A hug is such a simple act. But how anguishing when one is denied this basic exchange of human goodwill and kindness. Surely, one doesn't even have to be human to feel the anguish of that denial. At first glance, this seems to be the premise behind Hug Me by animator-turned-children's-book-author Simona Ciraolo - a sweet story about a toung cactus named Felipe, who longs for such softness of contact in a family that sees emotional expression as a sign of weakness. Felipe runs away, looking for a new family to give him the affection he yearns for but only finds heartbreak and rejection