"It all began when Brian hugged his mother. The feelings of warmth and appreciation that this gesture of love gave her set in motion a whole series of acts of kindness and sensitivity, each person in the 'chain' being made feel special in some way. In fact they feel so good that they in turn give someone else the gift of kindness by being generous with their time, their patience, their praise, and much more. People and even animals of all kinds are touched by the unselfish and simple acts of goodwill. Because Brian Hugged his Mother is a refreshing book in these days of violence and worry, and it reminds us, with its simple message, that good people can be found all round us if we just look hard enough."

Through the Looking Glass (www.lookingglassreview.com) - (May 2004)

"What happens to a hug after you give it? Brian doesn't even think about it when he hugs his mom in the morning and tells her "You're the best mom in the whole world!" But his simple act starts a chain of reactions that brings happiness and satisfaction to a vast circle of people he will never even know about. Rice's loving and gentle lesson in the art of random acts of kindness has just the right tone to appeal to younger children, enhanced by the brightly hued, watercolor-soft artwork."

Patricia Monico - NAPRA ReView

"Those two adages "A little bit goes a long way" and "Kindness is contagious" are truisms in this book. A simple act of kindness may go further than you think; certainly further than Brian realizes. It all starts out one morning when Brian wakes up and gives his mother a hug. Brian's hug acts like an object in motion. As the events unfold throughout the day, many unselfish acts are performed by people and even animals. One kind deed leads to another. Rice expresses his belief that kindness can bring happiness and make one's day a bit brighter."