Apapachos (or hugs) brighten celebrations, soften disappointments, and chase away nighttime fears. But now that Mami’s working away from home for the first time, how will Luna manage without their daily embraces? A gentle apapacho from Abue after a small mishap while gardening makes Luna feel braver. Daddy’s bedtime hugs make Luna feel safe, and the youngster offers him one in return, knowing he misses Mami, too. Even Benito the poodle starts the morning with a slobbery snuggle that lifts Luna’s spirits. Over the next few days, family, friends, and teachers find other ways to make Luna feel appreciated, like encouraging words from Ms. Garcia at school and time spent on the playground with a best friend. And when Mami finally returns, Luna realizes an important truth: “Whether Mami’s near or far, our apapacho love can hold up the moon, the stars, and ALL of me.” Highlighting the many forms love can take, Harmony’s warm, reassuring story makes clear that distance can never diminish love. Depicting a diverse, sweet-faced cast, Meza’s mixed-media illustrations blend bright washes of color and squiggly action lines; they radiate emotion and make the meaning of apapachos tangible. An author’s note further discusses the title word, a Spanish word for a hug that derives from the Náhuatl term papachoa.
