The Hug

For a boy named Ben, the idea that he’s “unique and special” is far from reassuring—if there’s no one else on Earth exactly like him, “Then I’m all alone!” What’s worse, so is everyone else on the planet. “Everyone is a little alone, but also together,” says Ben’s mother, trying to explain, but some explanations require a hug to truly be understood. Rovner’s chilly, gestural pencil drawings picture Ben and his mother as tiny silhouettes on small patches of land; occasional trees, animals, and people appear, but the focus is on the two of them, underpinning the idea that solitude and togetherness aren’t mutually exclusive. Ages 3–up. (Oct.)