HUG MACHINE by Scott Campbell. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 32p. ISBN 978-1-44245935-9 hc. $16.99.    PreK- Gr.1   E PIC

This small boy (drawn with very long arms) acts on his conviction that hugs make everything better and everyone needs a hug.  The muted watercolor illustrations are big and chunky like a child drew them, but add character to this happy story.  The hug machine is so determined to hug everyone and everything that he figures out a way to hug a prickly porcupine and even a huge whale.  When the hug machine finally runs out of steam he rejuvinates by receiving a hug from his mom.
Lynette Suckow, Peter White Public Library, Marquette, MI