There’s a 16-month-old girl in our house who gives the best hugs. Rachel will wrap her around arm people’s necks and then pull whoever it is toward her. It’s slightly like a headlock, but it’s motivated by love not aggression.
Given that, “I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug” hit a sweet spot in our house. Rachel is too busy hugging people – and getting into drawers and cabinets and trying to find a way into the bathroom and dancing to a musical toy – to sit for a book. But my older two kids – Cate, who is 9 but still appreciates a fun book, and first-grader Ben who is excited to be able to read by himself – enjoyed this book.
“I’m Going To Give You a Bear Hug” by Caroline Cooney is a sweet story that incorporates many animals and the silly, loving hugs children could give if they behaved like those animals. The book prompts laughter and loving right there as you turn the pages.
About the book
Whether it’s a big bear, gasp for air, knock over a chair hug or a wet and drippy, slimy, slippery fish hug, children will giggle their way through all the imaginative examples. The sweet and simple rhymes in this book encourage playful interaction between parent and child and ultimately help them wind down before they snuggle into bed and drift off to sleep.
“I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug” is available in hardcover and retails for $16.99, although I’ve seen it for cheaper on Amazon. Aimed at preschoolers through third-graders, this 32-page book was published by Zonderkidz (Dec. 27, 2016).
Learn more about the book online at the publisher’s Twitter or Facebook pages as well as the book’s official website.
About the author
Caroline B. Cooney was born in New York, grew up in Connecticut, and now lives in South Carolina. She is the author of 90 young adult novels in many genres, and her books have sold more than 15 million copies. “I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug” is her first picture book. It’s based on a verse she wrote for her own children, Louisa, Sayre and Harold, who are now grown.
About the illustrator
Tim Warnes has been illustrating children’s books for 20 years. He lives in Dorset, England, with his wife, children’s illustrator Jane Chapman, and their two sons. When he’s not drawing little critters, Tim loves to write, watch birds and play his banjo. Learn more about him at www.ChapmanandWarnes.com.
Giveaway
And there’s a copy for one of you! Use the Rafflecopter below for multiple ways to enter this giveaway through Friday, Feb. 3. A winner will be randomly chosen Saturday, Feb. 4.
*****
In exchange for a review, FlyBy Promotions / Propeller Consulting provided a hardback copy of this book and will also send the winner a copy. But the opinions here are my own. If you have won a prize from FlyBy / Propeller in the last 30 days from this blog or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
I would love to read, and then give, this one to my granddaughter. Thanks for the opportunity!
Thanks for entering!
We really like the Binky the Spacecat series by Ashley Spires.
I don’t know that book! We’ll have to check it out!