About the Holiday

Introduced by Kevin Zaborney in 1986, National Hug Holiday Week is celebrated each year from May 7 – 13. Just like it sounds, the holiday encourages people to show how much their family and friends mean to them by enveloping them in a warm hug. These days you don’t even have to be together to share a hug! Emojis, GIFs, videos, or even an “old-fashioned” postcard or letter can convey your hug. Kids especially respond to a loving hug, so this week be sure to pull them in for a sweet squeeze!

Mama Says I’m Fine

Written by Brittney Cooper | Illustrated by Tamisha Anthony

Sometimes a mom wishes for a tidy, meaningful way to express all the affection and admiration they have for their child—a shorthand, if you will, that both mother and child recognize and immediately feel seen, empowered, comforted, Loved. In Brittney Cooper’s Mama Says I’m Fine, a young girl reveals the two words that her mama always says to her: “‘You’re fine.'” She continues: “It’s just two little words. but those two words can mean a lot.”

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Tamisha Anthony. Text copyright © 2026 by Brittney Cooper. Courtesy of Orchard Books.

It’s true! She’s heard “you’re fine” in so many situations—when she needs reassurance, encouragement, acknowledgement of her accomplishments, and “the courage to stand up and speak out.” She’s also taken those words to heart when in shared moments with her mama, she understands them to mean “I’m the most beautiful little girl she ever laid eyes on.”

Over time, this girl has gained far more than just “in the moment” validation. She feels deep inside the accumulative effect when “two words can become a thousand. Thousands of words can become a million,” and those millions of words telling her that “nothing can knock me down . . . become the truth.”

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Tamisha Anthony. Text copyright © 2026 by Brittney Cooper. Courtesy of Orchard Books.

The young girl doesn’t keep that confidence and self-esteem to herself, either. She channels it into empathy and understanding for the person she’s closest to—her mom! She can tell when her mother is having a tough day or feels down, and works to make her feel better, whether through homemade treats or flowers, she knows just the words to add—words full of meaning and love: “You’re fine!”

In their Author’s and Artist’s Notes following the story, Brittney Cooper and Tamisha Anthony Author’s talk about the influence and inspiration their own mothers imparted to them.

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Tamisha Anthony. Text copyright © 2026 by Brittney Cooper. Courtesy of Orchard Books.

In her uplifting book, Brittney Cooper gives parents a simple phrase that echoes with all the lessons they want to impart, the amazing attributes they see in their child and all the love they feel for them. Such a shared expression can become a touchstone for families through time, one passed down to younger generations. Written from the little girl’s point of view, the story will resonate with children and make them feel as cherished as she does.

Tamisha Anthony’s lovely color palette and lush pages lend a sophistication to the story befitting the young girl’s wisdom. As Anthony states in her Artist’s Note, the abundance of flowers, shared cups of tea, and art theme honor the influence of her own mother and grandmother. These, as well as the sweet and understanding looks between mother and child, also suggest the child’s blooming girlhood and the woman she will become.

A poignant and vibrant ode to motherhood, Mama Says I’m Fine is a story children will want to hear often and one that will continue to resonate as they grow. The book would enhance any library collection and make a perfect Mother’s Day, birthday, or “just because” gift.

Ages 4 – 8

Orchard Books, 2026 | ISBN 978-1338763867

Brittney Cooper is the New York Times bestselling author of several books, including her debut picture book Stand Up! 10 Mighty Women Who Made a Change, and the novels Feminist AF: A Guide to Crushing Girlhood and Eloquent Rage: A Black Woman Discovers Her Superpowers. A professor of Women’s and Gender Studies and Africana Studies at Rutgers University, she cofounded the Crunk Feminist Collective, and her cultural commentary has been featured on MSNBC’s All In with Chris Hayes, Melissa Harris-Perry, The New York Times, New York Magazine, Marie Claire, The Cut, The Washington Post, NPR, PBS, Al Jazeera’s Third Rail, Ebony.com, Essence.com, TheRoot.com, and TED.com, and has been named four times to The Root 100.

Tamisha Anthony has illustrated several children’s books, including Sparrow Loves Birds by Murry Burgess, Seoul Food by Erin Danielle Russell, There’s No Place Like Hope by Janet Lawler, and Most Perfect You by Jazmyn Simon. Her love of educating has led her to teach for organizations such as the New York Historical Society and Make Art That Sells, and to write and illustrate a recurring column for Uppercase magazine. Learn more at tamishaanthony.com.

National Hug Holiday Week Activity

Mama Says I’m Fine Activity Pages

These two Mama Says I’m Fine activity pages let kids express their love for their moms!

Mother’s Day Card | Mama Says Fill in the Blank

You can purchase Mama Says I’m Fine from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review