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Hugless Douglas

داگلی بغلی

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تا حالا شده که دلتان یک بغل خیلی بزرگ بخواهد؟ داگلی دلش می خواهد، و دنبال یک بغل گرم و نرم حسابی می گردد. این کتاب از مجموعه کتاب های پرفروش داگلی بغلی نوشته دیوید ملینگ است که سعی می کند برخی مفاهیم و مهارت ها را در قالب داستان به کودکان آموزش دهد.

36 pages

First published January 1, 2010

12 people are currently reading
448 people want to read

About the author

David Melling

260 books48 followers
David Melling grew up in London with various siblings and a selection of animals, including a dog. It took him a while to decide what he wanted to do, but he never stopped drawing. He worked as a cel renderer and background artist in several animation studios before he began illustrating children’s books. His work includes the Hugless Douglas series and The Kiss That Missed, which was short-listed for the Kate Greenaway Medal. To date he has created around 150 books in over thirty languages. David Melling lives in Oxfordshire, England, with his wife and two children.

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5 stars
619 (38%)
4 stars
613 (38%)
3 stars
306 (19%)
2 stars
43 (2%)
1 star
26 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews
Profile Image for Shovelmonkey1.
353 reviews969 followers
August 5, 2012
Before you all start panicking, I have not started spawning a tribe of miniature goodreaders - the earth will be safe from that calamity for a while yet. I bought this for my friend's little girl who is two next week. I phoned her up and said, "so how old is the kid, is she two or three because I can't remember?" The friend sighed a long sigh and said, "no she's only two, it just feels like she's been here for a lot longer!" And that, my friends, tells me all I need to know about child rearing.

I've been looking for an excuse to get this book for a while, mainly because my boss is called Douglas, and I suspect, based on what I know of him, that he might be a bit hugless too. The book based Douglas is a bear looking for some post-hibernation affection. Pooh has Piglet but this poor chap has no one to take his affections out on and a bear-hug is probably not everyone's cup of tea so he has work set out for him. Rocks are hugged, bushes are squeezed, sheep are grabbed and rabbits are molested and eventually he finds his Mum who gives the best hugs of all. Awwww.

This got three stars because there's a sentence in the book where Douglas says "Give us a hug" and that's just bad English.
Profile Image for Jamie Loves Books .
627 reviews123 followers
August 26, 2022
5 Stars

Oh my gosh this book is the cutest. Douglas just really wants hug but everyone he tries to hug doesn't really want his hugs. He's big and a bit clumsy.

This book just cracked us up. The illustrations Are bright and comical. We love the sheep and the different scenarios they get into. Like one being stuck to the bears butt. This type of detail in illustrations is always huge hit as they love trying to find the hidden Easter eggs.
Profile Image for Kathryn.
4,793 reviews
June 15, 2011
I think a lot of kids (and adults) will get a kick out of this story of the baby bear Douglas who wakes up and feels like he really needs a hug. (Gosh, I think we can all relate to that on some days!) But, he is still quite big and, well, a bear--so not really a creature a lot of critters will be eager to hug. He improvises but nothing is quite satisfactory until he finds the one creature who can give him the best hug of all. The illustrations are a hoot! I especially enjoyed the final two pages brimming with humorous depictions of various styles of hugs ;-)
Profile Image for Lisa Vegan.
2,915 reviews1,320 followers
July 10, 2011
Okay, this is adorable. So cute! And sweet! And funny!

I loved in the details in the pictures including Douglas the bear’s own teddy bear, the rabbit’s many carrots and the picture of carrots hung up, and all the types of hugs at the end.

The story is very sweet and appropriate for the youngest child. It’s a story that begs to be read aloud; it’s really fun to read out loud to a listener/listeners. It’s quite amusing for the reader to follow Douglas looking for a hug and hugging some less than huggable things and being, including those who don’t want a hug. Young children will especially appreciate how Douglas finds the perfect hug.

