How to Hug a Pufferfish

by Ellie Peterson, Ellie Peterson (Illustrator)

Overview

A picture book about a group of underwater friends who learn to ask for permission before showing their prickly, pufferfish pal some love.

So, you want to hug a pufferfish...

Who could blame you? That friendly, gap-toothed grin is hard to resist! Only, when Pufferfish is hugged or touched unexpectedly by their friends, things can get a little…spiky.

It’s not that Pufferfish doesn’t ever want hugs—it’s just that they need to have a say in when and how they’re hugged. Luckily, they have great friends who are willing to listen and learn the best ways to show Pufferfish some love and respect their personal space.

With it's bright, commercial art and unique exploration of a timely topic, Ellie Peterson's How to Hug a Pufferfish provides a straightforward and humorous look at consent and body autonomy for kids.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250796998
Publisher:	Roaring Brook Press
Publication date:	04/12/2022
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	474,115
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD480L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Ellie Peterson is a picture book author, illustrator, and former educator living in the Seattle area. She is the author/illustrator of It’s A Round, Round World and The Reason for the Seasons. She was also the illustrator for Bea’s Bees by Katherine Pryor. Her work is inspired by her experiences teaching STEM, her upbringing as a biracial child in a military family, and her adventures in parenting.

Ellie Peterson is a picture book author, illustrator, and former educator living in the Seattle area. She is the author/illustrator of It’s A Round, Round World and The Reason for the Seasons. She was also the illustrator for Bea’s Bees by Katherine Pryor. Her work is inspired by her experiences teaching STEM, her upbringing as a biracial child in a military family, and her adventures in parenting.

Editorial Reviews

"Peterson’s expressive undersea cast shines from the blue ocean depths with big, googly eyes and animated personalities. Serious topics of consent, respect, and finding other ways to show affection bounce through the waves and end up buoyantly accessible and clear." —Kirkus Reviews

"[Peterson's] wide-eyed underwater creatures have a goofy appeal, and it’s easy to see the huggability of Pufferfish, with its bubbly eyes and gap-toothed smile. [A] gentle introduction to ideas of consent and boundaries." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Appealing characters and action, [make] this an engaging tome for burgeoning consent shelves." —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

06/01/2022

PreS-Gr 1—This lighthearted instructional guide offers helpful strategies for those who love pufferfish and might wish to give one of them a hug. The second-person narration regards the titular creature with wry and affectionate humor: "So you want to hug a pufferfish. Who could blame you? Those big ol' bubble eyes. That gap-toothed grin. The spotty skin, like moldy bread with mustard. Could anything be cuter?" In a clever comedic beat, the risks of such a hug are presented visually, rather than spelled out verbally: an illustration shows the pufferfish, when startled by its friends, expanding with a satisfying "FWOOMP!" Through her zany cartoon-style digital illustrations, Peterson uses the undersea setting as a positive if slightly preachy extended metaphor for human issues of consent and bodily autonomy, with suggestions for respectful behavior including asking permission, being gentle, and accepting alternative greetings such as a "high tail" or a "fin-shake." A spread in which the undersea creatures imagine themselves receiving hugs serves as the opportunity to celebrate a variety of family structures: the lobster is being hugged by a single female relative, the starfish by two males (suggesting a same-sex couple), and an octopus by several squids (resembling an adoptive or extended family). Sharp-eyed readers will spot a few charming Easter eggs, including flora, fauna, and refuse later assembled by the pufferfish into a diorama, and a shy sea urchin who takes center stage in the book's final visual joke. VERDICT An engaging story leavens its didactic elements with appealing characters and action, making this an engaging tome for the burgeoning consent shelves.—Jonah Dragan

School Library Journal

2022-03-30
A spiny yellow sea creature prefers hugs in a certain way, or sometimes not at all.

Bright, cheerful underwater pals long to hug Pufferfish. A purple octopus extends tentacles for a friendly squeeze, a joyful lobster holds out claws in anticipation, and an eager starfish stretches all arms wide. But “FWOOMP!” Pufferfish instantly pops into full puffer mode, with spikes protruding. It’s not that Pufferfish doesn’t want a hug (sometimes), but there are different approaches that might work better. Don’t overwhelm, don’t be sneaky, and, most important, just ask (using a message in a bottle, of course). Turning inward, it’s always imperative to remember: “Even if you love hugs, Pufferfish might prefer something different.” Peterson’s expressive undersea cast shines from the blue ocean depths with big, googly eyes and animated personalities. Keen-eyed readers will spot the next creature looking for a hug hiding on many pages throughout. Serious topics of consent, respect, and finding other ways to show affection bounce through the waves and end up buoyantly accessible and clear. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A winning look at body autonomy; one of the best you will…sea. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews