By Jennifer Couëlle & Jacques Laplante & Karen Simon
One on the forehead, one on the nose, and one flying through the air…What would a day be like without kisses?
In musical language translated from Jennifer Couëlle’s sublime French text, Kiss Kiss celebrates the sweet gesture as a small child experiences it: in a parent’s snug goodnight, a baby’s sticky smooch, and a healing touch on a scraped knee. Jacques Laplante’s bright illustrations match liveliness with tenderness, delineating a charming love-filled world in deceptively childlike strokes.
Published in a compact hardcover format perfect for storytime snuggling, Kiss Kiss will be released in plenty of time for a very sweet Valentine’s Day.
About Kiss, Kiss
2016 Canadian Children’s Book Centre Best Books for Kids & Teens selection
2022 49th Shelf “Valentine’s Day Picture Books” selection
“Couëlle and Laplante celebrate kisses, be they big or small, quick or ‘slurpy.’ Both the writing and artwork have a sweetly haphazard quality – Laplante’s scraggly illustrations look authentically kid-drawn, the meter of Couëlle’s verse varies wildly and she sneaks in a few extemporaneous unrhymed moments.”—Publishers Weekly
“A rhyming celebration of kisses of all kinds…A full range of relationships are represented here – parents, grandparents, couples, friends are all happily smooching.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Couëlle’s gentle reminders of the magic of kisses are simply and poetically rendered… Jacques Laplante’s illustrations are the perfect mix of vibrant colour and black lines that enhance the playfulness of Couëlle’s story…[A] wonderful gift book…”—CM Magazine
“This very sweet and simple tale describes many types of kisses in a language very young children will understand and appreciate…The carton illustrations are cheerful and warm with touches of humour.”—Resource Links
“Translated by Karen Simon, it retains a cheerful breeziness….The colourful art of Montreal’s Jacques Laplante – whose simple lines and distinctive graphic style is both sophisticated and amusing – gives this little book wide appeal…”—Montreal Gazette
“Looking to get in the mood for Valentine’s Day? Kiss, Kiss is the perfect pick for this time of year—or any time at all. The simple prose will make you feel the magic…The vibrant cover art and delightful pictures will invite you into this lovely story. Warning: you may feel inspired to pull you little one in for a smooch.”—Village Living Magazine
