Willies Not Hugging Kind

A boy decides that hugging is silly and babyish, and he lets his family know: whenever they try to hug Willie, he turns away. His family decides that ``Willie's not the hugging kind.'' He soon learns that a world without tender hugs is a cold and lonesome place. Finally, he can't take it and gives his Mama a big, warm hug one morning. Willie's Daddy wisely counsels, ``It's them that don't get hugging who think it's silly.'' In her debut, Barrett has created a warm portrait of a thoughtful black child learning to test his feelings within the caring security of a loving family. Cummings's evocative color and black-and-white drawings add depth to this well-designed transition book for readers moving up to chapter books. Ages 5-8. (Sept.)