Dive into the hilarious story of a hug-loving kraken who learns there are many ways to make a friend.

Klyde the kraken loves nothing more than a good hug, but whenever he tries to hug the animals in the ocean, they all just swim away. Feeling lonely, the colossal creature swims to the surface, encounters a pirate-filled ship, and attempts one more monstrous hug. The shipwrecked buccaneers surprise Klyde and the reader by teaching the kraken a valuable lesson of emotional literacy, helping him understand that while many friends love to hug, some prefer other ways to greet their mateys.

Brooke Hartman’s buoyant, cheerful, and hilarious verses combine with Laura Borio’s beautifully quirky and charming illustrations to deliver a heart-warming story of social-emotional learning on the high seas.