Simon the Hugger

by Stacy B. Davids, Ana Sebasti�n (Illustrations)

Simon the sloth loves to hug. He hugs plants. He hugs rocks. He hugs his friends. He even hugs himself! So when his best friend, Elsa the jaguar, and others around him start saying no to his hugs, he is crushed. Why wouldn't someone want to be hugged? After being rejected several times, he learns that both he and his friends need to want a hug at the same time so they both feel comfortable.

This lighthearted story about a lovable, huggable sloth is a gentle introduction to the importance of receiving consent before offering physical affection to others, and respecting others' boundaries.

Genres: Picture Books

40 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2022

About the author

STACY B. DAVIDS, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and works as a school psychologist. She’s also a former special education teacher. Her lighthearted picture book, SIMON THE HUGGER, is about consent, boundaries, and a lovable, huggable sloth named Simon. Her gender identity-themed picture book, ANNIE'S PLAID SHIRT, won Silver in the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards and was praised by ALA's Rainbow Roundtable.

Stacy lives in Miami, Florida. Just a few of her favorite things are chocolate, coffee, cats, sloths, and plaid shirts. Learn more at www.stacybdavids.com.

Reviews

[Sara Fajardo]

An important book about consent that is both adorable and accessible and paves the way for thoughtful discussions. Hug loving Simon wants to hug all the time, but soon discovers that other friends might feel the same. An unexpected offer a hug from a prickly friend helps Simon understand how his friends might feel. Ana Sebastian's colorful illustrations are full of warmth and delightfully portray a range of emotions that make the characters and their challenges relatable.

Read this with my daughter who said she knew exactly how Simon felt when no one wanted to hug him, because it feels bad when people don't do what you want them to, but it feels worse when someone forces you to do something that make you uncomfortable. This book is a great entry point to start a conversation on consent and respecting boundaries.

[Ellen Leventhal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writer Stacy Davids's words and illustrator Anna Sebastians's bright, fun illustrations join together to make a delightful book worth reading over and over. The topic is important (consent and boundaries), but the book is fun and never didactic. Simon is a sloth who loves to hug. He's sad when he finds that not all his animal friends appreciate hugs as he does. When Simon puts up a sign asking for hugs, children will delight when they see who is willing to hug him and what Simon's reaction is. As Simon learns the lesson that both people (or adorable animals) must want to hug at the same time, children will begin to understand boundaries and consent. It's not always easy to write about important subjects like this with humor and wit, yet Davids accomplishes it. I highly recommend this book.

[Angela Padron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stacy Davids has written a wonderful picture book about consent using animals to tell the story. Simon the sloth loves to hug but he soon learns that asking or consent first before hugging someone is the right thing to do. I love the illustrations and the emotional arc that Simon goes through to learn this valuable lesson. The text is simple and engaging for young readers of any age, and the bold colors and adorable animals on the spreads will catch the attention of all kids. I highly recommend this book for home, schools, and libraries as a child-friendly and safe way of discussing boundaries and consent. And if it's ok with Simon, I would like to hug the book again!

[Jill S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simon is such an adorable and lovable character! This book takes you on an emotional journey (filled with humor and heart) of a sloth who wants to hug everyone. He learns about friendship, relationships, consent and boundaries and along the way young readers will too. As well as a fun story filled with wonderful animal characters (that baby tamarin is just too cute!), this book can promote important discussions. There’s even a discussion guide in the back of the book. This book is an essential addition to home and school libraries. I think young readers (and the grownups reading with them) will LOVE this book!

[Heather Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

This adorable story does a great job addressing the important topics of consent and body autonomy. The sloth is a lovable character who wishes to hug everyone and has difficulty understanding why anyone wouldn't want to hug him back until he finds himself in a situation where he doesn't want to receive a hug. At the end of the book, there are some great tips for facilitating conversations with children about these concepts.

Thank you to Beaming Books for providing me with a free ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

[Dana Fennell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Behind this book of adorable characters is a story about how to respect others. Stacy B. Davids takes us along Simon's journey to understand and respect other people's boundaries. The cute characters with their amusing facial expressions illustrated by Ana Sebastián will endear you to them. By the end of the story, children will have a new found understanding of how to respect others' feelings. If they have questions, Stacy B. Davids, a psychologist, guides parents with tools on how to navigate these important conversations at the end of the book.

[Alyssa Reynoso-Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad I was able to read a digital arc of this book. It is a wonderful book for kids and adults about hugging, consent, and respecting personal space. As a fellow hugger - like Simon I enjoy hugging trees, mangos and my friends - I empathize with the overly affectionate Simon. This easy to read and follow book shows young readers how to communicate their needs without imposing on others. And the illustrations are adorable. I highly recommend this book for parents, teachers, and librarians.

