Like a warm embrace in comic strip form, the cute, cuddly, and clever illustrations by Andrés Colmenares bring joy to millions of readers across the globe. A Great Big Visual Hug collects many of his most popular comics, along with dozens of never-before-seen images that are both heartwarming and hilarious.
Featuring cheerful characters like sloths, broccoli, snakes, cacti, pigs, and the cutest possible version of just about any animal or object you can imagine, Andrés Colmenares' comics are wholesome, amusing, clever, and often hilarious. This book collects the greatest hits from his popular series and features dozens of new comics. A Great Big Visual Hug is great for all ages and an excellent birthday, gift, or self-care purchase.
Andrés J. Colmenares is a Colombian cartoonist, illustrator, and author. He is the creator of Wawawiwa Comics and the author of graphic novels for young readers. His work transforms everyday moments into heartfelt and humorous stories.
Whether you need a hug, a laugh, or a heart-warming nuzzle, you'll find just what you need with these cute and amusing comics, and maybe just a little bit more too, to really brighten your day and bring a smile to your face. 😊
In a Nutshell: A cute little collection of comics that will warm your heart and bring a smile to your face. If you know Wawawiwa comics, you know what to expect. A great gifting option.
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I’ve been a fan of Wawawiwa comics since many years now. Author Andrés J. Colmenares, who is a self-taught illustrator from Colombia, describes his work as a "visual hug" [Cue: the title of this compilation!] and he is absolutely right. The art is always cute and the content is always endearing.
The main feature about these comics is that they personify not just animals but also objects that we would never think of in a anthropomorphised way. Think toothpaste tubes, avocados, cola cans, the planets, balloons, body organs, and so on with human sentiments – ridiculously funny, but Colmenares manages to make them sweet.
This latest collection contains some of the most liked comics from Wawawiwa’s Instagram page. At about 200 pages, this is much longer than Colmenares’ earlier Wawawiwa compilation, ‘When Sharks Attack With Kindness’, which had about 128 pages. Both the books are adorably uplifting!
I had already seen many of these comics before, but they are so heartwarming that a repeat read never hurts. Some of the strips are funny, some are thought-provoking, and some are just ‘awww’-inducing. While the animal-based ones are my favourite, all are delightful.
Most of the strips have a fresh feeling, with only a few seeming a bit repetitive. At the same time, I wish there had been a few new comics also in the set. If a reader can see the same content browsing through the Wawawiwa site or the Instagram page, why would they buy the book?
The illustrations are exactly as you can see on the cover – kawaii-style cute!
This needn’t be a book you read from start to end. You can just flip to any random page and get your dose of a daily smile.
Much recommended. As a wonderful combination of heart and humour, this would make for a wholesome gift to loved ones of any age, to family as well as friends and colleagues.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing the DRC of “A Great Big Visual Hug” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
Colmenares is an illustrator whose comics you have probably seen somewhere before. He’s funny, whimsical and heartwarming. I loved this collection of his best-loved comics thus far. You will, too! You will come away happier, I promise.
Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Cute. Some recurring cast members show up in future unrelated comics, so it's definitely worth it to (and easy to) flip through it in one sitting. In all I think there were two or three comics that I just didn't understand, which is a pretty good rate for 200ish pages. Some very on-the-nose, no punchline comics that are just there to make you sad, or have happy tears, or hear the author's random opinion (e.g., dog died, he still loves you; fall is great I love fall; people who pass away still get to love each other as ghosts; etc.). But the majority are very cute, and some are pretty clever. The bats are the best. Some jokes repeat, but again, they're cute, who cares. All in all a harmless, very quick flip-through, with plenty of giggles and smiles.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I selected this book because I was in the mood for a comic, and the idea of a visual hug sounded so pleasant. I read briefly read the description beforehand, so I knew that this would be a collection of comic strip style pieces. When I opened the ebook, though, I got so excited, because I realized I’d seen these comics on instagram before! They show up on my explore page from time to time, and my sister and I have sent many of them back and forth to each other. It was a joy to read through this collection of them. The comics are clever and colorful, and the artwork is absolutely adorable!
Personal note: I recommend listening to some cozy/chill lofi music while reading this.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.
When I started reading this collection of super short comics, I recognized some of them from scrolling through Instagram and I thought they felt more suited for discovering them like that, just one at a time while scrolling or maybe even by picking this book up and reading them a few at a time. One hour later, I’ve read them all, I basically devoured this book haha.
These comics are so clever, funny, easy to read and often heartwarming.
They may be super short but more than worth reading. It was a joy to read through 200+ of them! Not my favorite collection of feel good comics but a nice one nonetheless.
This is so cute!! Lots of really lovely moments of surprise. Lots of joy, comfort, and creativity. I gasped and laughed out loud multiple times. Definitely a mood-booster. I recommend!
Read this, flipping through it together, with my partner in about 20 minutes. I recommend sharing the experience of reading this with someone.
