Same Love, Different Hug

by Sarah Hovorka, Abbey Bryant (Illustrator)

Overview

A sensitive and honest picture book that celebrates the different ways in which we can show each other affection.

We like hugs big or small,

squeeze-me-tight or feathery light.

Bear hugs, morning hugs, jump hugs, too.

Quiet, loud; they all feel right.

But . . .  

What do others like?

Some people love a big, strong hug. Others like a gentle hug. Some don’t like to hug at all—they like to shake hands instead. Same Love, Different Hug is a gentle picture book that looks at how different people connect and navigate boundaries, modeling social-emotional skills for the youngest among us.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780358712817
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	06/13/2023
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Sarah Hovorka is a bookworm and a self-proclaimed homebody. Exploring our world and the vastness of human experience through books, she hopes to share a little of her world through her own writings. She lives with her husband and three sons, and spends much of her time homeschooling and dealing with Crohn’s Disease.

Editorial Reviews

2023-04-12
What kind of a hugger are you—“rough, tough never enough” or “gentle, slow don’t-let-go”?

Although Hovorka’s children found it hard to give her hugs for fear of hurting her due to her disability, they soon discovered that there were many different ways to hug—a realization that led to this book. Readers may already be familiar with bear hugs, but what about “don’t-look-back sneak-attack” hugs or a “big-grin around-we-spin” hug, shared in an accompanying illustration by a child and an adult wheelchair user twirling around together? Sometimes it’s best to save a hug for later, send a “stay-in-place need-my-space wave,” or create a secret handshake instead. Group hugs can be the cure for a day when “sadness swells to the brim,” and celebration days usually require a “skip, prance happy-dance HUG!” The brief, fun rhymes and creative names for the hug variations make reading aloud fun for storytellers and listeners alike. By turns soothing and action-packed, earth-toned cartoon illustrations capture a wide range of situations, from quiet, loving support when someone is sick or in need of alone time to the playful exuberance of big celebrations. Depicting a diverse group of people modeling many versions of loving behavior, these images are ideal for young readers exploring social-emotional skills and learning to respect others’ personal boundaries and preferences. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Will show readers that their options for expressing affection are many. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews