How to Send a Hug by Hayley Rocco

HOW TO SEND A HUG by Hayley Rocco, illustrated by John Rocco (Little, Brown and Company, 2022) is a charming story about Artie, who is an expert hugger. However, she misses her far-away grandmother’s rose-scented hugs. Luckily, she knows how to send her grandma a remote hug, and she generously shares her method with the reader.

In a world where letter writing is almost obsolete, Rocco offers young readers context and motivation to try their hand at this artform. With gentle humor and a fun extended metaphor, the text also acts as a how-to guide that teachers could easily incorporate in letter-writing lessons. Caldecott Honoree John Rocco’s illustrations are gorgeous and filled with heart and pour-over-for-hours details (and a delightful duck side-kick).