Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Will Bear Share?

Will Ladybug Hug?

Rate this book
You loved Will Bear Share? and Will Sheep Sleep? , now get to know Ladybug in a hilarious new high-fiving and hugging-themed addition to creator Hilary Leung's animal books! One ladybug.Many friends.One timeless Will Ladybug Hug? Meet Ladybug. Ladybug loves to hug! Now Ladybug is getting ready to go on a trip and wants to say good-bye to her friends. . . but will her friends want to receive a hug? Find out in this surprising and memorable storybook all about friendship, high-fives, consent, and of course, hugs.A fresh and funny new book in creative talent Hilary Leung's series of animal question stories all about preschool milestone moments. Let Ladybug and her friends laugh, high-five, and hug their way to your heart!

38 pages, Board Book

First published October 30, 2018

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Hilary Leung

15 books27 followers
Dad, Designer, and Picture Book Maker.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
166 (47%)
4 stars
127 (36%)
3 stars
48 (13%)
2 stars
7 (1%)
1 star
4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
Profile Image for Ruby.
354 reviews4 followers
February 22, 2019
A bit disappointed, this book says it is about consent but only one of the five friends does not want to give ladybug a hug. I think exploring a variety of ways of saying hello and goodbye would have been better.
Profile Image for Allie.
62 reviews2 followers
February 15, 2019
A lovely and sensitive book about how to express our affection for others, whether that be through hugs or not. A good jumping off point for discussing consent, personal boundaries, and varying comfort levels with physical affection.
Profile Image for Becky.
6,241 reviews312 followers
September 21, 2018
First sentence: Ladybug loves hugs! She hugs to say hello. She hugs to say good-bye...but will her friends let Ladybug hug?

Premise/plot: Ladybug loves to hug. But not all of her friends like to hug. Some friends would much prefer to high five than to hug. As Ladybug greets each of her friends, the narrator asks, "Will ... let Ladybug hug?" Each of her friends has a special way to hug.

My thoughts: I like this one. I recognized some of the characters because I've also read Will Bear Share? and Will Sheep Sleep? Because I already love these characters, I found this one charming and cute. I like that Sheep does not do hugs. I like that instead Ladybug gives six high-fives.
Profile Image for Christine Salek.
98 reviews17 followers
January 3, 2019
[mild spoilers]

I gotta be honest, not knowing what the book was about when I began reading, I was a little taken aback by the endorsement of the side-hug so soon. Side-hugs can be great, but they venture into "awkward" territory alarmingly quickly, and really, how long are you meant to hold a side-hug for? There were just so many questions that popped into my head upon reading that page.

But then Sheep, noble and powerful Sheep, asserted their boundaries, and Ladybug — who, it should be noted, had been asking their friends for consent prior to each of these friendly encounters, hence the side-hug, which makes it okay now! — happily agreed to high-five instead. What an insect! What a friend! What a journey!

This book was a true joy. May the Adorable Animal Agenda of obtaining consent before hugging (and jump-hugging, a delightful surprise) and high-fiving reign over us all forever!
Profile Image for Denise.
489 reviews76 followers
June 7, 2021
This book is objectively not great, but you see my toddler is a Hugger. To the point she’s gotten notes home from daycare about working on consent and boundaries at home. Off I was to hunt for books about consent, but most of them focus on talking to children about not wanting to be hugged and how to tell people off, and precious few do the opposite and address the child doling out unwanted affection. This book speaks to the forgotten demographic in consent, so Hooray for it. And this book seems to make sense to her as a model for social norms around hugging, so it’s a great book. Even though I don’t like it.
Profile Image for FionaHarmon.
26 reviews
March 20, 2021
ladybug hug mail? swing! swing sit the swing again
Profile Image for Meagan Snodgress.
103 reviews
February 3, 2024
This book simply and perfectly introduces consent to young readers. 4 stars because I wish there were more “no” examples and a bit about how saying no to a hug doesn’t equate to liking or loving someone.
21 reviews2 followers
March 11, 2019
A great introduction to kids consenting to be hugged. My only qualm is that there's only one kid who doesn't want to be hugged, even though everyone gets asked, and they get a high five as something of an afterthought.
Profile Image for Ro Menendez.
565 reviews19 followers
January 1, 2019
For young readers ages 0-7 an engaging story that addresses consent for physical contact via hug that is not preachy or overtly states that consent is the concept being explored. Ladybug is a hugger but the narrator pauses as Ladybug encounters each of her friends and asks if that friend will let Ladybug give him/her a hug. Some do, some don't, and all feelings are honored, alternatives of showing affection and/or appreciation are explored and everyone feels loved and included. This is a wonderful story that is inviting because of Leung's ability to create engaging and inviting facial expressions for each character in each consent situation that readers can really focus on because they are set against a single color with mild intensity thanks to color-washing and a wood-like texture. This book can be used as a lap readaloud with children in your family, a classroom or library readaloud to a class of readers Kinder-2nd grade, or a toddler story time at the library, and it will not only be engaging but will also create a safe background to refer to and have conversations about how we should consider that we all may not use hugs to communicate affection and that is perfectly okay and discuss and maybe even practice other ways we can offer to show affection will honoring our friends' and family's preferences.
Profile Image for Barbara.
15.3k reviews314 followers
January 5, 2019
It can be hard to know what to do when someone offers a hug but you really don't feel comfortable with one. This adorable picture book shows that it's perfectly okay not to take that hug. Ladybug is a natural hugger, and she greets everyone she meets with a hug. Most of the animals enjoy the hugs, but Sheep does not. Ladybug takes no offense, and simply accepts Sheep's wishes. Youngsters will recognize that Ladybug never forces her hugs on anyone, simply offers them, and then moves on. This board book could certainly prompt some important conversations about feelings and touching and show youngsters that it's okay to say no, even to an unwanted hug. Youngsters will like the bright colors used in the illustrations and appreciate the supportive message. I wish a book like this one had been around when I was growing up.
Profile Image for zapkode.
1,046 reviews75 followers
November 16, 2018
{My thoughts} – I really enjoy the simplicity of these books by Hilary Leung. They tackle simple concepts that most any child can understand. They have simple wording and the illustrations aren’t overly distracting. I have come to enjoy reading these particular books to my daughters. I can’t tell you the number of times we have read the “Will Bear Share?” book. It is endless and it is so rewarding to see their happy faces and smiles when they are being read over and over to.

This book is about hugging and how it is okay to want a hug and it’s okay to not want a hug. I myself am not much of a hugging kind of person. However, my husband loves to give out random hugs and high fives etc depending on his moods. This book helps to show children that they can do what they feel is right for them, just like the characters in the book. I enjoy being able to read them little stories that have nice little lessons attached to them. I am almost certain that this will become one of their favorites, like the previous books have.

I recommend this book to anyone looking to add a nice fast simple read to their child’s library. It can make a nice little bed time story or before nap story or anytime story. The anytime story seems to be the case more so in our house. I love that my children are growing up to love books as much as I love books.
Profile Image for Rachel.
657 reviews13 followers
January 15, 2021
I’ve been looking for a good book on convent for my 4-year-old. Will Ladybug Hug? Is a simple to follow book, great for introducing content to the preschool age group.

Ladybug love to hug, but not all of her friends have the same enthusiasm. How will ladybug navigate saying goodbye while making everyone feel comfortable and herd?

What I did not like.

Only one fried did not love hugs. I wish a few more were also uncomfortable, and needed another way to say goodbye. I feel this would have better communicated that everyone has different comfort levels and personal bubble sizes.

The very end about how to say hello and goodbye was completely random. We could have totally done without the last two pages. Not only did they come out of left field, but it introduced a second unnecessary theme

What I liked.

Beginning reading level narrative was easy for my kids to follow along.

The simplicity of the story and illustrations allowed my child to easily focus on the message at hand.

A good introduction to content and respecting ones personal space.
Profile Image for Tracy Schillemore.
3,833 reviews12 followers
December 12, 2018
A cute book about hugging. I like that there is one animal that doesn't want a hug and that is ok. This might be good for teaching boundaries but it is for the very young.
Profile Image for Rebecca Ann.
2,887 reviews
November 14, 2018
I am all about this author's books. They combine humor, manners, and new experiences into books perfect for Toddler-Kindergarten Ages. These can be used for interactive storytime reads or one on one tools. Will Ladybug Hugs teaches kids that hugs are awesome, some people love them and some people do not want them (and that is ok!). Also, the artwork is just charming with simple backgrounds and chibi cartoon characters.
605 reviews7 followers
November 1, 2018
Super cute board book about showing affection to your friends while respecting their personal boundaries.
Profile Image for J.
4,064 reviews35 followers
February 10, 2023
This was on a Woke reading list and as such I chose to read it along with so far the other horrid reads that filled the list. But surprisingly Will Ladybug Hug? wasn't too bad of a book.

The story in my opinion needed some changing around for the reader is introduced to the fact that Ladybug is a hugger and then it goes into asking different friends if they minded being hugged. And it is only afterwards does the reader actually find out that Ladybug is going off on a trip thus his friends are there to see him off. In my honest opinion I think after the introduction of Ladybug as a hugger should have been followed up with the information that Ladybug was going on a trip while being seen off by his friends.

