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I Like to Read
I Hug
Simple enough for the newest of readers, this affectionate story is a reminder of all the huggable things we see every day. Guided Reading Level A.
With a simple text, where only one word changes per page, beloved author-illustrator David McPhail has crafted a sweet story in which a small child shows her love for everything around her-- her cat and dog, her favorite tree, and of course, her family and friends.
The gentle waterolor illustrations reflect and reinforce the text, offering clues to help new readers and adding warmth and detail to the scenes. This charming story is perfect to read with a loved one-- or simple enough to be the first book a child reads on their own.
The award-winning I Like to Read® series focuses on guided reading levels A through G, based upon Fountas and Pinnell standards. Acclaimed author-illustrators--including winners of Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel, and Coretta Scott King honors—create original, high-quality illustrations that support comprehension of simple text and are fun for kids to read again and again with their parents, teachers or on their own!
Level A books, for early kindergarten, have one short sentence that repeats on every page with only one word change per spread. Images help tell the story—leading to faster decoding of sight words. This proven method starts the earliest readers on the path to reading fluency. When Level A is mastered, follow up with Level B.
With a simple text, where only one word changes per page, beloved author-illustrator David McPhail has crafted a sweet story in which a small child shows her love for everything around her-- her cat and dog, her favorite tree, and of course, her family and friends.
The gentle waterolor illustrations reflect and reinforce the text, offering clues to help new readers and adding warmth and detail to the scenes. This charming story is perfect to read with a loved one-- or simple enough to be the first book a child reads on their own.
The award-winning I Like to Read® series focuses on guided reading levels A through G, based upon Fountas and Pinnell standards. Acclaimed author-illustrators--including winners of Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel, and Coretta Scott King honors—create original, high-quality illustrations that support comprehension of simple text and are fun for kids to read again and again with their parents, teachers or on their own!
Level A books, for early kindergarten, have one short sentence that repeats on every page with only one word change per spread. Images help tell the story—leading to faster decoding of sight words. This proven method starts the earliest readers on the path to reading fluency. When Level A is mastered, follow up with Level B.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published August 15, 2017
3 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
David McPhail
249 books96 followersDavid was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts and attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. While there, he began illustrating. He is now an award-winning author and illustrator of nearly 200 books beloved by children, parents and librarians across the United States. McPhail has garnered many prestigious awards, including a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year for Mole Music in 2001. McPhail’s other books include First Flight, which the New York Times praised as “hilarious and helpful”; and Lost!, which was chosen as an American Bookseller Pick of the Lists.
McPhail has four children, three stepchildren, and is a proud grandfather. He is married to Jan Waldron, with whom he has written and illustrated several books. He lives in Rye, New Hampshire.
McPhail has four children, three stepchildren, and is a proud grandfather. He is married to Jan Waldron, with whom he has written and illustrated several books. He lives in Rye, New Hampshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
November 13, 2017
This book is so cute. Kids and hugs go hand and hand. It captures the sheer joy of being a kids.
February 20, 2018
The four stars indicate that this is very successful as a beginning reader for children younger than kindergarten age. The format and size put it with picture books. It is part of the Holiday House "I Like to Read" guided reading series and is designated as "level A". On every page appear the phrase "I hug" followed by a noun which is also given a picture prompt or clue.
My three-year-old granddaughter easily read this aloud to me without ever having had it read to her.
My three-year-old granddaughter easily read this aloud to me without ever having had it read to her.
August 25, 2017
This kid is a hugger! It would work great for a toddler storytime.
February 17, 2023
First reading for hug lovers. Hug, hug, hug! Everyone and everything!
But what to do if you don’t like that?
I would add at least one page about it.
But what to do if you don’t like that?
I would add at least one page about it.
August 19, 2017
Soft illustrations, created with watercolor over pen and ink, and simple text that is intended for beginning readers, highlight all the many reasons and individuals to hug. Many youngsters will be able to relate to hugging their pets and even a favorite rock or tree, not to mention friends and loved ones of all sorts. This is a sweet, sweet book, perhaps one that more of us need to read during these recent days of turbulence. I've always found that an offered hug is a lot more effective than a blow or a sharp word or tone.
April 16, 2019
This review originally published at http://www.drttmk.com/books/i-hug.
I roll my eyes.
It feels like the author didn't even try to write an actual book. The art is of spotty quality. I'm not familiar with David McPhail's other illustration work, but I'm not impressed by what he did in this book.
The main character is a little girl who has funny hair, which makes her look like a clown. This is basically the modern-day equivalent of "Dick and Jane." As I have said in many other reviews, kids don't need this kind of thing to learn to read. This is the most boring book. There's no story line. Every single spread is the same thing: on the left, a sentence beginning with "I hug" and just a single subject, and on the right, an image depicting the action. The first one: "I hug my cat." The second one: "I hug my dog." Then this girl goes around hugging so many different things, including inanimate objects, and then hugs her parents and then goes to bed. The last sentence is, "I hug."
