Nobody Hugs a Cactus

by Carter Goodrich, Carter Goodrich (Illustrator)

Overview

Celebrated artist and lead character designer of Brave, Ratatouille, and Despicable Me, Carter Goodrich, shows that sometimes, even the prickliest people—or the crankiest cacti—need a little love.

Hank is the prickliest cactus in the entire world. He sits in a pot in a window that faces the empty desert, which is just how he likes it. So, when all manner of creatures—from tumbleweed to lizard to owl—come to disturb his peace, Hank is annoyed.

He doesn’t like noise, he doesn’t like rowdiness, and definitely does not like hugs.

But the thing is, no one is offering one. Who would want to hug a plant so mean? Hank is beginning to discover that being alone can be, well, lonely.

So he comes up with a plan to get the one thing he thought he would never need: a hug from a friend.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781534400900
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Publication date:	04/16/2019
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	41,011
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	540L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Carter Goodrich has illustrated sixteen New Yorker covers and was the lead character designer for Brave, Ratatouille (for which he won the International Animated Film Society’s Annie Award for character design), and Despicable Me. He has designed characters for many other beloved animated films, including Finding Nemo; Monsters, Inc; and Open Season. Of the films he has worked on, four have gone on to win Academy Awards. A Rhode Island School of Design graduate, he has twice been awarded the gold medal from the Society of Illustrators in New York. His picture books include We Forgot Brock!, Say Hello to Zorro!, Zorro Gets an Outfit, Mister Bud Wears the Cone, A Creature Was Stirring, and The Hermit Crab. Carter lives in Los Angeles, California. Be sure to visit Carter at CarterGoodrich.com.

Carter Goodrich has illustrated sixteen New Yorker covers and was the lead character designer for Brave, Ratatouille (for which he won the International Animated Film Society’s Annie Award for character design), and Despicable Me. He has designed characters for many other beloved animated films, including Finding Nemo; Monsters, Inc; and Open Season. Of the films he has worked on, four have gone on to win Academy Awards. A Rhode Island School of Design graduate, he has twice been awarded the gold medal from the Society of Illustrators in New York. His picture books include We Forgot Brock!, Say Hello to Zorro!, Zorro Gets an Outfit, Mister Bud Wears the Cone, A Creature Was Stirring, and The Hermit Crab. Carter lives in Los Angeles, California. Be sure to visit Carter at CarterGoodrich.com.

Editorial Reviews

02/25/2019

New Yorker cover artist and animated film character designer Goodrich (We Forgot Brock!) infuses humor and sweetness into the simplest of settings and the most unassuming of characters. Hank, a cactus who sits in a pottery bowl in the window of a boxy structure, loves the peace and quiet of his remote desert home, so his smile morphs into a comically exaggerated frown when friendly passers-by attempt to engage him. He ignores a cheerful tumbleweed, frightens a tortoise, and lashes out at a jackrabbit who offers a snide greeting (“Hiya, Prickles!”). But after he shoos away a lanky cowboy, who caustically retorts, “Seems to me, somebody needs a hug. Too bad nobody hugs a cactus,” Hank has a change of heart and tries to solicit hugs—initially unsuccessfully. Dominated by subtle earth tones true to its desert setting, spare yet emotive watercolor art reveals how the cactus, with a small act of kindness, disproves the book’s title. In wryly understated words and pictures, Goodrich delivers a tale that is equally charming and droll—and a smart pick for cranky kids. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"Dominated by subtle earth tones true to its desert setting, spare yet emotive watercolor art reveals how the cactus, with a small act of kindness, disproves the book’s title. In wryly understated words and pictures, Goodrich delivers a tale that is equally charming and droll—and a smart pick for cranky kids." - Publishers Weekly

"The sweet message of the power of a simple hug is only amplified by Goodrich’s soft, muted watercolors, the expressive facial features and body language of the little cactus, and the exaggerated profiles of the jack rabbit, the coyote, and the cowboy as they move across double-page spreads. This title will be an appealing read aloud as well as a perfect title to read when learning about the desert." - School LIbrary Connection

"Beautifully painted...in watercolors that capture the golden sands and sky fluctuating between peach-strawberry sunsets and crisp blue afternoons....Goodrich (We Forgot Brock!, 2015) delivers a funny story underscored by themes of friendship and kindness. An excellent storytime pick." - Booklist

From the Publisher

2019-01-15

A grumpy cactus learns that sharing affection feels good.

Hank sits in a round pot in the window of an adobe structure surrounded by desert. According to the straightforward text, "It was hot, dry, peaceful, and quiet. Just the way Hank liked it." Soon enough, however, the peace is punctured by a number of creatures passing by. Rosie the Tumbleweed calls a cheerful greeting, as do a timid turtle, a jackrabbit, and a coyote, among others. Hank hollers at each of them, but after a cowboy points out that "nobody hugs a cactus," Hank can't quite shake the feeling that he's missing something. When Rosie rolls by again and does him a favor, he decides to reciprocate, which leads to a hug after all. Watercolor illustrations allow the paper's texture to show through and feature sandy golds, subtle greens, and an expanse of sky that moves from clear blues to pinks, reds, and purples to indicate the passage of time. Goodrich imbues Hank with plenty of personality. He's spike-headed with two stubby arms, and he looks alternately cranky, forlorn, shocked, and friendly. Elongated shapes and unusual perspectives add interest and complement the low-key, conversational text.

Caregivers of grumpy young listeners may not be entirely convinced by Hank's relatively rapid turnaround, but the closing thought ("After all, it's better to be stuck in a hug than stuck all alone") is one that can be embraced by all. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews