Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Recast Ferdinand the bull as a bear living in the North Woods, with hugs filling in for flower sniffing-that's a workable summation of this debut effort. While the ursine hero may look like a hulking beast, he's actually "so filled with love and happiness" that he gives out hugs wherever he goes-whether the recipient asked for one or not ("He even hugged creatures that bears have been known to eat"). And even more than hugging animals, the bear loves to hug trees. But when a woodsman threatens "one of the tallest, oldest, and most beautiful trees in the forest," will the bear revert to type? Oldland's rustic-styled digital artwork looks like a hip flannel pajama print (which is probably no coincidence, given that he's creative director at an apparel company), and his pictures play sly comic foil to the earnest text. Ages 3-7. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-"There once was a bear so filled with love and happiness that whenever he roamed the forest and came across another living thing, he would give it a hug." The joke follows when a page turn reveals a shocked and terrified bunny caught up in his big arms. The sweet but deadpan text paired with the almost slapstick cartoon art makes for an entertaining conservation story. This large, lovable, dopey-looking bear loves hugging trees-all kinds of trees-most of all. When he observes a man staring up at one, he thinks he has found a kindred spirit-until the man takes a swing with his axe. The completely enraged animal must then find a way to stay true to himself and save the tree. Flat illustrations done in Photoshop feature simple shapes in blues, greens, and browns with plenty of white space. While ultimately the message here is a little heavy-handed, the book's quick humor makes it easy to embrace.-Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A big black bear is so full of love and happiness that he hugs every living thing he encounters: "No animal was too big / Too small / Too smelly / Or too scary to hug." His favorite things to hug, however, are trees of all types and sizes. One day he sees a big man with an axe staring at a stately tree. At first black bear thinks the man loves trees as much as he does. When black bear realizes the man's intention, he tries to attack; but he can't. Instead "he decided to do what he did best"that is, hugwith predictable (and entirely acceptable) results. Canadian commercial artist Oldland's full-bleed and spot illustrations created in Photoshop have the look of woodcut prints except for the woodsman, who stands out from nature because of his heavy black outline. The startled animals on the receiving end of the Little Orphan Annieeyed black bear's hugs will incite giggles. This debut is a treat for the tree hugger in all of us. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
