Big Bear Hug is Nicholas Oldland’s first picture book.  The Photoshopped illustrations are simple and charming.  Blues, greens. and browns predominate with plenty of white space.  The story shows a bear lovingly hugging every living thing he meets.  The comical expressions on the faces of those not expecting a hug from a bear are humorous.  What the bear loved to hug most were trees.  When a man with an axe came and stared at the most beautiful tree in the forest, bear thought he loved trees, too.  Angered when the man started to chop the tree, bear found he could only do what he did best – hug.  The man was so surprised, he ran far away.  Themes include conservation and the power of a hug.