I'm a Happy Hugglewug: Laugh and Play the Hugglewug Way by Niamh Sharkey Baby-4 34 pages Candlewick December 2008 Board book     “Sensory overload” is the most succinct description I can come up with for the board book I'm a Happy Hugglewug!. This book is basically a string of chaotic introductions to the members of the Hugglewug family and their friends. The flimsy story revolves around the Hugglewugs and their friends as they move through their day. For example, baby brother Ivor loves oatmeal, Meg jumps over mushrooms, and Stanley splashes in puddles. Part of the story includes some communal roaring, the painting of some pictures, and some Hugglewug pie. The book concludes with a number of fictitious words such as the fact that mommy is quelchy, brother Cobby is huggly, and Lola is wuggly. I wasn’t sure what a Hugglewug was before I read the book, and I’m still not sure after reading it through a number of times. While I generally admire children book authors who take risks and introduce new characters, this frantic and haphazard introduction to the Hugglewugs made me yearn for the stable and calming influence of the classic characters I have come to love.     web reviews   Lori West/2009 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)