Energetic Embrace

When teaching in an elementary school for the first time after being at the middle school and high school level for twenty plus years, the first thing you notice is the joyful openness of the students. Their exuberance for nearly everything is astounding, heartwarming and life-affirming.  Another thing for which they are most highly skilled is hugging.  They want to embrace someone the way they embrace life, freely and without reservation.

Australian author Nick Bland's and illustrator Freya Blackwood's first collaboration has already garnered The Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award, Early Childhood 2012.  In late December 2013 The Runaway Hug (Random House) appeared on shelves as the first American edition.  It would seem someone has forgotten the rules of this bedtime ritual.

"Mommy," said Lucy.  "Can I have a hug before I go to bed?"
"Oh, dear," said Mommy.  "I only have one left.  It's my very last hug."
"Can I borrow it?" said Lucy.  "I promise I'll give it back."

Now the recipient of her mother's final hug, Lucy darts away to locate her dad.  Lucy asks him if he would like a hug.  There is one condition though, he must give it back.  After all, it is her mommy's last one.

Hugs exchanged Lucy charges into another part of the house to continue her give-and-take routine.  First she finds the less than eager older twins.  Next in the kitchen Little Lily is more than willing.  Then she seeks Annie, the mischievous household dog.  Annie's woof to Lucy's question is all she needs to deliver the affectionate embrace.

Oh, oh!  Annie races from the room taking the cherished squeeze with her.  Up and down and all around the house Lucy goes in search of Annie and the hug.  That rascal Annie is hiding. The tears are starting to come.  Dogs will have their way.  Settled in bed for the night Annie has a final request for her mother.


Using a mix of dialogue and personal narrative Nick Bland demonstrates his understanding of a child's gifted imagination.  There is a sense of security and warmth in his portrayals of this shift toward slumber by all the members of the family.  Each time Lucy gets a hug she describes it as long and soft, twice as big, or smelled like peanut butter.  The repetition of a certain phrase creates a gentle cadence.  Here is a single passage.

Daddy picked her up and squeezed her as tight as a knot.
The hug was stronger than before, but just as nice.


If ever a dust jacket and book case exuded warmth, Freya Blackwood's work on this book does.  How can you not love the way the text wraps around the word HUG as a pajama-clad Lucy embraces the G?  Do you notice the extra glow around Lucy's face?  That same glow surrounds her and Lily hugging on the back.  Both the opening and closing endpapers are patterned in Lucy's pajama fabric.

When the first page is turned we are in the bathroom with Lucy and Annie as she gets ready for bed doing three separate activities.  This two page spread is the initial title page.  With another page turn we have the verso and formal title page.  There are six Lucy figures as she gets into her pajamas.  After four pages readers will already find Lucy nestling into their hearts.

A creamy background provides a canvas for these and all the remaining pictures.  Blackwood alters perspective and position depicting the cozy flow of this family in the evening.  She crosses the gutter frequently to great effect.   You will be unable to keep yourself from smiling at the rumpled, cluttered scenes featured.  There is something about her sketchy outlines which are welcoming, conveying the necessary emotions.

In the two pages when Lucy has lost the hug you can really feel her sense of loss with only Lucy, the zebra toy and an article of clothing in the picture.  One of my favorite illustrations is of Lucy running throughout the house looking for Annie.  We can see Annie just ahead of her and hiding.  Blackwood manages to show us the whole layout in these pages.  And I dare anyone not to sigh at the final wordless page.


Oh how I adore this book!  Make sure you share The Runaway Hug written by Nick Bland with illustrations by Freya Blackwood with your children and students.  Everyone needs the hug this book offers.

Please take a moment to follow the links embedded in Freya Blackwood's names to visit her website and blog.  She has more illustrations from this book on her blog.  Here is the link to an interview of Nick Bland at the Creative Kids Tales website.

Letting Go...

Back in March, March 26, 2011 to be exact, Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutan, authors of Bookends: A Booklist Blog, reviewed Harry & Hopper written by Margaret Wild and illustrated by Freya Blackwood. 

At that time I commented back to them that I had held that very title in my hand on the same day in a local bookstore, debating whether I could read a book about losing a pet, let alone buy it.  I left the bookstore without a copy. But based upon their review and knowing that there is a need for this kind of book in my elementary library media center, there is a copy now sitting next to my computer as I write this post.

I have read it over several times and I would be lying if I were to say that I did not cry because I did. I have loved and lost two wonderful dogs in my lifetime.  I live with and love one right now.  I will always have a dog in my life.  My students and I commiserate on a regular basis about the death of a beloved pet.  They are family, aren't they?

When the puppy came to live with Harry and Dad, he was as jumpy as a grasshopper.  So, that's what Harry called him, Hopper.  Readers see Harry teaching Hopper,as he grows, all the doggie things he needs to know.  In return Hopper helps Harry with his homework and at night, they sleep head to head gazing at one another.  They are inseparable.

One afternoon when Harry returns home from school Hopper is not there to greet him.  His Dad is sitting on the front steps with sad news for Harry.  Harry is filled with such sorrow by the sudden loss that he can not say goodbye to Hopper or sleep in his own bed that night.  Instead his Dad makes a bed for him on the sofa. 

For a second night Harry sleeps on the sofa but awakens in the middle of his slumber to something special.  Touching and sincere this magic over the next several nights shows readers how to remember and say goodbye with love.

I am a fan of author, Margaret Wild.  What has set this and her other titles apart as well as earning her a following is the simple, warm wording that flows throughout her stories.  She has the adept ability to reveal the heart of a matter so that it is subtly clear to readers of all ages.

Freya Blackwood uses laser print on watercolor paper with watercolor, gouache and charcoal to create the pictures that compliment and enhance Wild's text.  Her illustrations are gentle, whimsical and soft with colors that convey just the right mood for each part of the story.  Her endpaper designs mirror the quilt used to cover Harry when he is sleeping on the sofa. When Harry and Hopper first meet she begins with Hopper in charcoal sketch running across one page to jump on Harry's lap on the second page whole with color.  By following this link you can see more of the illustrations from this book which won the highest award for children's illustrations in the UK, the  CILIP Kate Greenaway Award, on June 24, 2010.  This award is given by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals.

Sudden loss is hard to face but these two Australians have fashioned a tale pure, beautiful and memorable.