Kids don't need this. Who thinks that a child's attention is going to be even moderately held by this? I kind of understand the idea, like if you were trying to give it to like an extremely remedial reader. According to the rating system on the book, it is for the lowest level of reader. But this isn't even Dick and Jane level; it's lower level than that. The average person could come up with the text of this book in 15 minutes.
This reminds me of first year Spanish class in high school, where we spent the first day making sentences that all began with "Me gusta" just to get the idea of Spanish across. "Me gusta la playa." (I am given joy by the beach.) "Me gusta correr." (I am given joy by running.) "Me gusta los gatos." (I am given joy by cats.) The sentence construction helps if you're trying to give someone a list of words, but not if you're trying to hold the attention of a child, or teach them to read. It makes sense for the first day of Spanish class, so maybe it would work for a child who was beginning to learn English? But it wouldn't be something they'd come back to over and over again. For any child whose first language is English, who wasn't raised in a forest by bears or whatever, by the time that they get to the level where they're starting to read, this is going to be so trivial to them as to be almost insulting. It's just slightly higher level than an alphabet book, and an alphabet book can have so much more variety and interest than this.
Nothing is happening in this book, other than this child going around hugging various objects and creatures. That's it. There's no emotion. Presumably the child enjoys hugging things, otherwise she wouldn't be doing it, but there are so many better books than this out there, and like I said, it just feels like the author didn't even try.
Message: Children who are learning to read need really simple books.
I roll my eyes.
It feels like the author didn't even try to write an actual book. The art is of spotty quality. I'm not familiar with David McPhail's other illustration work, but I'm not impressed by what he did in this book.
The main character is a little girl who has funny hair, which makes her look like a clown. This is basically the modern-day equivalent of "Dick and Jane." As I have said in many other reviews, kids don't need this kind of thing to learn to read. This is the most boring book. There's no story line. Every single spread is the same thing: on the left, a sentence beginning with "I hug" and just a single subject, and on the right, an image depicting the action. The first one: "I hug my cat." The second one: "I hug my dog." Then this girl goes around hugging so many different things, including inanimate objects, and then hugs her parents and then goes to bed. The last sentence is, "I hug."
Kids don't need this. Who thinks that a child's attention is going to be even moderately held by this? I kind of understand the idea, like if you were trying to give it to like an extremely remedial reader. According to the rating system on the book, it is for the lowest level of reader. But this isn't even Dick and Jane level; it's lower level than that. The average person could come up with the text of this book in 15 minutes.
This reminds me of first year Spanish class in high school, where we spent the first day making sentences that all began with "Me gusta" just to get the idea of Spanish across. "Me gusta la playa." (I am given joy by the beach.) "Me gusta correr." (I am given joy by running.) "Me gusta los gatos." (I am given joy by cats.) The sentence construction helps if you're trying to give someone a list of words, but not if you're trying to hold the attention of a child, or teach them to read. It makes sense for the first day of Spanish class, so maybe it would work for a child who was beginning to learn English? But it wouldn't be something they'd come back to over and over again. For any child whose first language is English, who wasn't raised in a forest by bears or whatever, by the time that they get to the level where they're starting to read, this is going to be so trivial to them as to be almost insulting. It's just slightly higher level than an alphabet book, and an alphabet book can have so much more variety and interest than this.
Nothing is happening in this book, other than this child going around hugging various objects and creatures. That's it. There's no emotion. Presumably the child enjoys hugging things, otherwise she wouldn't be doing it, but there are so many better books than this out there, and like I said, it just feels like the author didn't even try.
Message: Children who are learning to read need really simple books.
March 21, 2019
Just had a discussion with my middle child this morning about how important hugs are! I am a huggy person and when my own kids aren't feeling huggy I just want to hug them all the more!!
Checking in the new childrens'books this afternoon at my library, and I HUG by David McPhail was in my hands, almost like it was supposed to be!! LOL I just had to send a photo of it to my daughter, remember the one who wasn't into hugs this morning?!!?!?
This is important parents... teach your children to hug... everyone! It's a daily vitamin requirement! You'll know when you aren't getting enough!!
Checking in the new childrens'books this afternoon at my library, and I HUG by David McPhail was in my hands, almost like it was supposed to be!! LOL I just had to send a photo of it to my daughter, remember the one who wasn't into hugs this morning?!!?!?
This is important parents... teach your children to hug... everyone! It's a daily vitamin requirement! You'll know when you aren't getting enough!!
August 13, 2017
Written at a guided reading level A, this is a very slight book with McPhail's trademark watercolor illustrations that flow across double-page spreads. The text consists of four-word sentences, all beginning with "I hug my..." except for the last sentence which is just "I hug." There's not much here, but that's not the point. This is EXACTLY what my kindergarten teachers are looking for to use with their beginning readers. It hits that low IRLA level where it is practically impossible to find "real" books. School libraries are going to want every book in this "I Like to Read" series.
