Nobody Hugs a Cactus by Carter Goodrich

If you look at the front and back end papers of Nobody Hugs a Cactus you can see actually 'someone' will hug this cactus but I am sure you won't be able to guess just how this happened.

You can see eight pages from this book on the author web page. Here is the Kirkus review.

Publisher blurb: Hank is the prickliest cactus in the entire world. He sits in a pot in a window that faces the empty desert, which is just how he likes it. So, when all manner of creatures—from tumbleweed to lizard to owl—come to disturb his peace, Hank is annoyed. He doesn’t like noise, he doesn’t like rowdiness, and definitely does not like hugs. But the thing is, no one is offering one. Who would want to hug a plant so mean? Hank is beginning to discover that being alone can be, well, lonely. So he comes up with a plan to get the one thing he thought he would never need: a hug from a friend.

A great pick for grumpy days when you might be feeling a bit prickly yourself. Waking Brain Cells

After reading this book you might like to see some flowering cactus plants.  I used to have a large one on my balcony but it was difficult to move it around because - yes you have guessed - it was way too prickly.

Carter Goodrich was the lead character designer for Brave, Ratatouille and Despicable Me. His picture books include We Forgot Brock!, Say Hello to Zorro!, Zorro Gets an Outfit, Mister Bud Wears the Cone, A Creature Was Stirring, and The Hermit Crab. 

Here in Australia picture books from America are now priced way beyond any school or public library budget. This book was donated to the library where I found it. I have seen this book listed between AUS$30 and AUS$45. Nobody Hugs a Cactus was published in 2019. 

I have previously talked about books and hugs:

Hug Me

Hug me, Please!

The Hug Machine

The Giant Hug

I haven't seen this one but it also sounds perfect:

And here are two other books about prickles and the need for a friend:

Enmore

A Porcupine named Fluffy

Albert's Tree by Jenni Desmond

Never, never underestimate the power of a great story twist! And appealing illustrations and brilliant end papers. This book has it all. Jenni Desmond - well done!

Look at that face on the cover. Bear looks so content. We can guess he has found HIS tree! 

"Spring had arrived and Albert woke from his long sleep. 'Horray!' he shouted. As the snow was quietly turning to water and trickling down from the mountains, Albert raced to his favourite place. His tree."

This tree is perfect. Not too hard, soft, slippery or prickly. This is a place of peace and quiet.

BUT all readers know that at this point there is sure to be a complication. And yes, there is. Albert hears a noise. It sounds as though his tree is crying. Albert decides to ask his forest friends. Rabbit explains that digging holes makes him happy so the pair of friends dig lots of holes but the tree keeps crying. The Caribous suggests gathering lots of grass because it is delicious to eat but the tree keeps crying. The crying becomes louder and more intense.

Bear is at a loss what to do so he climbs his tree and he "gave the tree a huge, kind, bear hug." There are ten more pages in this book but I don't want to spoil the surprise. Bear does make a discovery about his tree but I am certain you will never guess the truth. This is a book you should add to your read aloud list. It would be perfect to share with a preschool group.

The picture book is as cozy and familiar as a teddy bear’s embrace, but smart touches elevate the story. They include vignettes against white space that contrast beautifully with more detailed and colorful spreads that give a wider view of the world around Albert. And by naming Albert alone of the characters, Desmond keeps readers’ sympathies squarely on the well-meaning mammal. If that weren’t enough, the endpapers include a lovely cutaway view of underground hibernation and a hilarious offhand joke that add beauty and charm, respectively, to an already endearing effort. There are lots of children’s books about cute bears who talk like people, but few are as cleverly put together and as witty as Albert’s little adventure. Kirkus Star review

Here are some other books by Jenni Desmond:

I have previously talked about these:

Puffin 

On the Night of the Shooting Star

The Zebra who ran too fast

Cat illustrations and book covers for Hug Your Cat Day

 

Image Source: Book Trust (What to read after Mog)

As I mentioned yesterday, today is Hug your Cat Day. I decided to hunt for some illustrations of cats by some of the best illustrators of picture books:

Rosemary Wells

Brian Wildsmith

Michael Foreman

Axel Scheffler

Shirley Hughes

Lynley Dodd

Andrew McLean

Robert Ingpen

Eric Carle

Christian Birmingham

Mark Teague

Ruth Brown

Posy Simmonds

Tony Ross

Paul Geraghty

Marie-Louise Gay

Lane Smith (From Cat Problems by Jory John)

Leigh Hobbs (Old Tom)

Brian Wenzel (image source books4yourkids)

Kenard Pak (from Cat Wishes by Calista Brill)

Komako Sakai (from Hannah's Night see more here)

Catherine Rayner

Take a look at this Pinterest of Cats and Reading by my friend from Kinderbookswitheverything. 

Hug me by Simona Ciraolo

Felipe is a small cactus. His large family advise him to keep away from others and maintain personal space. His family tell him to keep still, stand tall, and enjoy being looked at but Felipe is not happy.

"They didn't notice that all he wanted was a hug."

Publisher blurb Flying Eye Books: Ever feel like you need a hug, a really big hug from someone? That’s how Felipe the young cactus feels, but his family just isn’t the touchy-feely kind. Cacti can be quite prickly sometimes you know… and so can Felipe. But he’ll be darned if this one pointy issue will hold him back, so one day Felipe sets off on his own to find a friend and, just maybe, that long awaited hug. 

I wonder if our hesitancy to hug due to Covid will continue after the world regains some equilibrium. I do miss hugs.

Read more about Simona Ciraolo here. And you might like to check out her web site. 

We've missed the US celebration this year which happen on 21st January for National Hugging Day but you could read a book about hugs any time - it's certainly a popular topic in picture books. When we no longer worry about Covid perhaps this could be your book topic in a Pre-School or with a Kindergarten group. My friend at Kinderbookswitheverything has a couple of blog posts about hugs - 13th July, 2011 Hug Week; and 21st January, 2016 National Hugging Day. 

The Hug Machine

Hug me Please

The Giant Hug