The Unhuggables

by Kena Sosa, Alexis Braud (Illustrator)

Oliver is upset--very upset--andnothing his mother says makes him feel better. When she tries to givehim a comforting hug, he rolls up into a tight ball like an armadilloand won't let his mother near. She tries to coax him out of his huddlebut then his claws come out. Oliver pretends to be one ferocious animalafter another--none of them very good at giving hugs. But it is hard work saying no to a mother's love. Through creativity, patience, andaffection (as well as a healthy dose of humor), Oliver's mother finds away to get through his imaginative defenses and give him the best hugever.

Author Kena Sosa captures thedelicate dance between mother and child in this fun story about love and the power of hugs. The charming and humorous illustrations of AlexisBraud bring to life the imagination of a child and touchingly depict how hugs can soothe even the most savage beast.

32 pages, Hardcover

Published October 9, 2017

Reviews

[Literary Classics Book Awards & Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young Oliver was having a bad day. His mom wanted to make things better with a hug, but Oliver would have none of his mother's love or affection. Every time his mom would try to wrap him in her arms, Oliver would threaten to become entirely unhuggable. Assuming the role of various animals, he would persist in pushing aside his mother's attempts at an embrace. Oliver's mother would insist that no matter how bristly he became, she could take it, until finally his resistance wore down and he succumbed to his mother's embrace.

Kena Sosa's The Unhuggables is an entirely relatable and all-together heart-warming tale of the enduring love of a mother. Illustrations by Alexis Braud are perfectly paired with this book that is sure to become a favorite with youngsters and parents alike. Recommended for home and school libraries, The Unhuggables has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is adorable and all three of my kids love it, my teens arm wrestle to see who is going to read it to my kindergartener.

[Christine Irvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though I liked the theme of the book - a young boy pretending to be different "unhuggable" creatures as his mother remains unflappable and ready to give him a big hug - I was put off by the illustrations. It's difficult to determine the age group for the book as this type of behavior would more likely be exhibited by a young child, 5-7 years of age, but the illustrations make the child look much older than that. Also, the language is above that age group.

[Ashlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I liked the idea behind the book and the writing, the illustrations didn't resonate with me. I loved how silly the book was. Oliver was basically really mad and didn't want a hug from his mom. Throughout the book, Oliver would say that he would become some type of creature to avoid getting a hug from his mom, but his mom always had an answer on how she would hug him. Finally, at the end of the book, Oliver got a hug that made him feel better.

As I mentioned, I was a little disappointed in this book because of the illustrations. I was hoping this would be a great book for my toddler, but it is not a book for his age. I don't think he would enjoy reading it, and Oliver seemed pretty old. While this book isn't for me, an older child might enjoy reading it, especially if they have anger issues where hugging could be considered a coping method.

[Becky Villareal · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Unhuggables, a boy named Oliver refuses to be hugged by his mother even though you can definitely tell he needs one. He insists he will transform into various animals to prevent her from doing so. But his very wise (and patient) mother has a way of hugging him no matter what kind of animal he can become. I won't spoil the end for you because I know this will be a perfect book to share with a tiered or cranky child (or grandchild). I loved this book not only for its precious story but for the art as well. Alexis Braud illustrated this book beautifully bringing Kena Sosa's story to life.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

We received this book as a Christmas gift about two years ago for my son. He still absolutely LOVES this book!! I would absolutely recommend that every child has a copy on their bookshelf!