Patti Stren has recreated one of her favorite children's books, now HUG ME FULL COLOR, featuring lots of new, funnier, more whimsical drawings. It's the story of Elliot, a frustrated porcupine, who wants a hug. "It's impossible!" say the other porcupines. But he knows what he needs, that wonderful feeling of belonging found in a meaningful hug. After some crazy shenanigans, there is a happy ending.

The story is charmingly translated and told in Ukrainian as well as French. The series also includes bilingual Ukrainian-English and English-French versions with its message of hope and tenacity. HUG ME MORE Story Book and Coloring Book uses simpler illustrations to color. HUG ME MORE will soon be released as a book featuring raised line art and Braille text for visually impaired children, thanks to Tactile Vision Graphics, Windsor, NB, Canada.

Patti Stren a recree l'un de ses livres pour enfants preferes, maintenant HUG ME FULL COLOR, qui contient de nombreuses illustrations nouvelles, plus droles et fantaisistes. C'est l'histoire de Elliot, un porc-epic frustre, qui veut un calin. "C'est impossible!" disent les autres porc-epics. Mais il sait ce dont il a besoin, ce merveilleux sentiment d'appartenance trouvee dans un calin significatif. Apres plusieurs manigances folles, il y a une fin heureuse, bien sur.

L'histoire est traduite et racontee avec charme en Ukrainien ainsi qu'en Francais. La serie comprend aussi des versions bilingues Ukrainien-Anglais et Anglais-Francais avec son message d'espoir et de tenacite. HUG ME MORE Story Book and Coloring Book contient des illustrations simples a colorier. HUG ME MORE sortira bientot sous la forme d'un livre comportant des dessins tactiles en relief avec du texte en braille pour les enfants malvoyants, grace a Tactile Vision Graphics, Windsor, NB, Canada.

"Elliot Kravitz, the forlorn porcupine, first started looking for a hug in 1977. Now he's back, redrawn with up-to-the minute whimsy by his Canadian creator, Patti Stren, but still telling the world that a few quills never hurt anybody. Luckily, the ending offers solace for lonely hearts of all ages."

• Elizabeth Ward, The Washington Post Book World (2001)

"Elliot Kravitz, le porc-epic desespere, a commence a chercher un calin en 1977. Il est maintenant de retour, redessine avec fantaisie par sa creatrice canadienne, Patti Stren, mais il continue de dire au monde que quelques piquants ne font jamais de mal a personne. Heureusement, la fin offre du reconfort aux coeurs solitaires de tous ages."

• Elizabeth Ward, The Washington Post Book World (2001)

"[Elliot is] an optimist and an idealist; he won't take no for an answer. His porcupine chums may sing the praises of quills, but Elliot still wants that hug... He tries to fool folks... but no dice... There is no denying the book's cuteness... with Stren's new wobbly super-vulnerable Elliot..."

• Kirkus Reviews (2001)

"[Elliot est] un optimiste et un idealiste; il n'acceptera pas un non comme reponse. Ses amis porcs-epics chantent peut-etre les louanges des piquants, mais Elliot veut toujours ce calin... Il essaie de tromper les gens... mais pas de des... On ne peut nier la gentillesse du livre... avec le nouveau super-vulnerable bancal de Stren. Elliot..."

• Kirkus Reviews (2001)

"Name your favorite literary porcupine (Name any literary porcupine.) Answer: Elliot Kravitz. He is the prickly, thus intrinsically unhuggable, hero of this picture story about the search for love... Try the book on the nearest angst-ridden adult."

• The New York Times (1977)