8 Picture Books that Feel Like a Hug

Stormy Night, by Salina Yoon
It’s a blustering, stormy night, and little Bear is wide-awake at his window. Sheets of water are pounding against the panes, and branches are blowing perilously in the distance. Luckily, Bear has Floppy to keep him company, and he briefly feels better when he comforts and cuddles his squishy friend. Mama soon arrives in Bear’s room and asks Bear to keep her company, and Papa comes shortly thereafter—together they sing, read, and snuggle until the yawning starts and the storm passes. After all, according to Papa, “Even storms need their sleep! And so do bears!”

Wild Feelings, by David Milgrim
Your child likely exhibits 100+ moods in a day, and, through simple text and charming, cartoonish illustrations, Milgrim addresses at least half of them here. His central question: “Do you ever feel…?” is answered over and over in ways your child will immediately understand and commiserate with: “Do you sometimes feel as sad as a lost kitten in the rain?/How about totally and completely alone?” and, in the end, Milgrim’s reassurance that feelings are “only natural” is told in such a visually delightful way that this will quickly become a story time favorite.

You’re a Crab: A Moody Day Book, by Jenny Whitehead
There are days and then there are days. And Whitehead covers them all in this underwater adventure that takes us from friendly, funny, and silly to crabby, mad, and snappy in an instant. There are the gregarious dolphins who want to play, the froggies who want to kissy-kissy, and then there are stinky anchovies—and they make it pretty clear that they want to be left alone. This sweet story assures your little reader that, while powerful, moods can change more quickly than the tide, and somebody they love will always be waiting for them once the storm passes: “You can take as long as you need because I will be right here…soon enough…you will be my happy, funny, silly crab again!”

Boats for Papa, by Jessixa Bagley
Buckley lives with his mama in a small cottage by the sea. Every morning they venture to the water, and Buckley explores all the treasures that the tide has brought in. Driftwood is his favorite loot, and he whittles it into intricate boats that he sends out to sea. When the boats don’t return, Buckley’s comforted by the knowledge that they have sailed to Papa, who has been gone a long time. Tenderly, hopefully, this story explains attachment, loss, and resiliency in a way that will touch you and your little reader, and remind you of the beautiful simplicity of pure love.

Wish, by Matthew Cordell
Meet an elephant couple just starting out—they are perfectly compatible and content, and their life together promises to be a joyful one. However, over time, their mutual longing for a baby elephant rises to the surface. They embark on a journey to find their missing piece, but their efforts are unsuccessful, and their deepest wish remains unfulfilled. Crushed, but still hopeful, the pair returns home, and attempts to move forward. Finally, a sailboat carrying a wee pachyderm arrives. Spare prose and pen and ink illustrations render this book accessible to younger readers, and the narrative reminds parents to talk about how profoundly wished-for our children really are.

Edmund Unravels, by Andrew Kolb
Edmund is growing up. He longs for the thrill of adventure and the excitement of discovering new friends and talents. His parents have always encouraged his curiosity, but they’re also the first to call him home when it’s time to relax. Edmund is a turquoise ball of yarn wearing a matching blue baseball cap, but he’s just like any other little boy attempting to balance the tug of the captivating world around him with the comforts of home. Full of wordplay and illustrations that will remind young readers of their favorite animated tales, Edmund Unravels is a delightful extended metaphor that will help us all remember that rushing out to see the world and periodically rolling back in to those we love is part of life’s bouncy journey.

You Nest Here with Me, by Jane Yolen, Heidi Stemple, and Melissa Sweet
Gentle rhymes and captivating illustrations make this picture book irresistible—especially at bedtime. Mother/daughter collaborators Yolen and Stemple describe, in lilting verse and soothing refrain, the intricate nesting habits of 14 winged friends. Readers immediately understand that even the smallest nests take a lot of love and effort; from barn doors to concrete ledges, bird homes of all ilk are included in this story, and rendered in broad watercolor swaths and a muted palette. Budding ornithologists will delight in the portraits of familiar birds, and even as their eyelids droop, their curiosity will be piqued by the more rare specimens that Sweet deftly sneaks into these pages.

Your Alien, by Tammi Sauer and Goro Fujita
When a boy discovers a stranded young alien outside his window, he immediately takes him in. They strike up a fast friendship and, as the day unfurls, the unlikely pair has a wild adventure. At school, the boy introduces his extra-terrestrial pal to the water fountain, oil paint, and Mr. Binky. And, in turn, the alien helps the boy “see ordinary things in a brand-new way.” But when bedtime comes into orbit, it quickly becomes apparent—from the muted meeps, oogs and sniffs under the covers—that the little alien is missing something or maybe someone. Luminous illustrations and a witty narrative combine to highlight the excitement of new experiences, and the joy of finding your way home.
What picture books feel like a hug to you?