I Love Kisses

October 1, 2017
The members of a diverse neighborhood enjoy giving and receiving kisses all year long.A young child with very light brown skin addresses readers directly on the first page, telling them, "I love kisses. I'll bet that you do too!"; a pale-skinned child with black hair concludes the book, saying, "But the very best kisses are the ones I get from you." In between, the illustrations show all sorts of people sharing busses. Parents and children, friends, family members, and pets kiss in all sorts of places, at all times of day, and in all sorts of situations. There are kisses for when you're found during hide-and-seek, drooly baby-brother busses, smooches for when you've fallen or been stung by a bee, blown kisses after a family gathering, and ones to begin and end the day. Every brief verse ends with the word "kisses," and the rhyming text has a bouncy rhythm, though the meter is sometimes off: " ' I'm sorry that you're sad!' kisses / Mom can't stay mad kisses." The illustrations, done with digital media, are both a strength and a weakness. They neatly show a huge range of diversity in skin tone and family makeup, including two dads with a baby and a mixed-race family. One girl uses a wheelchair. However, the odd absence of puckered lips means that none of the smooches look real.Children should experience all these kisses and more, hopefully with full puckers, though. (Picture book. 3-7)

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October 16, 2017
McFarlane and Vaughan transport readers to a diverse neighborhood of townhouses populated by families of all makeups and colors—in the span of a few homes there are single parents, interracial families, gay fathers, a child who uses a wheelchair, and others. As readers follow them through the seasons and holidays, McFarlane’s bouncy verse highlights an array of kisses, appropriate to each setting or occasion: “Sloppy licking pup kisses/ Jungle gym climb up kisses/ Baby brother drool kisses/ Splashing in the pool kisses.” Vaughan’s rough-edged digital cartoons are equally upbeat, even amid bee stings and scraped knees, underscoring the idea that there are few situations in a child’s life that a kiss from a loved one won’t help fix. It’s an easygoing and broadly appealing reminder that—no matter a family’s shape, size, or particular circumstances—affection is a constant. Ages 4–8. Illustrator’s agency: Shannon Associates.

January 1, 2018

Toddler-PreS-A rhyming list of all kinds of kisses that one might experience from morning ("Wake up, sleepyhead kisses") til night ("Cuddle up with teddy kisses") throughout the year. Some kisses are fresh and sweet: "Raspberry jam and bread kisses," but many are odd and awkward when read aloud: "Sloppy licking pup kisses/Jungle gym climb up kisses." While two holidays are included presumably to imply that kisses are celebrated year-round, the inclusion of "ghostly Halloween kisses" and "Valentine's Day glow kisses" feels arbitrary. Luckily, Vaughan's energetic, brightly colored illustrations and diverse cast of characters (a biracial family, a girl in a wheelchair, a baby with two dads) will appeal to a wide variety of readers. The soft lines for noses, puppy ears, and treetops contrast with the crisp lines of buildings, swing sets, and window frames which creates a sense of both groundedness and whimsy. A recurring red-breasted bird and italicized text are much-needed clues to the frame-even so, readers may forget the first page before they reach the last. VERDICT A cute but nonessential addition to kiss-book collections.-Hillary Perelyubskiy, Los Angeles Public Library

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