[Srividhya Venkat · Rating 5 out of 5]

SIMON THE HUGGER is a picture book lover's delight. Filled with fun, adorable illustrations and animal characters that young readers will love, here is a story that teaches the importance of consent in an entertaining way. Little ones will enjoy reading this book again and again while learning the names of animals they may not be familiar with. Highly recommended for kids of all ages, even those who are kids-at-heart. A note from the author at the back provides a guide to discussions about consent with children.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Beaming Books through Edelweiss+.
A wonderful way to explain that no everyone wants a hug. Simon hugs everyone as his way to show care. He learns that not everyone wants a hug and he should ask first. The text is simple to follow and the illustrations will help younger readers see what happens. Further information for discussion is provided at the end of the book. Useful for families to talk about personal space and respecting others' needs.

[Medeia Sharif · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is needed! I can think of many situations that I’ve witnessed in which touching is inappropriate and unwanted. The adorable animal characters and situations make this topic kid-friendly and easy to understand. Simon is devoid of malice, but someone who is just touchy-feely and eager for hugs. He has to learn that not everyone wants a hug, and he himself is not always in the mood for them either. There’s a talk-about section at the end that can lead to meaningful discussions.

[Pam Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simon is a hug-loving sloth. But not everyone wants to be hugged all of the time. Simon discovers, with the help of his friends, the importance of boundaries and consent. I love these adorable characters and how they address the relevant and relatable question of “Why wouldn’t someone want a hug?” This is an empowering and kid-friendly book that can be shared with the young and the young at heart.

[AAL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Davids tells a cute and helpful tale of lovable, huggable Simon - who loves giving hugs, but learns that they're not always wanted. When he is put in the reverse position, he learns that maybe asking first is the way to go. A great story for school, library, and for starting tough conversations about consent at home. The illustrations are adorable and vibrant. A must-read.

[Laurie Carmody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I smiled through this entire book. It's hard not to love (and cheer for!) Simon the sloth. He wants hugs so badly but has to learn that not everyone wants one at the same time as he does. The illustrations are soft, colorful, and full of such unbridled heart. The text is humorous and highlights the importance of boundaries in such a kid friendly, non-didactic manner. It's a joy to read!

[Betsy Ellor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simon is an adorable sloth who loves to hug. In this story, Simon learns that maybe not everyone wants to hug; maybe sometimes even he doesn't want to hug. It's a kid-friendly story about consent and boundaries that is sweet enough that kids will want to read it again and again. It even has some discussion starters at the back. A fantastic and important book!

[S.A. Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book delivers a powerful and important message of consent. It’s well-written, and the illustrations are beautiful. By using simple and engaging language that will appeal to young children, the story gets the message across in an age-appropriate fashion and can serve as a prompt for further discussions. This would be an excellent book to include in classrooms.

[Shachi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important message of consent and boundaries is told in a very simple way. The loveable sloth Simon loves hugs. He seems to be the cutest hugger. But one day, his friends refuse his hugs. This confuses Simon. He tries his best, but nothing works until a porcupine tries to hug him, and he finally understands that both he and his friends should want a hug. In the back matter, the author gives a guided discussion and questions that the teachers and caregivers can use to discuss the topic.

The bright and colorful illustrations give the animals a cute, friendly look. A must-add to your bookshelf.

[Carrie Karnes Fannin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you feel like a hug...sometimes you don't. (Though who wouldn't want a hug from a sloth wearing a hat and bowtie? C'mon, folks! :-) ) This is a sweet story with super cute illustrations + a page of guided talking points in the back, all about boundaries and consent.

[Lindsay Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book about consent and boundaries.

[Meliss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baby’s first book on consent

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

For Libraries: A good choice for parents wanting to discuss consent.

[Monica Acker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet little sloth who loves to hug learns that entering someone’s physical space is a two way street. The hugger needs consent before hugging. We are enjoying this book in our home, but I also can’t wait to share it with the K teachers at school. Great lesson in an adorable package!

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is perfect for kids who are still learning about boundaries and personal space, as well as those who need some reinforcement about the importance of consent before touching others. Anyone who has been around a group of young children (such as a kindergarten class), understands that some kids just cannot seem to keep their hands to themselves. No matter how many times an adult requests that they keep their hands in their laps, they reach out and play with someone's hair, or try to hold their hand, or put their arms around a classmate. Teachers could easily use this book to begin a discussion about how to appropriately show affection for others while respecting their wishes about being touched.

It could also be very helpful in affirming a child's right to refuse a hug or other touch when it is not wanted. Some children are just not comfortable with being touched by others. It might be a personal preference that is the same each day, or it might be just a temporary mood. Whatever the reason, the others all need to recognize and accept that choice. A class might also like to brainstorm how to show friendship and affection in other ways - such as the fist bump that Simon shares with Ricky the porcupine.

The book was written by a psychologist who also has experience as a special education teacher. She has included a discussion guide in the back that suggests questions and suggested responses. The illustrations show Simon as a sloth with long arms perfect for hugging, if anyone was in the mood for a hug. He has an expressive face that shows his dismay when his friends tell him "No." Young readers will be hoping that Simon finds a way to get along with his friends and reclaim that huge grin shown on the front cover.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars
Simon learns a valuable lesson about consensual hugging.