Willie's Not the Hugging Kind

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

A boy decides that hugging is silly and babyish, and he lets his family know: whenever they try to hug Willie, he turns away. His family decides that ``Willie's not the hugging kind.'' He soon learns that a world without tender hugs is a cold and lonesome place. Finally, he can't take it and gives his Mama a big, warm hug one morning. Willie's Daddy wisely counsels, ``It's them that don't get hugging who think it's silly.'' In her debut, Barrett has created a warm portrait of a thoughtful black child learning to test his feelings within the caring security of a loving family. Cummings's evocative color and black-and-white drawings add depth to this well-designed transition book for readers moving up to chapter books. Ages 5-8. (Sept.)

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3-- Because his best friend teases him about it, Willie decides that he doesn't want to be hugged anymore. He tells his older sister, who hugs everyone including her worn teddy bear, that hugging is silly; and he backs off when his mother, father, or teacher try to hug him. Secretly though, Willie misses the hugs and ``how safe and happy he always felt with his daddy's strong arms around him.'' He tries to hug things--a towel, a tree, even his bike--but he soon realizes that he wants to hug some one , not some thing. The ending is nicely crafted, and Willie even saves face with the friend who teased him. The realistic tempera illustrations are colorful and complement the story line, although the use of almost all bright colors sometimes jars the eye. On the whole, children will welcome this well-written story about a small black boy with a universal theme. --Barbara S. McGinn, Oak Hill Elementary School, Severna Park, MD