Melling has created a really loveable character in Douglas. His illustrations personify the bear, who is depicted wearing pajamas at the beginning of the story and a woolly scarf throughout. He has a huge shiny nose and a face that shows expression and feeling perfectly, as do the other characters in the book. Douglas comes across as loveable and vulnerable and will leave all readers wanting to give him a hug. The story ends with Douglas finding what he has been searching for all along, a huge bear hug from his mum! He knows that the best hugs are tall, wide, cosy and soft and he gets into some amusing situations hugging things that don’t quite match up to the one he’s searching for. Hugless Douglas, by David Melling, is a sweet story about a bear who wakes up one morning in need of a hug, so he goes out in search of one. Hugless Douglas is a simple, enjoyable story about the bond between a child and a loved one. It could be used in PSHE to highlight the importance of developing relationships, and in understanding the importance of showing compassion to others.