How to Hug a Pufferfish
by Ellie Peterson (Author) Ellie Peterson (Illustrator)
A picture book about a group of underwater friends who learn to ask for permission before showing their prickly, pufferfish pal some love.
So, you want to hug a pufferfish . . .
Who could blame you? That friendly, gap-toothed grin is hard to resist! Only, when Pufferfish is hugged or touched unexpectedly by their friends, things can get a little . . . spiky.
It's not that Pufferfish doesn't ever want hugs--it's just that they need to have a say in when and how they're hugged. Luckily, they have great friends who are willing to listen and learn the best ways to show Pufferfish some love and respect their personal space.
With it's bright, commercial art and unique exploration of a timely topic, Ellie Peterson's How to Hug a Pufferfish provides a straightforward and humorous look at consent and body autonomy for kids.
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School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 1--This lighthearted instructional guide offers helpful strategies for those who love pufferfish and might wish to give one of them a hug. The second-person narration regards the titular creature with wry and affectionate humor: "So you want to hug a pufferfish. Who could blame you? Those big ol' bubble eyes. That gap-toothed grin. The spotty skin, like moldy bread with mustard. Could anything be cuter?" In a clever comedic beat, the risks of such a hug are presented visually, rather than spelled out verbally: an illustration shows the pufferfish, when startled by its friends, expanding with a satisfying "FWOOMP!" Through her zany cartoon-style digital illustrations, Peterson uses the undersea setting as a positive if slightly preachy extended metaphor for human issues of consent and bodily autonomy, with suggestions for respectful behavior including asking permission, being gentle, and accepting alternative greetings such as a "high tail" or a "fin-shake." A spread in which the undersea creatures imagine themselves receiving hugs serves as the opportunity to celebrate a variety of family structures: the lobster is being hugged by a single female relative, the starfish by two males (suggesting a same-sex couple), and an octopus by several squids (resembling an adoptive or extended family). Sharp-eyed readers will spot a few charming Easter eggs, including flora, fauna, and refuse later assembled by the pufferfish into a diorama, and a shy sea urchin who takes center stage in the book's final visual joke. VERDICT An engaging story leavens its didactic elements with appealing characters and action, making this an engaging tome for the burgeoning consent shelves.--Jonah Dragan
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
Peterson's expressive undersea cast shines from the blue ocean depths with big, googly eyes and animated personalities. Serious topics of consent, respect, and finding other ways to show affection bounce through the waves and end up buoyantly accessible and clear. —Kirkus Reviews
[Peterson's] wide-eyed underwater creatures have a goofy appeal, and it's easy to see the huggability of Pufferfish, with its bubbly eyes and gap-toothed smile. [A] gentle introduction to ideas of consent and boundaries. —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's BooksAppealing characters and action, [make] this an engaging tome for burgeoning consent shelves. —School Library Journal
JUV002100 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Fishes
JUV039200 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Manners & Etiquette
JUV002170 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Marine Life
Marine animals
Hugging
Puffers (Fish)
Personal space
