Nobody Hugs a Cactus

by Carter Goodrich

Celebrated artist and lead character designer of Brave, Ratatouille, and Despicable Me, Carter Goodrich, shows that sometimes, even the prickliest people—or the crankiest cacti—need a little love.

Hank is the prickliest cactus in the entire world. He sits in a pot in a window that faces the empty desert, which is just how he likes it. So, when all manner of creatures—from tumbleweed to lizard to owl—come to disturb his peace, Hank is annoyed.

He doesn’t like noise, he doesn’t like rowdiness, and definitely does not like hugs.

But the thing is, no one is offering one. Who would want to hug a plant so mean? Hank is beginning to discover that being alone can be, well, lonely.

So he comes up with a plan to get the one thing he thought he would never need: a hug from a friend.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship, Storytime, Fiction, Emotion, Humor

42 pages, Hardcover

First published April 16, 2019

About the author

Carter Goodrich has illustrated sixteen New Yorker covers and was the lead character designer for Despicable Me. He has designed characters for many other beloved animated films, including Brave, Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc, Open Season, and Ratatouille, for which he won the International Animated Film Society’s Annie Award for character design. A Rhode Island School of Design graduate, he has twice been awarded the gold medal from the Society of Illustrators in New York. His other picture books include Say Hello to Zorro!, A Creature Was Stirring, and The Hermit Crab.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know the old man yelling at kids to stay off his lawn, that is the little cactus here. He enjoys being alone and left alone and gets very annoyed anytime something comes around to bother him like Rosie the tumbleweed. He yells at everyone to go away. The turtle gets scared and other animals laugh at him. Someone suggests he needs a hug and then people tell him they wouldn’t want to hug him.

This gets Cactus to thinking. A hug wouldn’t be so bad, right? Next, he is suggesting that he would be willing to hug someone and no one will do that. He feels bad about how he treated Rosie and decides to do something nice for her. It’s lovely. It really makes the story. They ending is cute and sweet.

The desert landscapes are nice and the animals are cute. The art is well done.

The nephew thought this was funny. He loved the cranky Cactus. He giggled at him. He thought the ending was fun. Sometimes, hugging a cactus is a ‘we’re stuck together now’ sort of deal. Today, he enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hank is a cactus that sits in a round pot in the window of a house surrounded by what else...of course a desert. According to the text, “It was hot, dry, peaceful, and quiet. Just the way Hank liked it.” Soon however, the peace is shattered by a number of creatures passing by. Rosie the Tumbleweed calls a cheerful greeting, as do a timid turtle, a jackrabbit, and a coyote, among others. Hank returns the greeting to each of them, but one day a cowboy points out that “nobody hugs a cactus.” Hank can’t quite get over the feeling that he’s missing something. When Rosie rolls by again...remember she's a tumbleweed... and does him a favor, he decides to return it which leads to a big hug after all. There are watercolor illustrations allow the paper’s texture to show through and feature sandy golds, subtle greens, and an expanse of sky that moves from clear blues to pinks, reds, and purples to indicate the passage of time. Carter Goodrich does an awesome job of giving Hank such a genuinely personable personality. He’s got a spike-head and two stubby, prickly arms, and he looks alternately cranky, forlorn, shocked, and friendly. Elongated shapes and unusual perspectives add interest and complement the low-key, conversational text. Those folks that have grumpy young listeners may not be entirely convinced by Hank’s relatively rapid turnaround, but the closing thought “After all, it’s better to be stuck in a hug than stuck all alone” is one that can be embraced by everyone. We all need a hug...even a cactus. I know the book by heart now and so does my granddaughter, Shelby as we just completed out eighth read in two days. On to "Chez Bob" who is an alligator:)

[Scottsdale Public Library]

Who would have thought a cactus could be just as prickly on the inside as on the outside? Well, as it turns out, Hank definitely starts out that way! With wonderful illustrations showing Hank's many emotions, you'll find out if a prickly cactus can turn into a softy at heart, who just needed a hug.
--Jennifer K.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hank the cactus enjoys his solitary life, sitting in a window overlooking a barren desert. As prickly on the inside as he is outside, he is grouchy toward everyone who passes by until a cowboy remarks that "Nobody hugs a cactus," which gets Hank to thinking.

