👉 Hugo the Happy Starfish: A Children’s Book That Taught Us More Than We Expected

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When Charlie was little and I first began blogging, we discovered the Hugo the Happy Starfish series of children’s books through a website called Thompson. That site has since closed down, but these books stayed with us through the years, and that alone tells you how much they meant in our home.

Hugo the Happy Starfish – Island Adventures – is an educational children’s book series created by Suzy Liebermann through Happy Language Kids Publications. The story follows Hugo, a small starfish who longs to find happiness and understand the world around him. His journey is not a simple one. Instead, he is guided through a series of different islands where he learns important life lessons about character, behavior, emotions, and how the choices we make shape who we become.

Charlie said one of the most memorable parts of Hugo’s journey takes place on the Island of Tolerance. There, Hugo learns not to judge others and begins to understand something very important—that friends can come in all colors, shapes, and sizes. This is a simple message, but it’s one that children can carry with them as they grow, and one that adults can still be reminded of from time to time.

What makes this book series stand out is how it gently blends storytelling with life lessons. It doesn’t feel like a lecture or a lesson being forced into a story. Instead, it feels natural, colorful, and engaging. Children are guided through emotions, decisions, and consequences in a way that feels safe and understandable for young minds.

The stories are illustrated that stands out, with vibrant underwater scenes that bring Hugo’s world to life. In the book is 29 illustrations in total, each one adding depth and imagination to the story. Along with the storytelling, the series also includes coloring and workbook pages that help reinforce the lessons being taught. That interactive element makes the books more than just something to read—it becomes something to experience. Making this a fun Homeschool resource.

Charlie loved these books when he was younger because they were the kind of stories we could read again and again without losing interest, which is saying something when it comes to children’s bedtime routines. Some books get read once and forgotten, but Hugo stayed with us. He became part of our bookshelf rotation, part of our quiet reading moments, and part of those early memories of learning and growing together.

Now, these books are still kept safely in our home library. Not just as keepsakes, but as something we hold onto for the future. If friends come over with small children, or if Charlie one day has children of his own, these are the kinds of books we would bring out without hesitation. They are comforting, familiar, and meaningful in a way that lasts beyond the page.

What I love most about the Hugo series is the message behind it. It teaches children about feelings, choices, kindness, tolerance, and understanding in a way that feels approachable and gentle. It reminds us that happiness is not just something we find, but something we learn to build through our attitude and how we treat others.

These are the kinds of books that don’t just belong on a shelf—they belong in classrooms, libraries, and homes where children are learning what it means to grow into kind and thoughtful people.

If you are looking for a back-to-school read or a book for children to read you will find these in our Summer Gift Gide and they are a meaningful addition to a child’s book collection, Hugo the Happy Starfish is one of those series that stays with you long after the pages are closed.

About:

Hugo is a little starfish and he longs to visit the real world.On the Island of Tolerance he learns not to judge others. He discovers that good friends come in all colors, shapes and sizes. Come on a sea adventure with Hugo the Happy Starfish as he finds that happiness begins with tolerance.

This EDUCATIONAL CHILDREN’S BOOK SERIES based on Hugo the Happy Starfish who longs to find happiness. His journey isn’t quite as straightforward as he had hoped it would be. He is sent to a series of different islands where he is taught important character lessons.

By the end of his journey, Hugo has visited fourteen islands, made many more friends, and, most importantly, has learned how to be happy.Teaching children life skills can be tricky, but with this exciting children’s book series your children will come across some of the most important lessons there are to be learned.

Like Hugo, their journey to the real world will be full of character lessons along the way. In Hugo, children, parents, and educators will discover a lovable and engaging role model with whom they can identify. The book consists of 29 gorgeous illustrations showing a colorful and magical underwater world.

The book includes 10 coloring and workbook pages in order to intensify the learning process. Children will laugh at the delightful characters, hold their breaths in suspense and love to read these stories over and over. The series is suitable as a read aloud book for preschoolers or a self-read book for older children.

Hugo the Happy Starfish books were developed in conjunction with the author’s teaching experience at an International Baccalaureate® School and they support the different learner profiles and attitudes of the IB PYP curriculum. Get your copy today and be sure to look out for more quality Kindle and paperback books published by HAPPY LANGUAGE KIDS PUBLICATIONS! www.SuzyLiebermann.com

Meet the Author: Suzy Liebermann

A native of Germany and former resident of the Dominican Republic, Mexico, the Islands of the Bahamas and Switzerland, Suzy Liebermann—now living in the USA—has travelled the world in pursuit of language, art, and culture.

Having found it, she now shares it with the world’s teachers, parents, and children through educational literature. Leveraging her decades of global experience teaching in German, Spanish, French, and English with a degree in foreign language translation and a master’s degree in business management and international business, she launched Happy Language Kids Publications in 2010 as an interactive language learning program for children and their young-at-heart elders.

This program is particularly aligned with the aims and values she upheld as a teacher of cultural art and foreign language at a prestigious International Baccalaureate World School. Character Development for Children

Believing that happiness can be learned, feelings can be understood and that building character based on a positive attitude leads to happy, content, self-confident and successful human beings, I have created this exciting series of charming books about HUGO THE HAPPY STARFISH.

The series of books on character education aims to help educate children about their feelings, their attitude, their choices and the consequences that follow and includes an introduction to the Spanish language, lessons of character, ecological alertness and life skills—all amid a backdrop of a colourful island and mystical underwater world.

I have always had a love for teaching and helping others. Being able to share the wisdom of the right attitude through my stories gave my life a new goal to make a difference in the world.

Today I live my dream of helping others to find the right attitude for life – because life gets so much easier with the right attitude. We might not be able to control life’s circumstances or other people’s actions however we can control our attitude towards them.

With lots of LOVE and HAPPINESS,

Suzy Liebermann

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates