Huggapotamus!

Huggapotamus

Written by Steve Metzger

Illustrated by Gabriele Antonini

Scholastic Inc., 2011

27 Pages

Fantasy

          Albert has been hugged his whole life, and one day, he asks his parents why they hug him all the time? His parents say because they love him and now the “huggapotamus” wants to show his friends how much he cares for them, but he is too rough, too sudden, and too strong. His friends do not want to play with him! Finally his friends want to play with him, and they gather up and hug him too! 

          The illustrations in this book are created digitally. The colors used by Antonini perfectly reflect Albert’s bright and cheerful personality. The illustrations vary between formal and informal text placement. The book includes double page, single page, and vignette illustrations. The use of the vignette illustration is used when Albert is thinking back on his friends rejecting his hug, and this illustrates how Albert is feeling at the time. 

          This book would be a great book for younger elementary school children, Kindergarten through Second grade. This book would be great for teaching feelings, how we show our emotions, and how our actions affect people. It also shows the right way to socially interact with your peers. Students could write about a time when they felt left out or rejected by their friends. Art could be incorporated by having the students draw a picture to illustrate their writing.This book has not received any awards.