With a cheerful chimp nearly as sweet as Curious George and a text of only three words, Alborough (It's the Bear!; Where's My Teddy?) celebrates the pleasure of giving and receiving good hugs, as well as the joy inherent in finding just the right word. """"HUG,"""" says a tiny chimp as he watches two lizards embrace and two pythons entwine. """"HUG,"""" he explains to a mother elephant and her baby who notice the chimp's forlorn expression. They decide to help him find what he's looking for and ride past an affectionate lion family, two giraffes and two hippos. But the disappointed chimp simply dissolves into tearsDto the consternation of all the jungle animals. Suddenly the chimp's mother appears. """"BOBO,"""" she shouts; """"MUMMY,"""" answers the chimp, and readers quickly realize that it's not just a hug the chimp wants, but a hug from his very own mother. Like a wordless book, the story unfolds through a series of expressive pictures rather than language. Alborough makes clear the chimp's distress as he tries to communicate with only the repeated word """"HUG,"""" and the elation the animals gain from their shared affection. Ages 2-up. (Nov.)

Accompanied by an array of friendly animals, a young chimpanzee in need of a hug searches the jungle for his mother. The minimal text--three words repeated in different contexts--isn't very effective, but the lively, expressive illustrations invite participation in the construction of the story. Young listeners will readily sympathize with the little chimp's satisfyingly resolved dilemma.

Alborough's latest endeavor is brief on text but big on emotion. A juvenile chimp wanders the jungle searching for—what else?—a hug. In his journey he encounters familiar inhabitants in adult/infant pairs; elephants, snakes, lions, and others embrace in genial expressions of affection as the forlorn chimp ambles past, plaintively calling out, "Hug." Soon a menagerie of concerned animals trail in Bobo's wake as he becomes increasingly distressed. Just when things seem dire, out from the trees swings Bobo's mom, who joyously envelops her offspring in a warm clasp, inspiring a hug-fest among all the congregated animals. Comprised of only three words ("hug," "mommy," and "Bobo"), the spare text leaves plenty of room for Alborough's eloquent illustrations, a true testimony to the adage "a picture's worth a thousand words." The full-color, full-bleed illustrations are rendered in marker pen, allowing Alborough to impart a wealth of expression on the faces and in the body language of the various creatures. Little ones will be tickled pink by the inventive manner in which each creature embraces: chameleons engage in body-to-body hugs while clasping tails; giraffes intertwine their lanky necks; and a young hippo gleefully perches atop its recumbent parent. This warmly inviting tale is bound to inspire many a loving snuggle during storytime. (Picture book. 2-5)

PreS-Gr 1-This picture-book protagonist is even more endearing than Alborough's bears in Where's My Teddy? (1992) and My Friend Bear (1998, both Candlewick). Bobo, a tiny chimp, searches the jungle for a hug. Witnessing elephant, iguana, giraffe, and other parent-child couples embracing reduces him to tears, until his mother finally appears to make things right. Cross-species hugs complete the satisfying and reassuring tale. Marker-pen illustrations expertly run the range of brilliant blue skies to tan dusty trails. The rounded cartoon figures demonstrate an array of emotions to augment the text that consists of only three words: "HUG," "BOBO," and "MOMMY." From the warm golden cover to the animal grins at the end, Alborough's simplicity results in another gem.-Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.