The story is about what you'd expect. It's the illustrations that make this book so charming, from Hank's sour little cactus face to the pointy-snouted coyote to the happily grinning Rosie to the colors of the desert throughout the day.

And while I don't personally agree with the tale's message - can I just say that the second best thing to come of the pandemic is that nobody tries to hug me anymore and I feel much safer around touchy-feely people - even I know that it often pays to be a little less crabby toward one's acquaintances.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's like Up in cactus form and there is a tumbleweed and I am about to move to a place with no tumbleweeds and I'm not crying, YOU are.

<3

[Darryl Friesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really beautiful picture book about the challenge, but ultimate worthwhileness, to show kindness to someone else unconditionally, even if (and maybe, especially if) it isn’t returned. I read this book aloud today to my friend’s class of Grade 3 students, and we all had such a good time reading about Hank the Cactus, and how his heart is changed through the kindness of a friend.

[raccoon reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good grump. I have a picture from the book at my desk at work because I too am a cactus at heart who just wants a hug. We all love seeing ourselves reflected in books, especially so when it's the not so pretty parts of ourselves I think. A great book for kids and adults alike 💚

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful

This is a very cute little story with a fantastic theme. Plus, the artwork truly captures the essence of the story.

I recommend.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even a cactus who is prickly both inside AND out needs a hug! I love the illustrations in this charmingly goofy book.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cactus named Hank is quite happy with his solitary life, and rejects every effort at friendliness, whether from Rosie the tumbleweed or a passing tortoise. But when a cowboy suggests that what he needs is a hug, only to state that nobody hugs a cactus, it begins a slow process whereby Hank realizes that, contrary to his expectations, he does want a little affection. But who would hug a cactus...?

Stories in which unlikely creatures long for a hug - a porcupine, in Laurie Isop's How Do You Hug a Porcupine? , Aaron Blabey's I Need A Hug , and Holly Hobbie's Elmore ; a snake, in Barbara Joose's Wally Wants to Hug ; and another cactus, in Simona Ciraolo's Hug Me - are not that uncommon in the world of picture-books. I therefore picked up Carter Goodrich's Nobody Hugs a Cactus with a bit of trepidation, wondering whether it would feel like a book I had already read countless times. As it turns out, although the author/illustrator doesn't really cover any new ground here, his narrative is engaging enough, and his artwork sufficiently appealing, that I still enjoyed the story. I appreciated the subtle way in which Hank is led from a rejection of affection, through the stages of denial about possibly wanting affections, through seemingly hopeless longing for affection. Fortunately for him, it turns out that somebody does want to hug a cactus. Recommended to anyone looking for children's stories about the importance of friendship and affection, as well as to those seeking picture-books set in the American southwest.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute book, but made me sad, because Nobody Hugs in Coronapocalypse.

Sigh. Cute book though. I love the colors and how delicate the artwork is. And the story is sweet. 4, I think it’s adorable, stars.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why do I feel so exposed??

[Moonkiszt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Featured in today's grandma reads session. . . .

Everyone gets cranky sometimes. It's good to track down the reason why, rather than just frowning and growling through life. Friends send that message to us all the time, and so often we do not listen. This little picture book reminds all of us that sometimes our prickles are not just outside, they are also inside, and making some changes and asking for help can bring about very positive outcomes, if we let them.

My littles were all very interested in the story and lovely artwork, quirky and in a desert environment.

3 stars, all bandana'd up.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

You don't often see difficult characters in children's picture books. Hank is a refreshing addition to that group. Hank is a prickly cactus and he wants everyone to just leave him alone. Or does he?

We all need reminders nowadays here in America that all people (and all cacti), and especially the most difficult of people (and cacti) need connection to others, despite their off-putting behaviors. We need reminders that we need to reach out to others and find ways to heal our alienated. We need reminders that the most difficult often need connection the most.

[Christie Angleton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art is GORGEOUS but the story is just okay.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

One good turn deserves another in this story about a cactus 🌵 who wants to be left alone. Or does he?

[Dena McMurdie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cute little book. It's about a cactus that sits alone on a windowsill in the desert. He likes being alone and gets grumpy and yells at anyone that gets too close. Until one day when he realizes that hug might feel nice. But who wants to hug a cactus?

This story is so sweet. And I loved the illustrations! I burst out laughing at the picture of the cowboy and laughed for a solid five minutes. I don't know that it was supposed to be funny, but I loved it.

And I love the way the story ended. You start worrying that this prickly little cactus will never make a friend or get a hug, and then there's a beautiful surprise at the end.

This book is perfect if you're looking for stories about friendship, grouchy to happy stories, or books about the desert.

Source: The publisher sent me a copy of this book.

[Constance Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm giving this simple little book 5/5 because I am so in love with the illustrations. Perfectly stylized to capture the textures of the desert, this limited text story about a single act of kindness is sure to stick in the minds of young readers.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't often give books five stars, but I love this one. Maybe it's because I relate to it as a sometimes-grumpy introvert. It made me laugh out loud, and it's been a while since I've laughed out loud while reading a book. I will definitely look for more books by Carter Goodrich.

[Etienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expecting it to be way better. With the great art and very high review I was going in it with high expectation and overall this is just a picture book about not being rude. it was okay, but not much more.

[Yasmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable! Rough start but happy ending. Cute story about the importance of being nice to people, despite how grumpy you might be feeling.

[Jamie Johnson Leach · Rating 5 out of 5]

So adorable and a good reminder that we are better together 💜💜

[Megan Sanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cactus wanting a hug but no one wanting to hug him... hits me way more right now during the pandemic.

(But also Hank was being rude and no one owes him a hug if they don't want to hug him).

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so sweet that I teared up the first time I read it. All the kids I read it to paid attention to it from start to finish.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nobody Hugs a Cactus by Carter Goodrich. PICTURE BOOK Simon and Schuster, 2019. $18. 9781534400900

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Hank sits in a window that looks out at the desert. It’s peaceful and hot just like he likes it, until Rosie the Tumbleweed blows past and calls out a hardy hello. Hank is annoyed by her interruption, and all the other animals that come along and break the silence, so he yells at them. One day a piece of garbage blows onto Hank and sticks to his Cactus tines, and although he hasn’t been very nice, Rosie comes along and helps free Hank. Hank decides that he appreciates Rosie and so he grows a flower to show her his thanks.

Hank is the cutest little cactus! I loved the illustrations and the facial expressions on the animals. I enjoyed the lesson that we need to appreciate those around us, and it doesn’t always benefit us to be prickly to others.

Reviewer, C. Peterson
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an adorable story about a prickly (in more ways than one) cactus, which is sitting in a bowl in the window of an adobe building. It might be set in Arizona, judging by the saguaro cactus dotting the landscape. All through one day, Hank the cactus rejects overtures of friendship from plants, animals, and people, until late at night, an owl rejects Hank's overture. Hank then decides he might like to be hugged after all; and someone does indeed come to his rescue. The watercolor illustrations feature desert colors of oranges, yellows, browns, and dull greens, with a sky that changes colors all day long, from deep blues to a red and pink sunset. The theme may sound familiar, but was developed in an innovative and creative way.

[Pam Cipkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Hank! Hank the cactus goes from looking like your bald, mean old neighbor in a wife beater shirt, to a sad little prickly pickle. His changing expressions are adorable and priceless. The desert flora and fauna are awash in appealing southwestern watercolors. Hank learns that maybe it’s nice to be nice and not be alone all the time (but kids should also learn that being alone or wanting to be alone isn’t necessarily a bad thing). Little Hank’s expressions and emotions made this book quite adorable.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Most children will be able to understand the difference between wanting to be alone and no one wanting to be with you. Rosie the Tumbleweed's kindness is admirable. I loved the illustrations that really captured the desert, the weather that mirrored Hank's emotions, and the beautiful single flower that brings everything together.

[Kyra Hahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture book about a grumpy cactus who cheers up after a kind act and ends up with a hug!

[Ms.Gaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this cute book about a prickly cactus developing a new mindset at the suggestion of a hug. Ages 3-7