I Love Kisses

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.