Hug Me

It’s hard to give and receive physical affection when you have a prickly exterior. Felipe is a young cactus who only wants friendship and loving hugs but his outside appearance is a constant barrier, as is the high and mighty attitude of his family. He learns to enjoy his own company, delightfully depicted with him sitting in an armchair frowning over a Sudoku puzzle surrounded by takeaways and technology. Then one day Felipe hears a wail from outside his wall which leads to a meeting with the perfect companion.

Simona Ciraolo uses a subtle and muted palette of green, grey and brown with strong hints of red for this strong narrative about expressing feelings, which moves across the landscape pages with brief and carefully placed text.

Also by this author/illustrator: Whatever Happened to My Sister? (9781909263529), Flying Eye £11.99

The Lines on Nana's Face (9781909263987), Flying  Eye £11.99

Shy Ones (9781912497355), Flying Eye £11.99

If Winter Comes, Tell It I'm Not Here (9781406388183), Walker £12.99