This was just fantastic and absolutely what I needed at this very moment [it is filled with colorful, uplifting, comics that make you smile no matter what mood you are in ] and anyone, young and old alike, will love this book and I know I will be going back to it over and over on days I feel blue for a lovely pick-me-up.
Very well done!!
**A side note: I highly recommend this author and all of his other books as well as this one. He is a brilliant and gifted artist [who's illustrations just resonate with you and make you smile, laugh, feel], and everyone should be checking out and reading his books!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Andrés J. Colmenares, and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Fluffy and sweet. Not much depth, but there doesn't need to be. This series manages to be really cute without getting too saccharine, which is definitely a plus (there are other books similar to this one that I had to put down because of the eye-rolling...and the cavities). This one was funny and struck the right balance.
If you want to see a slice of bread worrying that his dad is going to make his yearly dad joke (“Who’s ready for the New Year’s Toast?”), if you’re ready to see a spoon talk to a sponge who has been absorbing too much and giving the sponge a big hug to let it out, if you need to see a group of colorful snakes come together to make a rainbow, then you just may be needing A Great Big Visual Hug.
Cartoonist Andres J. Colmenares has brought his popular Wawawiwa comics to print, so you can give a collection of these warm-hearted, soothing, clever comics to anyone needing a pick-me-up on difficult days (so, anyone). The colorful comics depict animals or inanimate objects in everyday interactions, putting a spotlight on a moments that show extraordinary caring, compassion, humor, or empathy.
It will put a smile on your face to see the sun and moon on a seesaw as the Earth goes from day to night, make you think about wolves howling at the moon in respect for the call they will never catch, and shake your head when you see the paranormal activities of a ghost making art, walking the dog, riding a bike, and mowing the lawn. And when you see sheep parents jumping over a small fence to help their child sleep, you can remember all the small ways we make life better for those we love.
The thing I love most about the Wawawiwa comics is the surprise twists that you just don’t see coming. Colmenares has a vision of life that is so special and unique, offering readers a chance to step back from whatever is taking up space in their mind and see things a little differently. These comics can offer a chance to slow down, laugh a little, and ease your shoulders down from your ears a little (or is it just me who is stressed like that?).
So when you’re missing someone, like when a giant asteroid misses Earth (“I miss her so much!”), or you had a bad day at work (like when the dominoes had a difficult time with the trust fall exercise), or if you just need someone to hold the book for you so you can read (the elephant tells the bird, “It’s time to show you how I use these tusks’), maybe all you really need is A Great Big Visual Hug. Because if there was ever a book title that described the book perfectly, that’s it right there.
Egalleys for A Great Big Visual Hug were provided by Andrews McMeel through Edelweiss.
3.25 ★ --- "A Great Big Visual Hug" es un libro adorable que compila los comics de Wawawiwa. Como su nombre lo sugiere, es un abrazo en forma de libro. Se trata de comics con un estilo muy tierno, que suelen resolverse en pocos cuadros y que pueden sacarte una sonrisa con su simpleza.
Como contra, no hay nada en el libro que aporte un a la experiencia. Es como ver el feed de instragram. Estoy a favor de apoyar a los autores, pero normalmente hay más contexto en el libro (detrás de escena, agrupar por temática, buscar un hilo conductor), y este no es el caso.
A pesar de eso es un buen libro y se lee de una sentada. Creo que todos pueden encontrar un par de paneles con los que reirse.
Gracias a Netgalley y al editor por proporcionar una copia gratuita del libro a cambio de una reseña honesta. --- "A Great Big Visual Hug", as its name suggest, is a hug in book format. The illustrations are cute and the comics are funny. It's a book that is going to make you smile.
On the downside, if you follow Wawawiwa Comics on instagram, it's pretty much the same experience. I would love if the comics were grouped by theme, or follow some kind of order to give some "extra" context. Except supporting the author, there is no added value in the book.
That being said, it's a great book that can be read in one sitting. I think it'll be a great experience for anyone.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Content warning! This is what your face will look like the entire time you are reading this compilation of Wawawiwa Comics: 😁
Seriously, I was grinning from ear to ear. Page after page. Who knew that animals and inanimate objects (even pasta) could bring so much joy?
Here are a few examples:
🌞🌎The moon making shadow puppets on the earth's surface to amuse a bored sun.
🐎 A bird taking a nap on the back of a pony is mistaken for Pegasus wings.
🐑Mama and Daddy sheep jump over a fence to help their little lamb nod off at night.
🍟A choir of French fries.
🍝Pasta relaxing in a hot shower.
And so many more. . . A big thank you to my GR friend Rosh for once again introducing me to a delightful read. This one is going on my Christmas list for smiles every day of the year.
And, who can resist sprinkles?!
A big thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing (a local company) and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A collection of short comics featuring a variety of characters that are by turns cute, heartwarming, funny, and poignant.
