About the Book An environmental fable that illustrates the awesome power of a hug. Book Synopsis A huge bear is wandering through the forest - but wait a minute! Whos that hes hugging? A beaver? And a moose? And a bird? And a tree? Welcome to the world of Big Bear Hug, a contemporary fable about a bear who has an appetite for hugging everything in sight - even creatures that bears have been known to eat. One day, the benevolent bear meets up with a human. This human proceeds to do something the bear cannot understand: he raises his axe and begins to cut down a tree. Suddenly the bear doesnt feel like hugging anymore and must make a difficult decision on how to stop this destruction in his forest. The environmental message of Big Bear Hug is both funny and powerful, while simple enough to engage very young children and show them the awesome power of a hug. Review Quotes ... an attractive and appealing book.-- Quill & Quire ... the books quick humor makes it easy to embrace.-- School Library Journal Oldlands rustic-styled digital artwork looks like a hip flannel pajama print ... and his pictures play sly comic foil to the earnest text.-- Publishers Weekly This debut is a treat for the tree hugger in all of us.-- Kirkus Reviews About the Author Nicholas Oldland earned a degree in fine arts at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, Canada, and enjoyed success as a commercial artist and filmmaker before taking up the role of creative director at Hatley/Little Blue House, a popular apparel company. He lives in Toronto, Ontario, with his family.