A story about hugs, consent, and a lovable, huggable sloth named Simon.

SIMON THE HUGGER
by Stacy B. Davids
illustrated by Ana Sebastián
Beaming Books, November 2022
(via Kaplan/DeFiore Rights)

Simon the sloth loves to hug. He hugs plants. He hugs rocks. He hugs his friends. He even hugs himself! So when his best friend, Elsa the jaguar, and others around him start saying no to his hugs, he is crushed. Why wouldn’t someone want to be hugged? After being rejected several times, he learns that both he and his friends need to want a hug at the same time so they both feel comfortable.
This lighthearted story about a lovable, huggable sloth is a gentle introduction to the importance of receiving consent before offering physical affection to others, and respecting others’ boundaries.

Stacy B. Davids, PhD, is a psychologist and a former special education teacher. Her highly praised picture book, Annie’s Plaid Shirt, won Silver in the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards. She lives in Florida and loves cats, cookies, and chocolate.
Ana Sebastián is a children’s book illustrator based in Spain. She studied fine arts at the University of Zaragoza and Université Michel de Montaigne, Bordeaux, France. She also completed a master’s degree in digital illustration. Her work is focused on colors and light. Working mostly with her iPad Pro, she also likes working with colored pencils, gouache, and watercolors.