I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK.
The book is filled with colorful illustrations. The details and emotional expressions are easy to understand for little ones. My favorite part of this book is the underlying message. It talks about consent in a easy, light hearted way that children understand. When the merboy gives a puffer a hug, the puffer freaks out. The merboy feels bad and just wanted to be friendly, so with the help of friends he figures out an alternative. He begins asking the puffer and others how they like to be greeted. The books opens provides and easy opening for conversations about personal space, consent, how others feel when we make certain choices and vice versa. It is a great book. It has become one of my favorites that i like to read in the preschool classrooms. After reading, we as a group practice different ways we can greet others. ( )

This is a great book for teaching young children about personal space/boundaries and how not everyone is comfortable with being touched in certain ways. The main character goes around "squishing" aka hugging many different fish, but when he does it to the puffer fish, he doesn't like it. Him and his friends come up with a different way to show puffer fish that he likes him, a fist bump. This was a cute and simple story but did a great job of portraying this message.

Beautifully illustrated. A great way to introduce consent to littles in a gentle way. Acknowledges that not everyone likes to be hugged or touched. ( )

A great introduction in easy-to-understand dialog about showing respect, and showing love to our friends. A merboy goes about his day greeting friends and strangers but quickly learns that not everyone likes to be squished “hugged.” The title provides the perfect conversation starter with little ones on different ways to show affections besides hugging. The art is delightful as you swim through the ocean with the character.
Highly recommend this adorable and sweet story! Ages preschool to seven. ( )