A Hug Goes Around [Hardcover]

Laura Krauss Melmed (Author), Betsy Lewin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 26, 2002 | Age Level: 3 and up

A mountain goes up.
A valley goes down.
Where does a hug go?
A hug goes around.

As soon as the rosy sun rises, a hug starts going around a big, loving family The hug starts when Ma lifts the baby, then moves on to Tom, who spills the pancake syrup, then jumps over to Lizzie, who is frightened by a thunderstorm, and on through the day until ...

Teeth are all toothbrushed.
Prayers have been said.
Children are snuggly,
Tacked into bed.

From dawn till dusk, through adventures and mishaps, this family's there for one another-with arms open wide! A joyful, cozy read-aloud story for the whole family to embrace, by best-selling author Laura Krauss Melmed and Caldecoft Honor artist Betsy Lewin, this book is sure to start its own share of hugs going around.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Following the antics of a lively family of six, the action quickly moves from a pancake breakfast to farmyard chores, a cat in a tree, and a thunderstorm that ruins fishing with Mom, on to bath time, nighttime songs on the porch, and sleep. Using a rhyming text, the phrase "A hug goes around" is repeated periodically: in the morning lifting the baby, when syrup gets spilt, as thunder comes crashing, when all the kids are in bed, and, finally, as Mom and Dad gaze at the full moon. "Moon on the mountain./Quiet abounds./'Isn't peace sweet, dear?'/A hug goes around." While the concept of an embrace enveloping this family through thick and thin is commendable, the pace of the story moves in jumps and starts, lingering on early and late afternoon events while breezing through the bulk of the day. The sense of family is tight and the country setting works well with the theme. The illustrations in pen and ink and watercolor create exuberant, rough-and-tumble characters and flesh out the idyllic, isolated setting. A loose line defines each scene while bright washes of color add depth and dimension. This is a world where bad things are easily fixed, by a hug and the love of family-a nice, warm sentiment.
Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 3-5. A house set in a valley is the scene for this perky story in which the mishaps of family life are fixed by a hug. The day begins when baby Rosy awakes, the first to get a hug from Mom. Three more children hurry downstairs, where Dad is flipping flapjacks. Little brother tips over the syrup, but a hug cheers him up. A hug works equally well when a dish is dropped, when a chicken gets loose, when the cat is chased up the tree. A lightning storm is more frightening, but a hug helps cope with that, too. The cheery pen-and-ink artwork focuses on the happy family life, with the parents and children bouncing along against pure-white backgrounds. This is ephemeral, but its upbeat message will find a place in larger libraries. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1 edition (March 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688146805
• ISBN-13: 978-0688146801
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,400,973 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another wonderful book from Laura K. Melmed, July 3, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: A Hug Goes Around (Hardcover)

This book combines a wonderful poem with charming illustrations conveying the sense of love and security embodied in hugs. I highly recommend it.