Waffles and Julius: No Hugs Please!

This adorable grumpy/sunshine duo will steal your heart in a tender and funny picture book about friendship and respecting each other's differences. From Ed Vere, the bestselling creator of Max the Brave and How to Be a Lion.

Waffles really, really loves hugs.
Julius does not.

Waffles would very much like to hug his friend Julius. Julius, however, prefers other things: most notably, cat-naps. But definitely not hugs.

Waffles will wait until Julius is ready. It won't be so hard...will it?
(Yes...it will.)

This irresistible story is about respecting one another's boundaries--and the beautiful friendships that can blossom when we do.

Author: Ed Vere
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Published: 06/02/2026
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.89lbs
Size: 11.34h x 8.70w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9781250439673
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 04/15/2026
Horn Book Magazine 05/01/2026 pg. 80
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 05/01/2026
School Library Journal 05/02/2026 pg. 1
Booklist 06/01/2026

About the Author
Ed Vere is an award-winning and New York Times bestselling writer and illustrator of picture books, including How To Be a Lion (winner of Oscar's Book Prize and an E.B White Read Aloud Honor Book) and Max the Brave (which was named one of The Sunday Times's 100 Modern Children's Classics). He has collaborated with the UK-based the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, which encourages visual literacy in primary school education. He is also a painter, and works from his studio in East Sussex.