Hug

Jez Alborough's beloved picture book Hug tells a heartwarming story using just three simple words-œhug, œBobo, and œMummy-to convey profound emotion and narrative depth. The story follows Bobo, a small chimp, who sets out in search of a hug, only to find that all the other jungle animals are already snuggling with their loved ones. As his plea intensifies, his friends begin to realise what Bobo needs most is his own mother's affection. With expressive illustrations and minimal text, this book becomes a touching tribute to love, security, and the comfort of family bonds. The simple language, rich visuals, and universal theme make this title ideal for early childhood settings, including language development and social-emotional learning contexts. Hug is a perfect shared reading experience for children aged 2+ and helps to foster early empathy and narrative skills through visual storytelling.
Educational Benefits

• Promotes emotional literacy and identification of feelings.
• Builds early vocabulary and understanding through repetition.
• Encourages inference skills using illustrations to tell the story.
• Supports development of empathy and understanding of family dynamics.

Classroom Ideas

• Pair with drama: mime the story using gestures and expressions.
• Art project: draw a moment when you felt like Bobo.
• Literacy task: add captions or speech bubbles to the illustrations.
• Discuss different kinds of hugs-family, friends, comfort-and when we need them.

Information

• Age recommendation: 2+ years
• Dimensions: standard picture book size (approx. 25cm x 25cm)
• Board or paperback options available