Can I Give You a Squish?
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
An important lesson on consent for over-exuberant little huggers, nestled inside this lighthearted, summery story about expressions of love and friendship.
Kai is a little mer-boy who's big on hugs--or "squishes," as he and his mama call them. But not everyone's a fan of Kai's spirited embrace, which he discovers soon after squishing a puffer fish, who swells up in fright! Kai feels awful; but with the help of his friends, he figures out another way to show his affection, and then everyone demonstrates their preferred ways of being greeted. Because, as Kai realizes, "Every fish likes their own kind of squish."
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this subaqueous tale gently teaching consent and social interaction strategies, Kai, an affectionate merboy with light brown skin and a seaweed-esque swoop of dark hair, likes giving all his pals squishes to show he cares. But after Kai accidentally scares a small pufferfish with his enthusiastic hugging, Kai and his friends a dolphin, a crab, and an octopus come up with alternate ways to exhibit friendliness ("I like getting fin bumps!" says the pufferfish). Light- and movement-filled digital illustrations clearly portray each character's emotions, offering young readers a visual lesson in empathy. The prose strikes a carefully executed balance between rhythm ("The rest of the morning, Kai gave out squishes./ He squelched some kelp,/ and squashed a rock") and morals ("Every fish likes their own kind of squish!"), making for a reading experience that is both fun and educational. Ages 3 7.
