OCTOPUS HUG

When Mom goes to dinner with a friend and leaves them with Dad, the gaptoothed narrator and his little sister feel so out of sorts that they begin to squabble—but not for long. These lucky kids have a humongous dad who enjoys roughhousing as much as they do. ``You are about to be hugged by an octopus!'' he announces, counting to eight as he wraps the boy in his arms. When he sings ``Rock-a-bye, Baby,'' somehow everyone falls, laughing, out of the rocker; before he packs the children into bed, still giggling, he's also been a tree for them to climb, a monster, and a horse. Palmer, who's worked as a political cartoonist, represents this ebullient African-American family with appropriately broad humor and enthusiasm. A likable book that's sure to start kids romping, and maybe their parents, too. (Picture book. 4-8)