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.
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
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
