The father and child play chasing, hide and seek and climb together. At one point the weather gets nasty, the fog rolls in and the father shelters his child from the storm, keeping the child safe and warm. Upon returning home the child is snuggled into a blanket and cuddled until they go to sleep.
I like how Anna does not give the child a gender, so that the book can appeal to both boys and girls. The story's rhyme flows smoothly in a comforting way, like being gently rocked in someone's arms or in a boat on calm water. Many reassuring words are used throughout the story, like; sung, hug, find, happy, help, shelter and warm. There is no doubt that the father will always be right by the child's side.
The illustrations are painted in soft pastel colours contributing to the softness of the love between the father and child, the snow and the book's message. Anna has done a spectacular job in creating illustrations that contain a white polar bear, white snow and ice. I love that the pair live in an igloo and if you look carefully you will find two penguins hugging. Most of the illustrations are double page spreads giving a feeling of wide open spaces and yet inside a room that has no corners or hard edges.
This is a wonderful book for fathers to share with their children while they are snuggled close with their heads together, reading together and creating memories. Your child will come away feeling loved and special.
For teacher notes see here.
Over the years Anna Pignataro has illustrated books for many different authors including Margaret Hamilton's Counting Through the Day and Suzanne Gervay's Ships in the Field. Anna has also written and illustrated her own books such as; Princess and Fairy - Enchanting Carnival and How I Love You.
Title: A Thousand Hugs from Daddy
Author/Illustrator: Anna Pignataro
Publisher: Scholastic Australia, $16.99
Publication Date: 1 August 2017
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760276973
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book