February 25, 2018
McPhail, David. I Hug, PICTURE BOOK. Holiday House, 2017. $14.95.
This early reader goes through all the things a little girl loves to hug. She hugs her cat, her dog, her rock, her pillow. The words “I” and “hug” are utilized on every page and new words are interspersed on each page for practice. The words and illustrations match up so that it is an easy flow of repetition for readers just starting out.
PRE-K, EL (K-3)- OPTIONAL. Reviewed by Shay, School Librarian
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018/...
This early reader goes through all the things a little girl loves to hug. She hugs her cat, her dog, her rock, her pillow. The words “I” and “hug” are utilized on every page and new words are interspersed on each page for practice. The words and illustrations match up so that it is an easy flow of repetition for readers just starting out.
PRE-K, EL (K-3)- OPTIONAL. Reviewed by Shay, School Librarian
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018/...
February 13, 2019
I read this book after reading "Hug-O-War" poem by Shel Silverstein in my Mother Goose Story Time. I Hug went over really well after that, they were a good match. The adult caregivers loved it.
There is one simple sentence of text on each full spread page. It's a nice repetition of "I hug my..." and she hugs some random things... like "I hug my rock." This could be a good bedtime book too since it ends with the protagonist in bed.
JE McPhail
Where the Sidewalk Ends J 811.54 SIL KitCD
There is one simple sentence of text on each full spread page. It's a nice repetition of "I hug my..." and she hugs some random things... like "I hug my rock." This could be a good bedtime book too since it ends with the protagonist in bed.
JE McPhail
Where the Sidewalk Ends J 811.54 SIL KitCD
July 3, 2017
One of the least boring GRL A books we've read in awhile! I'm not sure why they are publishing this as a library book--it's clearly a leveled classroom reader and should be evaluated as such. Out of place in hardcover, best for leveled classroom libraries and in paperback.
July 26, 2018
This is a good book for a beginning leveled reader (Level A). The illustrations are soft to go with the title, and the size of the book will help the child feel like he is reading a "real" book, not just a leveled reader.
July 31, 2017
Soft watercolor illustrations and very simple text make this just right for the newest of the learning to read set.
From advanced reader copy.
From advanced reader copy.
August 12, 2017
So many things to hug in this world.
August 26, 2017
Hugs all around! Short, sweet, and to the point, emerging readers are likely to get the most out of this short picture book.
September 11, 2017
The simple text will be perfect for beginning independent readers. I liked the idea of the illustrations - nice watercolors - but sometimes the girl's face looked...off.
October 16, 2017
Banal and boring with boring illustrations. WE GET IT! You HUG!
October 24, 2017
Super cute, and super simple. Would have made a better board book, but still great to read to babies or toddlers.
November 18, 2017
A cute book about a girl who likes to hug. This could be a great model for emerging writers and illustrators.
December 20, 2017
A simple baby and up book about things a young girl hugs
February 11, 2019
Great transitional reader.
May 8, 2018
very simple, cute. baby or toddler
July 2, 2018
Great little beginner book for someone in kindergarten or learning to read. It’s repetitious in the wording and your little one should be able to catch on fast.
December 20, 2018
Amazon level: 4 - 8 years
Novelist level: Pre-Kindergarten - Kindergarten
Novelist level: Pre-Kindergarten - Kindergarten
April 15, 2020
Note: I received an F&G of this book at an ALA conference.
Read
January 31, 2023This book could be used as an early reader - simple sentences that all start with I hug… for example, I hug my mom, I hug my bear etc…
July 9, 2024
Easy reader/phonics style story in a picture book size. A great simple story about hugs (animals and parents).
Reviewed from a library copy.
Reviewed from a library copy.
October 17, 2019
My children absolutely adore this book. Reading literature is so important to the development of a child's mind, and I cannot think of thing I would rather do then sit down to read to them in the evenings. Imagination and growth are so vital in those so young.
Read
July 31, 2018I hug introduces a young girl who loves to hug everything and everyone. Each hug introduces a new animal, object or person. This is a book with built in repetition, and each page has the same sentence starter of “I hug”. I hug is intended to be a guided reading book for parents to read with their children, and to introduce them to reading. This book has picture clues and repetition to help beginning readers.
Check this book out at the Villa Park Public Library:
https://catalog.swanlibraries.net/client/en_US/vpd/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:2083938/ada?qu=i+hug&lm=VPD
Check this book out at the Villa Park Public Library:
https://catalog.swanlibraries.net/client/en_US/vpd/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:2083938/ada?qu=i+hug&lm=VPD
January 7, 2021
Using four word repetitive sentences ("I hug my..."), a child takes us through their day of things they love in their life. Illustrations support the simple sentences in this guided reader marked Level A.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews