Did you follow the story of Punch the Japanese macaque last summer? Everyone fell in love with the sweet baby snow monkey who needed a stuffie to survive. Today we get to share a sweet picture book that immortalizes the story. The book is A Hug for Punch by Caroline L. Perry and illustrated by Anoosha Syed. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7.
About the Book:
The inspiring story of Punch, the tiny, orphaned monkey who has captured the hearts of millions around the world.Viral social media sensation Punch and his beloved stuffed orangutan have captivated internet users worldwide. Now the heartwarming tale of his search for love and belonging is available for the first time as a picture book.
Punch is a baby macaque, eager to explore the world at the Ichikawa Zoo in Japan. But his mother can’t take care of him, so it’s up to the zookeepers to look after Punch. They give him a snuggly stuffed orangutan that he can hug and hold close.
When it’s time for Punch to join the other macaques on Monkey Mountain, Punch is scared, and the other monkeys aren’t ready for him either. Time and again, he returns to the comfort of his “Oran-mama.” But Punch knows even the coziest stuffed animal isn’t the same as a real-life friend. When will Punch finally find someone to hug him back? Here’s the story of one brave little monkey who refuses to give up on love.
From Me:
Everyone needs compassion and looks to be accepted. It can be hard when you don't have a parent to take care of you. For little Punch it was especially hard because his caretakers were not the same species or type of animal as him. The human zookeepers tried their best but knew Punch needed more than they could give him. They found a solution with a stuffed animal. However, they knew it was a temporary solution. Afterall a monkey needs other monkeys to truly develop. Brave little Punch had to try to find a way to socialize with the other monkeys even if they found him strange and his stuffie even stranger.
I love how this book captures the story of Punch. It is a story so many followed last year on social media and in the news. It shows how Punch was brought up and how brave he was when it came time to face the other monkeys. At first, he struggled to be accepted and let's face it everyone can struggle with that at some point in their life.
This book can be related to kids as a true story but also shows how even a monkey struggles with making friends for the first time. Punch had to be brave and persistent to get the other monkeys to accept him. It shows kids that whether they are in the group or trying to find a friend, everyone needs compassion and needs someone by their side. It is a wonderful book to keep the history of the little monkey and his stuffie, but it is also a great book for back to school when kids will be trying to find their place and having new experiences. Each of us wants to be accepted, and each of us needs patience and compassion. Let's be kind to one another. What a great way to kick off the school year!
