-skinned girl, accompanied by a cat, a dog, and her teddy bear, wakes up "with rise and shine cuddles" and progresses through her day, showing readers all different types of cuddles in various situations. They are used to express emotions, such as love, sympathy, and gratitude. The story concludes as the girl gets ready for bed and the group have one last cuddle to wish one another good night. Sweet and gentle, this picture book is a unique take on the idea of hugs and hugging. Owen's illustrations pop against the white paper. The font is usually big, bold, and black, contrasting with a solid white background, save for a few surprise splashes of color. While the book offers many reasons for why we hug, one important page depicts the protagonist declining to cuddle, showing young readers that they have the right to refuse if they do not want to be hugged.