Plenty of Hugs

Two mothers and their toddler find joy in spending time together as this picture book’s text describes a world in which “The sun shines on everyone./ There are plenty of fish in the sea.” In Alizadeh’s digitally refined pencil illustrations, the affectionate family—the child grins throughout, one mom sports a tattoo and an undercut—snuggles in bed, bikes to a farmstand and a zoo, and heads back home before sharing a meal and moving into their bedtime routine. Manushkin’s hopeful lines emphasize both a feeling of abundance and a connection to the natural world: “There’s plenty of blue for bluebirds,/ and red for strawberries too.// There is grass for gazelles,// for each panda bamboo,// and plenty of noodles/ for me and you.” Cozy illustrations lend a classic sensibility to this incidentally inclusive bedtime tale for the youngest readers. Ages 2–5. [em](Apr.) [/em]