Hugless Douglas by David Melling

Hugless Douglas by David Melling
Buy Hugless Douglas by David Melling at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: For Sharing
Reviewer: Keith Dudhnath
Summary: Douglas the bear goes hunting for his very best hug, mistakenly hugging boulders, trees and bushes. That's not right, Douglas! What might otherwise seem like a run of the mill tale actually works very will, thanks in no small part to the great sense of humour. Well worth a look.
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 32	Date: September 2010
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
External links: Author's website
ISBN: 978-0340950630
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Douglas the bear wants a hug. He remembers that some of his best hugs are with big things, so he tries hugging a boulder. That doesn't work so well. What about a tall tree? Nup. Hmm... Poor Douglas. He's going to have to keep hunting around if he wants to get his hug.

Hugless Douglas brings to mind many children's books, like Are You My Mother? by PD Eastman and Where's Spot? - tales where the protagonist goes on an adventure, ticking off the characteristics that don't quite match up with their goal. It's well-worn territory, but Hugless Douglas feels surprisingly fresh and doesn't tread on the toes of what's been before. The humour is the great selling point here, and young book fans will have big smiles on their faces as Douglas falls afoul of his hugged items.

David Melling's cartoony illustrations suit Hugless Douglas very well. They allow full rein to the silliness, and give everything a high energy boost. In and of itself, I'm not a devoted fan of the style - it's almost a little too cartoony at times - but I can't fault its appropriateness here. When the expected happy ending rolls around, any possible mawkishness is tempted by the style. Don't worry: there's enough sweetness coming through to make it a satisfying and well-rounded read.

Hugless Douglas is more than the sum of its parts. If picking it apart, it sounds fairly run of the mill, with a few nice touches. Actually sit down to read it, and it all clicks together to make for a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The writing is engaging, the vocabulary clear and accessible, and the core concept will strike a chord with any young book fans. Hugless Douglas is well-worth a look.

My thanks to the publishers for sending it to Bookbag.

Silly Moo by Karen King and Marina Le Ray features another search for the right answer - this time, an amnesiac cow looking for her bed. If you love hugs (and who doesn't?) then One More Hug For Nutmeg by Caroline Jayne Church is a great choice. Alternatively, if you want something a counterpoint to sweetness, check out Kisses Are Yuk! by Julia Jarman and Erica-Jane Waters.

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You can read more book reviews or buy Hugless Douglas by David Melling at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
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