Title: Do You Need A Hug
Author: Johanna A. Ferket
Publisher: Xlibris
ISBN: 978-1-6698-5642-9
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book
Pages: 24
Reviewed by: Beth Adams

Read Book Review

In this illustrated children’s book, Do You Need A Hug by author Johanna A. Ferket, readers are introduced to this young girl who goes around her neighborhood offering gratuitous hugs to people, flowers, ladybugs and a dog. Each of these spontaneous acts of kindness are received wonderfully, as the people smile, the dog wags his tail, and even the flower vibrates with appreciation. The generous “hugs” are given with a sentiment of love, kindness, and mutual happiness.

Do You Need A Hug pages at a pace suitable for a bedtime story to be read to toddlers embarking on their nightly excursion to dreamland. It provides a sentiment of peace, security, balance in the world, and love. It is not being overly presumptuous, as it has this little girl’s actions first asking permission before hugging any of the people; even the dog for that matter. Respecting the personal space of the people, then inserting a hug, is the theme of this book’s magic; showing this simple act of kindness can result in so much gratification – for both the recipients as well as for the little girl. Remember, it takes two to hug! It should be noted the mother of the little girl is watching from a distance, out of sight and out of mind of her daughter, which provides an element of safety – should any of these hugs get out of hand. This helps suggest that children should not emulate this behavior without the knowledge and supervision of a parent.

Her first hug was to an old man sitting on a park bench. Next, she found a dog with a sad face, and after touching his paw, was allowed to give him a big hug, making him smile and wag his tail in happiness. The most imaginative hug came next, as she noticed a ladybug on a sunflower. As it’s rather impossible to hug a tiny insect, she hugs the flower with the ladybug on the peddles. Then she experiences a vibration of happiness emanating from this flower. And finally, on to others who are in need of a hug…especially when she sees her daddy coming home.

Do You Need A Hug is a well-balanced book with the narrative text, dialogue, and images, all coming together to tell a lovely story about a little girl who is filled with good intentions. Readers will enjoy seeing her many acts of kindness, who when asked by her mother at the end of the story why she went around hugging people, she replied, “Making the world better!”