How Do You Hug a Porcupine?

PreS-Gr 2—Most of the time, the mechanics of how to hug an animal are fairly straightforward. Horses, cats, and dogs do not provide much of a challenge, but a porcupine is another matter. With rhyming text, Isop works through a catalog of animals, both common and unusual, always circling back to the central question: "Hugging bunnies is just divine. But how do you hug a porcupine?" The question befuddles the young boy intent on giving the hug, and the animal looks equally uneasy. The boy tries armoring himself in a catcher's outfit and then a cardboard box, but the porcupine has no interest in being hugged. Finally, the boy hits on the idea of sticking a marshmallow on every quill. This does the trick, though it turns out that the marshmallows were less critical than the resulting trust and friendship. The slightly absurd concept will resonate with the audience, who find the idea of hugging giraffes and kangaroos inherently funny. Minimalist cartoon illustrations in watercolor and pencil convey expression and add humorous details. Small vignettes surrounded by ample white space keep the look clean and direct. The small size of the pictures makes them better for sharing in small groups or one-on-one.—Suzanne Myers Harold, Multnomah County Library System, Portland, OR