A little porcupine just wants a hug, but all the other animals shy away from his prickly spikes--except for a snake.

Tiny T. Rex wants to cheer up his friend, Pointy, with a hug, but he is frustrated because even as he gets bigger, his arms remain too small for proper hugging--but he is determined to practice, even when he gets into trouble.

Douglas the bear wakes up one morning wanting a hug, but finds his efforts at hugging a rock, a tall tree, and an odd-feeling bush unsuccessful.

A young boy known as the Hug Machine is available to hug anyone, any time, whether they're square or long, spiky or soft.

Jules the kitten learns that giving a hug is the simplest but kindest gift of all.

When Owen sends a real hug to his grandmother for her birthday he inadvertently brings cheer to the postal workers as they pass the hug along.

Elvis the Hedgehog wants a hug, but no one will give him one because he is so prickly.

Kitty tries out hugs from all different animals but finds he likes the hug from his baby brother the best.

"On opposite sides of a quiet street lived two friends. From morning to evening, they played. You two are stuck together like glue!...So it was a shock when, one day, they had to stop and go inside...Where can you put friendship when friends are apart? Slowly, they learned. They found that, across the street and through windows, they could give each other a hug. They discovered that a smile is a hug. A wave is a hug"--

Animal fathers give hugs that come in all shapes and sizes, and each one is filled with love.