My favorite one of these was Jupiter with a collection of moon balloons giving the Earth one. Some of these I really enjoyed, some just make you smile, some address mental health/anxiety issues, and only one left me scratching my head. Hand this to those who like thoughtful comics.
Notes on content: Language: A couple mild uses of profanity. Sexual content: None. Some feature a couple and then a baby, but nothing risqué. Violence: One comic involves a pet's death and has the pet's ghost keeping the person company. Another involves a couple dying of old age and being a ghostly couple. Ethnic diversity: Very few humans, and those that were in there could be a variety of ethnicities based on skin tone and hair color. LGBTQ+ content: None specified Other: Some comics involve characters being sad/anxious and needing someone to support them or help them calm down.
A Great Big Visual Hug: Heartwarming Wawawiwa Comics by Andrés J. Colmenares is an anthology of friendly wholesome art…some of which you may have already seen (or at least the artist’s other work).
Whether it’s animals, the weather, inanimate objects, or other elements, the author artist has a talent for bringing out simply one page art to tell a story…to make you feel something positive…and maybe even make you think.
This art teaches kindness, compassion, understanding, and brotherhood…where it’s about friendship, love, tolerance, or any number of positive feelings that help us get through the day and not give up…
Some of the art has recurring characters, and even if some of the heart doesn’t appeal to you it would be near impossible not to find something nice to make you feel warm inside…
I received this book from Edelweiss/publisher in exchange of an honest review.
This one made me smile, laugh, go oh my, aww, and much more! It was so much fun and some I recognised from Twitter/other places though I don't follow the author/artist, but probably it got retweeted a few times. I am really happy I got the chance to read this one because it was just what I needed. Something to bring positivity and make me laugh. And not just me by the way, I also showed several (OK, a lot) to my hubby and he was laughing just as much. So approval stamp from my hubby as well! My favourites: The owl who drinks coffee, the watermelon kissing the lime (which reminds me of the meme I see floating around on Twitter), Halloween cupcakes, the bread doing jumping rope, the tiny can in bed and his lie.
This is the perfect pick me up. If you ever feel sad and need something to reminds you of life's gifts, this is the comic book for you.
The author takes everyday objects and gives them a creative, fun and cute twist. You will realize how many things are normalized but if you change the angle in which you see them they take a whole new meaning.
They're beautiful illustrations that will entertain children and adults the same, with funny phrases and kind words, this would make the perfect table book to have a home or a wholesome gift for friends and family.
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC! I blew through this book in under an hour. The comics are all very short, around 1 page each and mostly consist of pictures, so this was a very quick read. The panels are all so clever and heartwarming and fun. I have a bone to pick with this book though, because I was not expecting to cry while reading this. I expected a hug, but ended up with a mini sob session after reading a 4-panel comic about a dog. I’d still recommend this read because it’s very entertaining, plus it would be a great book to share with your family and friends! I’d honestly flip through this again and again. It would make a great coffee table book and conversation starter!
ALL the warm and fuzzy stars for this collection of adorable comics; it is truly the feel-good book of the year. Most will make you laugh, some will make you go "Awww!" This book would make a great gift for anyone who's feeling down, but be sure to keep a copy for yourself for whenever you need cheering.
Many thanks to Andrews McMeel and NetGalley for sharing.
A great big visual hug indeed! I had seen a lot of Colmenares’ drawings before on social media, but looking at a whole book of them at once was so heartwarming. The situations and characters are funny, cute and silly in every single panel. This artist really has a knack for turning puns into adorable drawings. Reading this book was a great self-care activity after a long day at work, but I think it works even better reading just a few pages every day.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this e-ARC.
A Great Big Visual Hug is a wonderful compilation of Wawawiwa comics!
I have been a long-time fan of Wawawiwa comics online & loved the chance to review this compilation. The comics were adorable & there were plenty that I had never seen before. It was the best cozy read when I needed to smile.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who just wants some adorable, happy comics. No plot or danger needed. Thanks to NetGalley, Andres Colmenares, and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the chance to read & review!
The beautiful humorous heartwarming little snippets you would expect from the artistry that is Wawawiwa Comics. The creator of this beautiful collection has such a way with finding the endearing and humorous moments in everyday life. The use of mundane items, animals, and more coupled with his talent for visual puns makes this book a must have. Highly recommended to have handy especially for days when things might not be going your way. This little book is bound to lift your spirits.
**Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the E-ARC.**
This book is a compilation of adorable comics. They reminded me of dad jokes, but in a good way.
All of the comics had me smiling, laughing, or going "AWWW", which I take as a good sign. This was and easy and quick read, but the artwork and humor makes it worth it. I wish I was half as funny as the author/illustrator.
My favorites included any of the ones with the pasta, the alarm clock one, the chicken and the picture frame, and baby ghost trick-or-treating. They were all so adorable, and brightened my day!