"Doug prefers not to be hugged, but there are a variety of other ways his loved ones can show him affection"--Provided by publisher.

Slug worries that the reason his mother never hugs him is that he is ugly, so he follows his friends' advice to be furry, with a beak, horns, and more, until his mother can no longer recognize him, but then he learns that she loves him, no matter what.

The hug machine is available to hug anyone, any time, whether they are square or long, spikey or soft.

Charlie is chilly all over and needs a hug to warm him up.

Charlie the shark wants nothing more than a hug, and Olivia Octopus desperately wants a kiss, but none of the people on the beach are interested.

Hedgehog wakes up needing a hug, but has trouble finding a friend who will get so close to his prickles.

When Porcupine is sad and grumpy because he cannot share hugs with the other animals, Armadillo suggests a different form of affection.

Sloppy the tree dragon does not want to take a bath, but when Dewdrop refuses to give him a hug until he is clean Sloppy reconsiders.

The reader is invited to consider some things about when, who, and how to hug and also advised to be prepared to receive one in return.

Presents a wide variety of insects, sea creatures, and other animals with increasing numbers of arms, noting how many hugs each can give at once.