Book Review of Gentle Hugs
The Children’s Book Review
Gentle Hugs
Written by Lily Guzmán
Illustrated by Dorota Rewerenda
Ages: 6-8 | 32 Pages
Publisher: BookBaby (2025) | ISBN-13: 979-8992007213
What to Expect: Family, chronic illness, empathy, resilience, parent-child relationships, pets, and emotional understanding.
Gentle Hugs addresses the complex reality of growing up with a chronically ill parent with tenderness and emotional intelligence, never losing sight of the deep love that remains constant despite physical limitations.
As each day of the week passes, Alex, the young protagonist, confides in his big, loyal dog, Nico, sharing his worries and hopes about his mother’s health challenges. Along the way, he discovers a profound truth: love doesn’t need to be expressed through grand gestures to be powerful and meaningful.
Written with emotional authenticity, Guzmán, a physician specializing in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, brings her medical understanding and compassion to a subject rarely addressed in children’s literature. While maintaining an age-appropriate approach through kid-friendly metaphors representing the mother’s symptoms, Guzmán’s narrative respects a child’s capacity to understand difficult situations. Her ability to show rather than tell allows young readers to experience Alex’s emotional journey alongside him.
Rewerenda’s comforting illustrations complement the story perfectly through images that acknowledge the challenges while maintaining a sense of warmth and hope throughout the soothing yet cheerfully colored pages. Any children with chronically ill family members will find validation and comfort in seeing their experiences reflected. At the same time, all readers will benefit from the book’s core message about the enduring nature of love, even when its expression must adapt to challenging circumstances, instilling a sense of hope and reassurance.
Gentle Hugs is both thoughtful and deeply moving, making it an excellent addition to any child’s library, especially those experiencing similar situations.
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About the Author
Lily Guzmán is a physician specializing in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, currently based in Puerto Rico. Born and raised on the island, she spent a formative period in Miami, Florida, where she trained to become a Rheumatologist. Her passion for medicine stems from a deep desire to improve the lives of her patients, particularly those living with chronic pain.
Outside of her medical practice, she cherishes time with her family and her beloved dog, Nico. It was the comfort and companionship she found in Nico, along with the resilience of her patients facing chronic pain, that inspired her to write Gentle Hugs. The book serves as a heartfelt reminder that empathy and compassion, like any other qualities, need daily care to thrive.
Through her writing, she hopes to offer comfort and support to families facing similar challenges, particularly those affected by chronic illness. Gentle Hugs helps children understand the emotional complexities of having a loved one who struggles with health issues, while also reminding readers of all ages that love, empathy, and care can endure even on tough days. Lily hopes the book encourages a deeper sense of kindness and compassion in everyone who reads it.
