Review by New York Times Review
Two brothers are determined to find "something spectacular" in this clever second collaboration between Barnett and Klassen (after "Extra Yarn," a Caldecott Honor book). As Sam and Dave apply shovels to dirt, their hole grows and grows, but their goal keeps eluding them. The prose is deadpan; the joke's all in Klassen's winsomely smudgy illustrations: There are gigantic jewels buried everywhere, except in the paths the boys dig. The dog, meanwhile, is after a prize of his own. HUG MACHINE Written and illustrated by Scott Campbell. 32 pp. Atheneum. $16.99. (Picture book; ages 2 to 8) The unnamed little boy who narrates this sweet romp has declared himself the Hug Machine. Look out! No one and nothing is safe from his embrace - not his family, not a policeman, not even the ice cream truck and a porcupine. As his hug-objects get more and more unlikely, a pizza break is called for. Campbell keeps the comic effect going, and his watercolor illustrations of the big-eyed, long-armed boy have a rough-hewn charm that makes all the hugging seem anything but mushy. CATCH THAT COOKIE! By Hallie Durand. Illustrated by David Small. 32 pp. Dial. $17.99. (Picture book; ages 3 to 6) Marshall, a serious-minded preschooler, knows that ginger-bread men "can't run for real." But when his class bakes a batch, they disappear from the oven, leaving a rhyming clue to their whereabouts. A treasure hunt ensues, with more clues ("You thought we might be slow 'cause we're only made of dough"); the little guys end up asleep in a doll bed - for the moment. In Small's spirited illustrations, the children, their teacher and the "G-men" all burst with spice and verve. DOJO DAYCARE Written and illustrated by Chris Tougas. 32 pp. Owlkids. $16.95. (Picture book; ages 3 to 7) Day care is a dojo, its little citizens black-outfitted, high-kicking ninjas who run riot over the place in this fast-paced rhyming tale: "No one listens to the Master./Story time is a disaster," Tougas writes. It takes "one little voice" to remind the ninjas about "honor, kindness and respect," and all that madcap energy is put to use tidying up. Back home, where parents and even pets are swathed in ninja black, too, the children sign off with an amusing and appropriate "back-flip into comfy beds." TELEPHONE By Mac Barnett. Illustrated by Jen Corace. 32 pp. Chronicle. $16.99. (Picture book; ages 4 to 8) "Tell Peter: Fly home for dinner." That's the opening of this raucous avian take on the old-school children's game, in which the action takes place, naturally, on a telephone wire. On each page, a new bird fumbles the message, which gets increasingly alarming: "Put your wet socks in the dryer," is one thing, "Something smells like fire!" quite another. Co race's illustrations are both delicate and lively, bringing humor and personality to the worlds of the humans, below, and the birds, above. ONLINE A slide show of this week's illustrated books at nytimes.com/books
Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [September 28, 2014]
Review by Booklist Review
From the title page, where the tiny hug machine boosts his biceps for a long day of hugging, to the exuberant tirelessness with which he dispenses embraces, this noodle-armed little boy who loves hugs is irrepressibly charming. Campbell's big-eyed, overall-sporting toddler in red boots will hug anything, and he is the best: No one can resist my unbelievable hugging. Grumpy neighbors, sad babies, mailboxes, trees, snakes, a giant whale, and even a porcupine are no match for the hug machine, particularly after he is refueled by pizza. In cartoony watercolors in muted, pinky tones on open white backgrounds, Campbell depicts the boy, who clearly takes hugging very seriously, clasping his long arms around bewildered, deadpan passersby until he collapses from exhaustion and receives a warm hug from his own mom. Though parents will likely want to dissuade their little ones from hugging total strangers let alone a porcupine or bear it's a silly concept delightfully rendered, and the hug machine's enthusiasm for friendliness is hard not to love.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A boy shows ample pride in his hugging prowess in this ode to spreading joy, the first book Campbell (If Dogs Run Free) has both written and illustrated. There's no one and nothing that the protagonist-clad in shorts, a striped polo, and red boots-won't hug. He's so confident about the power of his "irresistible" hugs to calm people down, cheer them up, or "make the biggest feel small. The smallest feel big," that he calls himself the Hug Machine. Spiky porcupine? No problem. The Hug Machine dons a facemask, oven mitts, and a pillow before going in for the squeeze. Super-huge whale? The Hug Machine slides down the whale's back and hugs in increments. After a long day of hug-giving, the Hug Machine "can hug no more" and is scooped up into his mother's arms. Campbell's simply outlined watercolors exude warmth, emotion, and sly humor, from the deadpan expressions of several surprised recipients of the Hug Machine's hugs to his own serenely closed eyes during each hug, which make it clear that he's giving each hug his utmost. Ages 4-8. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-Campbell's enthusiastic hugger makes for a splendid board book adaptation. The young child embraces a number of people, animals, and objects, proudly describing the wonders that his hugs can perform. The rosy palette and watercolor art lend the work a warm, intimate feeling, which is pleasantly offset by some goofier moments. The expression of pure bliss on the protagonist's face is infectious-it's not hard to imagine little ones giving their best hugs after reading.-Della Farrell, School Library Journal © Copyright 2018. 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 Horn Book Review
"Whoa! Here I come! I am the Hug Machine!" cries this book's ebullient young narrator as he dramatically crests a hill on the first spread. No shrinking violet, the boy explains in a series of spot illustrations why he is the "best at hugging" everyone and everything. His hugs have various effects -- calming, cheering, etc. -- and he doesn't discriminate based on size, shape, or texture. Even hug requests from a spiky porcupine and a ginormous whale don't faze the resourceful tyke. After refueling with pizza (his preferred food) to "keep the hugging energy high," the Hug Machine traverses the neighborhood spreading his special brand of magic. The cartoony watercolor illustrations are a perfect counterpoint to the earnest text, from Campbell's depiction of the round-headed, big-eyed boy with extra-long arms perfect for hugging to the humorous deadpan reactions of the hug recipients. Campbell skillfully uses white space, the occasional warm red background color, and different dynamic perspectives to add emphasis, while dotted lines on several spreads make the boy's constant movement easy to follow. And when, after a day full of hugging, it looks like the Hug Machine is all tuckered out, the boy discovers it's just as nice to be hugged as it is to give hugs. It's a non-sappy, warm-hearted ending to a book that feels just like a big ol' hug. cynthia k. ritter(c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A feel-good ride, full of droll artistic asides and an abundance of caring.A little boy calls himself the Hug Machine. He is a squat little guy, with an oblong head and arms that would surely drag on the floor if he ever put them down. But that just means they are perfect for hugging. The Hug Machine wraps his arms around his family, neighbors, everyone he meets. He also hugs things that are hard (a rock), big (a bear), square (an ice cream truck) and spiky (a porcupinewhile wearing adequate protection, of course). No one can resist his unbelievable hugging! Admittedly, the Hug Machine can look a tad forbidding while looking for his next cuddle recipient; his large eyes pop, and his arms stretch wide. But as soon as the hug starts, his face relaxes into a serene calm. With each hug, Campbell depicts him hilariously perched in the same position, as if he were perfectly inserted exactly where he should be. Unadorned, hand-lettered text and deliberately muted watercolors increase the warmth of this adorable little fellow. The story rests on a simple string of hugs and one plucky little hero doing his part to make the world a better place.In his first outing as an author, Campbell shines. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
