Group Hug

by Jean Reidy, Joey Chou (Illustrator)

There once was a slug, / needing someone to hug.

When Slug happens upon a lonely beetle, he knows just what to do. He gives him a big hug--and then the two friends decide to pass it along. They meet Mouse, who's down in the dumps, Skunk, who's a bit smelly, and more and more animals, until their group hug stretches wide and tall. But when Bear comes along, will there be enough hug to share? This delightful picture book encourages kindness and goes to show that a hugger finds happiness 'longside the hugged!

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Animals, Childrens, Friendship, Fiction, Love

32 pages, Hardcover

Published December 14, 2021

About the author

Jean Reidy’s bestselling and award-winning picture books have earned their spots as favorites among readers and listeners of all ages and from all over the world. She is honored to be a three-time winner of the Colorado Book Award, a Parent’s Choice Gold Award Winner, a Charlotte Zolotow Honor winner and recognized on “Best of” lists by School Library Journal, the New York Times, NPR and Amazon. Jean writes from her home in Chicago where she lives just a short walk from her neighborhood library … which she visits nearly every day.

Reviews

[La Coccinelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can see this book being used for a read-aloud storytime. It's got cute characters, a bouncy rhythm, and a nice overall message.

The pictures are just okay for me. Everything's kind of blocky, but I guess that's just the style. They're colourful, anyway.

Overall, a nice book about hugs.

[Milton Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet book! A slug is looking for someone to hug, which leads to more animals needing hugs and the group hug gets larger and larger on each new page. That is until a bear shows up! Will the animals' kindness also extend to the bear? The illustrations are great and the story with it's rhyming words would make a great read aloud. Read this upbeat tale to learn how to be kind and welcoming no matter who you are!

Find it in our SHARE Catalog today!

Ashley C. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL

[Moonkiszt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Featured in a grandma reads session.

A short, quick reminder that group activities strengthen us, and hugs are healing, and every one is eligible. Also that hugs to be done right must be consensual, respectful and only build dignity and self-esteem, should never decrease either of those. The best gateway for the activity is asking - "can I have a hug?" or "may I hug you?".

Sweet vehicles for this illustration of huggie-ness were animals - even a porcupine! (and therein sprang a quick and fast discussion amongst my crew about whether said porcupines really could drop all their quills intentionally or not as appears to be illustrated). Anyway. Cute book and hit the spot!

[Jj · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always with Joey Chou, the illustrations here really shine. HUGS to all of them!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute and beautifully illustrated picture book to remind us that sometimes we all just need a hug and how it makes us feel loved and cared for.

[Wanda ❣️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter loves this book. She and her dad have been reading it at bedtime 🥺🥰

[Rowan's Bookshelf (Carleigh) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one that crossed me at work, the whole book and the art style is adorable!! Everyone gets a hug and they look so cute doing it, great bedtime cuddle-up book for the kid

[RG]

Sometimes all you need is a big hug, or a lot of little hugs by many people.

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story with lovely illustrations.

[Jenn Kause · Rating 4 out of 5]

read for storytime and it was cute! but they bullied that poor bear!!!!!

[Tara Olson Kazda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super cute illustrations in a sweet story about hugs. I struggled in a few places with the cadence but I think it could be a good read aloud with practice.

[Heather Stigall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Slug needs someone to cuddle. So, when lonely beetle comes along, Slug gives the bug a hug. Then down-in-the-dumps Mouse comes along. Then Skunk and Squirrel and…time for a group hug, of course! But when Bear arrives…well, you’ll just have to read to find out. This cumulative tale of kindness has bold and colorful illustrations, adorable characters, and rollicking text, all of which add up to great read aloud.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everybody needs a hug sometimes, from the smallest slug to the biggest bear. These critters come one by one to add to a group hug for comfort and support! The gradual addition of animals reminds me of stories like The Mitten-- while more minimalist in its art style, don't underestimate the sweetness of Group Hug.

[Nancy Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Group Hug—Thanks, we needed that!
Jean Reidy’s warm and fuzzy cumulative tale has all the elements children adore: jaunty rhyme, the repeated title phrase to join in, and a message about inclusivity and kindness so needed today. Add to that heartwarming illustrations by Joey Chou, and you have a winner!

[Ashley S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slug needs a hug and comes across a beetle that needs a hug too. They come across other animals needing a hug until it turns into a group hug. This rhyming story is great for readers to recognize when someone is down and a little kindness can go a long way.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a slug needing a hug, comes upon a lonely beetle, the two decide to not only give each other a hug, but start a chain reaction by passing on the hugs. This rhyming tale tells of what can happen when one hug leads to a group hug, and everyone is included.

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too cute!

[Brindi Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

super sweet, and would be fun to have the kids be each different animal...interactive opportunity!!

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't. It's too cute and so sweet.

[Amy Hesterman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bright vibrant illustrations reminding readers the importance of receiving hugs.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

This delightful picture book will definitely give you all the feels, it’s just gorgeous.

[John Strott · Rating 4 out of 5]

So adorable it hurts.

[Mindy Alyse Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is filled with fun rhyme and hugs galore. I love hugs…and seeing these adorable creatures open their paws wide to include everyone, no matter how smelly or scary.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A warm and endearing story about kindness.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Step right up! Slug has hugs to spare! For Beetle and Stinky Skunk and Busy Beaver and Prickly Porcupine - and even Bear. Because huggers get back just as much as they give. Hooray for Group Hugs!

[Ellon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was cute and I can see why others like it but it just wasn't for me. I liked the colorful illustrations. It's fun how animals get added to the group hug along the way but it goes on for so long that I got a bit bored with it. I was also completely taken out of the story by the porcupine shaking off its quills (I had to stop and look this up because I know they cannot shoot their quills. Apparently when they shake, dead quills do fall out- just like our hair. Not sure it would have been enough to make the porcupine huggable...) I guess I just don't get why the bear suddenly scared everyone. If I'm not mistaken (I could be because as I mentioned, I got bored with the different animals) there were already predator-prey in the hug (like the fox?) so why do they all run from the bear, especially when I'm pretty sure some of them would not be the bear's prey.
I'm probably reading wayyyy too much into a children's book but it was just not my favorite.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bug hugs a slug, starting a snowballing group hug between woodland animals.

A bug hugs a slug. Then the hugger and huggee hug a mouse. Then the huggers and huggee hug a skunk and a squirrel. Then the huggers and huggees hug a beaver. Then the huggers and huggee hug a porcupine. Then the huggers and huggee hug a groundhog, a goose, a fox, and a moose. But when a bear needs a hug the group runs away in fear all except for the slug who hugs the bear. And all the huggers and huggees have a group hug.

This picture book illustrates the idea of paying it forward and providing emotional support.

[Villa Park Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you ready to embrace the warm, fuzzy feelings of these forest creatures’ hugs? With illustrations that are reminiscent of gorgeous, geometric watercolor collages, this book invites you in for a big bear hug… and also a moose, a duck, a skunk and others! The message is a reminder that the best inner circle to be part of is made from limbs of those who love you.

Check this book out at the Villa Park Public Library!

[Sushie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iggi's Storytime Criteria
Age group: preschool+
Content: hugs (getting and giving), animals, friendship
Plot: a slug has a hug to give. She gives it to a beetle, then a mouse, and on up to bigger and bigger animals
Wordiness: medium
Length: medium-short
Illustrations: excellent, colorful, graphic, so so cute
Other: another pass-on-the-positivity book, but this time with adorable animals and adorable animal problems

[Mother Goose Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Group Hug written by Jean Reidy and illustrated by Joey Chou is a sweet and funny picture book about animals who each need a hug. Told in rhyme with the repeating phrase, “Group hug!” Reidy adds humor and love to the story. Chou’s accompanying illustrations are charming and done in bold hues. Text and artwork invite readers to want to join in on the group hug. Group Hug is a fun read at any time but especially when learning about friends, caring, and especially Valentine’s Day.