No No Pablo [Picture Book] / For Those Who Need a Hug

■ "Oshipon E-pon"

　This is an introduction to my favorite picture book!
　In other words, an "Oshipon E-pon".

For more on "Oshipon E-pon," check out the article below...!
Starting my "E-pon" fandom activities

　This time, it's "No No Pablo".

　By Natalia Shaloshvili / Translated by Kumi Mashiko / Kaisei-sha
　Published: September 2025 / Original edition published: 2024 (UK)

　As always, there will be full spoilers.

　And, as always...

　I want to remind you that picture books can be enjoyed
　even if you already know the content.

　It's no problem at all.

　It's a story about a cat named "Pablo".

　It doesn't say "cat" anywhere in the text,
　but I checked with AI, so I'm sure of it.

　But before that...

　Though, if you look at the pictures, you'll know for sure.

■ For those who need a hug

　It is a common story.

　And yet...

　It is very, very, very good.

　I love it!

No matter what "Mom" says, Pablo keeps saying
"No!" Pablo's mood only improved because his friend Mila gently

"hugged"
him.

I think "No!" and a "hug" are a
set because it is a sequence you see so often.

　But just because it is common,
　it does not mean the emotion is lost.

A "hug" is truly wonderful.
A "hug" is something we cannot do without.

"I love you!"
　It is the same as words like that.

　Besides...

　The illustrations are good.
　They are gentle.

　I feel like that gentleness
　wraps around this entire picture book.

　Besides...

"Mom" is good.
　She is gentle.

　No matter how much Pablo keeps saying "No!",
　she continues the conversation.
　She never shows a bad attitude even once.

　I feel like that gentleness of "Mom"
　is wrapping around Pablo.

　I want to be wrapped in kindness...!

　Everyone feels that way, don't they?

　That is why...a 'hug'

　Because it is a picture book wrapped in kindness...

　The emotional impact is even greater.

　And this 'kindness' is something that...
　you cannot understand...
　unless you actually hold the picture book in your hands.

If you find yourself wanting a 'hug',
'No No Pablo'please take a look at it.

　By the way...

　Both of the endpapers feature a pattern of irregular black spots on a yellow background,
　resembling leopard print.

　I wondered what it was, so...
　I looked through the picture book again.

'Pablo', who keeps saying 'No!',
is encouraged by 'Mom' to go outside the house,
　and it was the pattern on the clothes 'Pablo' was wearing at that time.

　What he was wearing inside the house was dark-colored clothing.
　It must represent 'Pablo's' feelings.

　Then...

'Pablo', who is wrapped in 'Mom's' kindness,
at the moment he was encouraged by 'Mom' to go outside,
　might have already...
　recovered a little bit from his dark mood.

...That is also a possibility.

If he hadn't gone out,
he wouldn't have met his "friend" "Mira" either.

And then...

There was one more thing that concerned me.

The author, "Natalia Shaloshvili,"
is from Ukraine,
and it is written that she currently lives in the UK.

Perhaps...

I thought maybe she emigrated because of the war.

If so...

The meaning of "hug"

...changes in many ways.

Right now, there are many people...

"Hug"

...who need to be given one...!

Thinking that, I looked it up.

It seems "Natalia Shaloshvili"
started living in the UK
before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

But... the original book was published in 2024.

　My thinking might have been different, but
　now,there are people who need a "hug"—that much
　must be correct.