I suppose it’s a slightly sappy story but I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I’m sure I’d have loved it as a kid and after all young kids are its target audience.

This would make an excellent bedtime story, even though there’s nothing about bedtime overtly shown.
Profile Image for Patrizia.
343 reviews5 followers
November 11, 2025
Albo illustrato in lingua inglese che racconta la storia di Douglas, un orso molto tenero e coccolone.
Libro perfetto da leggere ai bambini della scuola dell'infanzia e primaria.
Le illustrazioni sono fantastiche.
Suggerito.
12 reviews1 follower
October 24, 2011
Hugless Douglas, by David Melling, is a sweet story about a bear who wakes up one morning in need of a hug, so he goes out in search of one.
He knows that the best hugs are tall, wide, cosy and soft and he gets into some amusing situations hugging things that don’t quite match up to the one he’s searching for.

The text is simple and bold and perfectly pitched for the Early Years Foundation Stage. Key words are written in a style which reflects their meaning (for example, the words ‘quivered’ and ‘trembled’ arch across the page and the word ‘tall’ is stretched out over the page). I think that this is a brilliant technique for getting early readers to begin reading with expression.

Melling has created a really loveable character in Douglas. His illustrations personify the bear, who is depicted wearing pajamas at the beginning of the story and a woolly scarf throughout. He has a huge shiny nose and a face that shows expression and feeling perfectly, as do the other characters in the book. Douglas comes across as loveable and vulnerable and will leave all readers wanting to give him a hug.

The story ends with Douglas finding what he has been searching for all along, a huge bear hug from his mum!

Hugless Douglas is a simple, enjoyable story about the bond between a child and a loved one. It could be used in PSHE to highlight the importance of developing relationships, and in understanding the importance of showing compassion to others.

At the back of the book there is also a page showing different types of hugs. This is a very sweet added bonus.
Profile Image for Kristina.
565 reviews31 followers
November 24, 2025
Мечето Дъглас става от зимен сън и усеща една огромна нужда от прегръдка. Но от кого? И дали камъка е добро решение.
Уникално забавни са илюстрациите на задната корица, които карат малкото човече да се смее с глас.
Profile Image for Katja.
214 reviews31 followers
February 9, 2020
Compared to the outstanding picture books like the Knuffle Bunny or Olivia series I'm reading over and over again with my toddler at the moment, this was more of a standard, run-of-the-mill picture book. Cute, funny, but overall just ok for me.
Profile Image for Ann.
540 reviews
June 16, 2011
Douglas wakes up after his hibernation and needs a hug. And you know, sometimes I think we all feel that way.

So, Douglas goes around trying to find a hug, and trying to think of the kinds of hugs he like. But, even though a rock might be big, it doesn't make the best "big hug." And even though a tree is tall, it doesn't give the best "tall hug."

Douglas' antics get more and more amusing (sheep, rabbits, owls, etc.) as he tries to find a hug.

Finally he get's a little help in finding the kind of hug he loves best!