The text is very short and simple while the formula of how Ladybug puts forth the question of consent if you can even call it that is a repetitive chorus. At other times young readers will be introduced to various styles of hugs although there are two I woulnd't say are actual variations.

The illustrations are brightly colorful and on the side of almost looking like some of the charactesr were modeled after Best Fiends characters.

In the end although it does have some slight elements of Woke since of the total message being about consent it would actually just make for a nice little story instead for children, especially for those who are preparing to go on trips where there may be a pickup or dropoff.
Profile Image for Abby Hargreaves.
396 reviews50 followers
March 10, 2020
Will Ladybug Hug? is a great, easy-entry primer for the concept of consent. Without being overly heavy-handed about its theme, this picture book uses repetition both to emphasize its point and make it a fun and engaging read for its young readers. Full of friendly and bold illustration, the book introduces readers to a number of Ladybug's friends who will physically interact with Ladybug to varying degrees according to their comfort. Ladybug accepts each scenario with grace while readers learn new ways of showing physical affection that everyone can be comfortable with. A totally charming and relevant read.
Profile Image for Natasha.
33 reviews
Read
November 29, 2024
If you’re reading reviews wondering if this is the book you should use to check the box of covering the topic of consent - your pursuit is flawed to begin with, because one book is far from enough. Consent is a critically important topic to discuss with kids (and therefore explore via children’s literature), across the span of childhood, repeatedly. Do I think I could have improved upon this book if I had worked on revisions with the author? Absolutely! And I can only imagine that in retrospect the author feels they should have done “more” with this book. Know more, do more. Know better, do better. Forever and ever.
Profile Image for Carrie Finison.
Author 14 books96 followers
December 21, 2020
This board book is one of a series of books about animal friends, and it's a good jumping off point for a discussion about consent with young children. Ladybug loves to give hello and goodbye hugs. She gives a different style of hug to each of her friends, except Sheep who does not want to hug - "and that's OK" the book emphasizes. Instead, Ladybug gives her friend Sheep some high fives. This simple story will appeal to very young children and help normalize the idea of asking for consent at a young age.
Profile Image for Becca.
536 reviews34 followers
September 10, 2022
A very simple and cute book about autonomy, consent, and respecting boundaries.

I liked that Ladybug was also asked if she wanted to hug, even though we know she loves hugs in general. I would have liked if there was a page of a friend refusing the high five too, and stating that that’s okay as well; you don’t have to negotiate a compromise if someone just doesn’t want to be touched (the way it was phrased, “Is Sheep ready for a high five?” stuck out to me). But this is a board book, you can’t cover everything!
Profile Image for H.
1,015 reviews
April 12, 2019
In this day and age of crossed personal boundaries, how does one go about teaching younglings not to intrude upon another or just the fact that there are boundaries, in the first place? Will Ladybug Hug? is a great first step in that process.

Ladybug loves hugs. She asks all of her friends before she hugs them. But what does she do when Sheep does not want to hug? Even a super group hug? A charming little lesson about consent and the acceptance of the differences between us.
Profile Image for Kate M. Colby.
Author 19 books76 followers
February 1, 2025
Jack borrowed this book from the Oxford Public Library. I picked it because our house is full of ladybugs and I thought it might inspire him to give me hugs. Well, it didn't, but he still liked it! The cute little ladybug asks her friends for hugs, and [spoiler alert] they all hug except for sheep, who gives a high five instead. It's a really low-key way to teach kids that they can choose how to interact with others, and the illustrations are super cute. Jack asked me to read it multiple times.
Profile Image for Kelsey.
2,354 reviews66 followers
February 6, 2019
Age: Toddler-Preschool
Emotions: Friendliness
Manners: Asking for permission to touch

There are so many different ways to hug but sometimes our friends don't like to be touched--and that's okay! A great tool to show our overly-enthusiastic children that asking for permission to touch is always the right way.
Profile Image for Barbara.
1,152 reviews
April 29, 2019
Ladybug loves to hug, but will her friends let her hug? Will Ladybug Hug? by Hilary Leung shows how Ladybug asks for a hug and all the fun ways to get a hug. It also affirms that it is OK not to have a hug. Colorful and distinctly shaped illustrations against a solid background will appeal to small children age 0 - 3.
Profile Image for Panda Incognito.
4,860 reviews97 followers
January 27, 2021
This is a nice book to introduce children to the concept of consent, as Ladybug responds with understanding to her one friend who would prefer a different way of saying hello and goodbye. The illustrations are cute, but the end switches gears very abruptly in a way that made this book less satisfying than it would have been otherwise.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews