National Hug Day
These are just a few of the hundreds of picture books about sharing a hug, but I thought it most appropriate to share them with you today since it’s National Hug Day! One of my favorites is Won’t You Be My Hugaroo? by Joanne Ryder and illustrated by Melissa Sweet – great rhyming couplets with cute little animals sharing hugs all around. Learn more about the history of National Hug Day on Wikipedia.
An interesting note, research has shown that hugging for 20 seconds releases Oxytocin in your body lowering stress levels and giving you a boost in positive emotions! I feel like 20 seconds is a really long time for a hug, but I might just have to try it today.
- Hug Machine by Scott Campbell
- Hugs from Pearl by Paul Schmid
- Hug by Patrick McDonnell
- Big Bear Hug by Nicholas Oldland
- Hug by Jez Alborough
- The Perfect Hug by Joanna Walsh
- Won’t You Be My Hugaroo? by Joanne Ryder
- Who Wants a Hug? by Jeff Mack
- Daddy Hugs by Karen Katz (also Mommy Hugs)
- Hug Hug! by Lorie Ann Grover
Check out my full list of Valentine’s Day books and storytime themes for more great titles for National Hug Day or any day you want to celebrate love!