HUGS STILL FEEL THE SAME

Some things are constant.

The word flood isn’t used in the terse yet soothing rhyming text; instead, the young, pale-skinned, red-haired narrator uses stark phrases such as “The rain doesn’t take a break” and “The water’s rising higher.” Throughout these difficult circumstances, the protagonist receives loving hugs that “still feel the same”—from Mama and Daddy and from the child’s brown-skinned best friend at school, which has surprisingly remained open. Then…“The river’s at our doorstep. Our street is now a lake.” Mama and Daddy explain that they must evacuate and advise the child to take a favorite toy. “Family hugs still feel the same.” The trio snuggle closely as a “rough and wobbly” rescue boat steers them to a shelter, where neighbors and the narrator’s schoolmates welcome them. The child spots and embraces Grandma, whose hugs, of course, “feel the same.” Though the child has lost toys and books to the flood, the final refrain has an upbeat tone accompanied by the image of a rainbow: “One thing hasn’t changed…Hugs still feel the same.” Readers will come away reassured by the text and the calming illustrations. Rendered in a mostly warm palette, the art focuses on bright colors suggesting optimism. The narrator’s family is pale-skinned; background figures are diverse.

An encouraging story about hope and positivity even in the darkest of times.