Stories Ages 3–4 Robo Wants a Hug
Picture story · read aloud
Robo Wants a Hug
Ages 3–4 2-min read Robots
Maya builds a robot who wants a hug, but his first hugs are much too squeezy.

Maya built a robot from boxes, bolts and buttons. She pressed the big green button. Beep! Robo’s eyes lit up.
“Hello, Robo!” said Maya. “BEEP. HELLO. MAYA,” said Robo. “What would you like to do?” asked Maya.

“I WOULD LIKE… A HUG,” said Robo. Maya opened her arms. Robo opened his arms. CLANK! SQUEEZE! “Too tight!” squeaked Maya.
“Hugs are soft,” said Maya. “Let’s practise.”

Robo tried hugging the cat. “MEOW!” The cat zoomed away. Robo tried hugging a pillow. POOF! Feathers everywhere.
“Gentle, like holding a bubble,” said Maya. Robo’s arms went slow… slower… slowest.

Maya blew a bubble. Robo held it on his metal hand. It didn’t pop!
“NOW. I. KNOW,” beeped Robo. And he gave Maya the softest, gentlest robot hug in the whole world.

Maya hugged him back. “Best robot ever,” she said. Robo’s eyes glowed pink. Beep-boop-hug!
The End

Free printable mini-book
Print and fold this story
Turn Robo Wants a Hug into a little 8-page book to keep. Print one sheet, make one small cut and fold it up in about 3 minutes.
Saving ink? Printer-friendly version: A4 · US Letter
How to fold: fold guide (A4) · fold guide (US Letter) · watch the 50-second video
Print at 100% (“Actual size”), landscape, on one side. Full colour PDF · A4 1.1 MB · Letter 1.2 MB
For grown-ups
Talk about it
After reading, try one or two of these. There are no wrong answers.
- Why did Maya say “too tight”?
- How did Robo learn to be gentle?
- Can you give someone a soft, gentle bubble hug?
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