Nobody Hugs a Cactus by 

Nobody Hugs a Cactus, by Carter Goodrich

Do you want to hug a cactus? Apparently, they really, deep down want a hug.
Nobody Hugs A Cactus written by Carter Goodrich (c) 2019, Illustrations by Carter Goodrich.
Carter Goodrich helped animate many Disney Pixar movies and some would go on to win
Academy Awards.
Hank, the cactus, is mean spirited and can’t stand when other things: Rosie the Tumbleweed
interferes with his solitude. Rosie is rambunctious and friendly. He doesn’t give her the time of
day. Later a tortoise, jackrabbit, a coyote, and even a cowboy come by and Hank yells at them to
leave his area where he sits on a windowsill and observes the world passing him by. He just
wants to be alone, or does he? As the cowboy leaves he mentions that Hank just needs a hug.
Hank ponders this and attempts to have an owl give him a hug. Nope, says the owl. He begins to
feel sad and alone. One day a wind blows through and a cup sticks to him and he cannot remove
it. He then asks Rosie for help and she blows it off of him. She continues on her merry way. She
is a tumbleweed after all.
Hank the cactus’ heart melts by the kindness of Rosie. He grows a flower for Rosie and wants to
show his appreciation to her helping him by giving it to her. When she receives the flower, she
“hugs” him and they are stuck together now. Better to be stuck in a continuous “hug” than being
alone.
Sometimes a kind word, a kind gesture can melt the hardest of people. There are children in the
world that are not so kind to other children and sometimes all they really need is love thrown
their way. A simple hug could break the stony heart. Melt the icy heart. I actually really enjoyed
this book a great deal and the watercolor illustrations are just…… WOW! Rich hues of oranges,
browns and greens. Extraordinary.
5 out of 5 stars