Hugsby

Among the many monsters available from the monster shelter—who, with characteristics like will “melt in your arms” and “soft like a cotton ball,” are not the least bit scary—Shelly chooses Hugsby, who is “Smart, cuddly, and a great listener.” She and Hugsby enjoy simple pleasures together, like having a tea party, blowing bubbles, and, especially, sharing hugs, but when it’s almost “Pet Monster Show-and-Tell Day” at school, Shelly suddenly worries that the things Hugsby does won’t be interesting to her classmates. She thinks her worries are validated when the first few monsters do impressive feats like flips and tricks. But as Hugsby sees her nervously begin introducing him, he does what he does best—he gives her a hug, a skill the entire class wants to experience. Though the storyline is predictable, Phumiruk’s introduction of pet monsters as completely normal and not requiring any explanation provides an inventive, enjoyable touch. The pencil illustrations digitally textured with watercolors are soft and very fitting for this tender, touching story, and the sequence depicting Hugsby’s noticing Shelly’s increasing nervousness and offering a consoling hug are especially well done in communicating Hugbsy’s impressive capacity for empathy.