Nothing incredible in the story telling, but the pictures are quite amusing and adorable and I think I would have enjoyed them as a kid especially.
44 reviews2 followers
Read
October 1, 2020
Poor Douglas needs a hug, but he can't seem to find one. Thankfully eventually a friendly rabbit helps him out and he finds the hug he needs. A fairly entertaining story, though with a slightly questionable message about consent (he hugs the sheep even though they tell him they don't want him to!) but which could be used to explore saying no and respecting personal space with younger children.
Profile Image for Kenson and kirra.
176 reviews
December 8, 2017
totally been reading the title of this book all wrong for weeks. pronouncing it Huge-less douglas. makes so much more sence when you realize all he wants is hugged. most problems can be solved with a hug, come to think of it.
Profile Image for Isobel.
381 reviews
March 2, 2019
A good book for reception children to teach them about respecting others and making children feel better.
Profile Image for Emily.
14 reviews
November 8, 2017
if you are trying to teach a young child consent I'd recommend avoiding this book. The premise is cute but Douglas goes around hugging other animals that are clearly uninterested and outright displeased with it. Since in my family we treach you don't have to be physically affectionate with anyone you don't want to and don't have the right to touch others without their consent, this book is a no for us.
Profile Image for Jodi.
148 reviews6 followers
July 19, 2014
Ok. Well it's cute that Douglas needs a hug the narrative is lacking in this book. Almost like pages are missing. How does the owl get hurt? Why are there sheep in a bush? Why does he blow his nose on the rabbits tail? Kids books should go beyond cute pictures and ideas. Too many gaps for my liking.
Profile Image for Jazzmin Baldwin.
44 reviews1 follower
February 26, 2015
Everyone needs a hug sometimes. It a cute book and is a great way of teaching preschoolers to express themselves . however, hugging random people could be a downfall. I believe that this is a great way to get children to understand the differences as well. I kind of liked the book but it can send out mixed messages.
Profile Image for Amanda.
901 reviews
May 29, 2022
I liked this book as long as you make sure to ALSO talk about consent. If someone clearly doesn’t want to hug you then don’t hug them. Teach your kid to ask first. My son loved that it ended with him hugging his mom!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for The Library Lady.
3,877 reviews681 followers
November 20, 2010
Sweet without being saccharine, utterly lovable art and story, with the perfect ending. Love the end pages with demonstrations of many kinds of hugs.
Profile Image for Ezekiel.
321 reviews2 followers
April 30, 2012
Undermines the idea of consent for young kids.
146 reviews20 followers
December 25, 2014
so wonderful, so faunny, i love it so much, i wish i can read more of this amazing series


i wish i am child now to let my parents read it again and again, after finish it they give me a big hug ;(
Profile Image for Halle Stout.
32 reviews
February 27, 2015
This book was cute, I would recommend this to my nephew who loves bears and hugs. The book is about Douglas who looking for his mother to give and receive hugs from her.
Profile Image for Zaz.
1,932 reviews60 followers
October 27, 2015
Poor Douglas wants a hug, so he hugs various things. It's pretty funny and the bear is really cute. I just saw that there is a series, so I've to look at the others!
Profile Image for Cosette.
1,343 reviews12 followers
March 28, 2017
This book earned me three hugs without even asking.
Profile Image for Emily.
1,704 reviews13 followers
June 24, 2024
Another one that skates on thin ice when it comes to consent. Douglas manhandles a lot of animals in his quest for a hug...
37 reviews
November 25, 2021
A man runs around demanding hugs from other people, going as far as to force them into hugs after they say no or act uncomfortable.
Profile Image for Curtly Ania.
Author 6 books
January 12, 2022
This was a cute and enjoyable story to read.

I loved the details of the pictures and the story is very sweet, about a bear who is desperate for the hug.

I like the extra page at the back showing the different types of hugs you can give.

Melek always tries to describe the hug that he wants from me now.

My only minor dislike was that, the author states it was written about him and his son, and with so little books showing the love of a father and child.

I was a little disappointed that at the end of the story it only shows Douglas wanting a hug from his mum.

It would have been nice to see a difference, but apart from that I loved the story.
Profile Image for Moore, Maureen.
70 reviews
April 15, 2018
“Hugless Douglas” by David Melling is classified as juvenile fiction; targeting ages 3 to 7. This book is a good selection and charming way to teach children about being embraced and needing to be embraced. This story is a lighthearted and fun introduction to the “Douglas… picture book series. The story has vocabulary enrichment for emergent readers; the illustrations are sweet and pleasantly warm.
Profile Image for Dimity Powell.
Author 35 books91 followers
March 23, 2018
There is a gentleness to Melling's humour and perception on life that really appeals. Douglas emphasises this well. Catchy text, beguiling illustrations and a gooey heart-warming ending finished with a generous helping of how-to-hug-time. Spend time in the hug gallery and with this charming picture book series, soon.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews

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