Can You Hug a Forest?

by Frances Gilbert, Amy Hevron (Illustrator)

Celebrate the beauty of the natural world in this meditative picture book encouraging mindfulness, gratitude, and love for the environment—featuring illustrations painted on actual wood.

Can you hug a forest? Of course you can. First you hug the open your arms, lift up your chin, and breathe in all the way down to your toes. Then you hug a leaf and a flower and a trail and a stream and all the other wondrous natural elements that make up a forest. Take every chance to soak in your natural surroundings and be grateful for nature.

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Storytime, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published May 2, 2023

Reviews

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic read aloud and the kids had fun acting out each page with me as we learned to hug a forest!

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the idea of this book and want to try and find a way to use it in storytime. It seems like an interactive book but the descriptions of how to hug are a bit too abstract. kids will definitely want to try but how we'll interpret the text into a group movement will be something to plan out ahead of time.

[David Carriere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can You Hug a Forest? is a gentle and meditative picture book that inspires children to connect with and appreciate the natural world. Frances Gilbert’s lyrical text guides young readers through a mindful exploration of the forest, encouraging gratitude, awareness, and love for the environment.

Amy Hevron’s illustrations, painted on actual wood, add a tactile and organic quality that beautifully complements the narrative, making each page visually engaging and immersive. The combination of text and artwork encourages children to slow down, breathe, and experience the natural world with curiosity and reverence.

Perfect for read aloud sessions, classroom mindfulness exercises, or quiet story time at home, this picture book is both educational and soothing. It introduces children to environmental consciousness in a playful and accessible way, fostering empathy for the world around them.

[Emma Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the classroom, this book can help students learn about nature and find ways to appreciate it.

Throughout this book, the main character shows off different ways to "hug" different things found in the forest. This is a cute book that it set in nature.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An introduction to forest bathing for young children.

[Angie Quantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful and wonderful! Perfect for the youngest readers.

[Robbi C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute! Would be great for a StoryWalk! 😊

[Angela De Groot · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little girl explores the forest and delights in the sights and sounds it has to offer, playfully hugging leaves and flowers as she traipses down the trail.

[Carol Gordon Ekster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creative and lovely. A great read aloud for preschoolers!

[Christie Wyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect read before a woods walk with wee ones.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet title. How do you hug the wind? This book will show you how. Perfect for nature lovers and aspiring nature lovers.

[Kirsti Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite of mine, this book encourages us to get out and slow down to smell the flowers, literally! Beautiful illustrations, true appreciation of nature, and hopefully inspire littles to get out and explore.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this cute story the child reader is told how to hug a forest one thing at a time … the air, a leaf, a flower, and so on. Nicely illustrated.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for a new favorite nature book for storytime? Look no further! I love how the author combines appreciation for the environment along with instructional movement, so kids can act out hugging a forest, air, leaf, flower, trail, and stream. Magical, warm, beloved.

Themes: hugs, forests, nature, action book
Ages: toddler-K
Pub year: 2023