Won't You Be My Kissaroo? (Send A Story) - Hardcover

JOANNE RYDER is the author of many books for children, including EACH LIVING THING illustrated by Ashley Wolff, The Snail's Spell, Earthdance, and My Father's Hands. Ms. Ryder received The American Nature Study Society's award for her numerous books about the natural world. She lives in Pacific Grove, California.

Melissa Sweet is the Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator of many fine children’s books including Some Writer!: The Story of E. B. White, winner of the NCTE Orbis Pictus award, Balloons Over Broadway, a Sibert winner, and The Right Word and A River of Words, both Caldecott Honors. Reviewers have described her unique mixed-media illustrations as “exuberant,” “outstanding,” and “a creative delight.” Melissa lives on the beautiful coast of Maine. In addition to writing and painting, she enjoys gardening, hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing. For more information about the author and her work, visit her online at melissasweet.net.

PreSchool-Grade 2–A little lamb's birthday dawns sunflower bright, with a special gift, a kiss, and a request from his loving parent: "Won't you be my kissaroo?" Colorfully clad animal friends are just as lucky, receiving special kisses ("A morning kiss... full of sun.... A breakfast kiss... nice and sweet.... A hello kiss... soft as rain...") from their own caring grown-ups. Sweet's large, charmingly simple watercolor, pencil, and collage pictures have an appealing primary-grade sensibility and are awash with a golden-sunlight glow and a sort of innocent awe. They combine beautifully with Ryder's easy rhyming text to invite readers to join the bear, bunny, butterfly, puppy, kitten, and funny frog in red boots who gather to surprise their woolly friend to celebrate his happy day. Finally, the sleepy-eyed young sheep is tucked into bed, and, while fireflies punctuate the night-blue sky outside his window, he receives a cozy kiss and a reprise of the question of the day: "So... Won't you be my kissaroo?/And every day, the whole day through,/we'll share new kisses.../me and you!" A feel-good choice for sharing one-on-one or with a group, and a high-quality addition to the kisses-and-hugs collection.–Kathy Krasniewicz, Perrot Library, Old Greenwich, CT
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