“The Hug” is the debut book by Irish author Eoin McLaughlin. The book was released in 2019. It tells the tale of two animals who are feeling sad and are asking other animals for a hug. Their journey is upsetting, but then something truly special happens. It was named a 'Book of the Year' by The Guardian and has been translated in over 25 languages.
It is cool to see both the perspectives of the hedgehog and
the tortoise. This was awesome, as both stories talked about their struggles to
find someone to hug them. Each story had the owl telling them that there is
someone for everyone to hug. Some may wonder why the tortoise could not be
hugged, but that part of the story made sense.
Although they are two perspectives, there are a lot of
parallels. This is especially true in their search for a hug and their
difficulty in finding one. It would have been nice to see a little bit of a
different story for the tortoise beyond the different animals, but having the
same story demonstrates how similar they are.
This book is great for kids who may feel left out. Parents,
especially single parents, may also be able to resonate as well, especially
with the message of everyone having a person to love. In an age where isolation
and bullying are prevalent among kids, it is important that books like this
exist to show them that there is someone out there who will love them. They
just have to hold onto hope and keep looking.
The illustrations for the book were done by Polly Dunbar.
Personally, my favorite illustration is the first fox illustration, where the
fox and hedgehog first meet. The fox’s face is so expressive. The illustrations
capture the essence of the book, and you can envision how the story is being
acted out, even through static illustrations.
Overall, this book is perfect for anyone, both kids and
adults alike, who may be feeling a bit lonely. Its message of perseverance and
love is inspiring in this age of isolation and bullying. It is so easy to feel
alone, but if we truly look around, we will find someone who loves us.