Counting Kisses [Hardcover]

Karen Katz (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

How many

kisses does

it take

to say

good night?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With buoyant cartoons rendered in a bouquet of vibrant pastel tones, Katz (Over the Moon) creates a book as irresistible as a baby's smile. At first, however, the baby in the story is anything but smiling; that's why her family tries to woo her into sleep with a countdown of kisses on every darling part of her body. Mommy starts things rolling with "ten little kisses on teeny tiny toes," and "nine laughing kisses on busy, wriggly feet." Each full-bleed, densely colored vignette that follows depicts an ecstatic baby being coddled and cuddled in a new way: Grandma holds her high in the air to give her belly button seven "loud kisses," and the dog licks her six times while she's on the changing table. By the time the final kiss is delivered on her "sleepy, dreamy head," the baby is utterly beatificAand fast asleep. Everything about this book says "snuggle": Katz's use of flattened perspectives, mixed media and an array of polka-dot, flower and heart patterns ensure that every picture exudes all the warmth of a lovingly stitched crazy quilt. The text should induce readers to launch a kiss-off of their own. Ages 1-5. (Jan.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreS-How many kisses does it take to say goodnight? A fussy baby receives "ten little kisses on teeny tiny toes/nine laughing kisses on busy, wriggly feet/eight squishy kisses on chubby, yummy knees," and so on down to "one last kiss on your sleepy, dreamy head." Each member of the family takes a turn bestowing kisses on the child: mom, dad, grandma, big sister, and even the dog and cat. Katz uses bold colors and lines to accent the flat, yet expressive illustrations. Heavy use of pink, combined with an array of brightly colored patterns, adds to the tender, happy tone of the story. Collage pieces are seamlessly woven into the gouache and colored-pencil illustrations, and Katz throws in some surprising perspectives, such as the mother kissing the baby's toes shown from the infant's point of view. The final spread, which shows the whole family smiling down at the sleeping child in her crib, epitomizes the loving warmth of this pitch-perfect bedtime story. Though somewhat reminiscent of Molly Bang's Ten, Nine, Eight (Greenwillow, 1983), this delightful book has a charm all its own and will surely become a standard at baby and toddler storytimes.-Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, Eldersburg, MD

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books; 1st edition (January 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689834705
• ISBN-13: 978-0689834707
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (129 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,894 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #57 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Family Life > New Baby
  • #67 in Books > Children's Books > Holidays & Celebrations > Valentine's Day

More About the Author

Check out my newest book WIGGLE YOUR TOES! A Book to pull,fluff, and wiggle!

I have always been interested in folk art from around the world, Indian miniatures, Mexican ceramics, fabrics, Chagall, Matisse, children's art, and primitive painting, and I love to paint and experiment with pattern, texture, collage and color. The careers I've had--as a costume designer, a quilt maker, a fabric artist, and a graphic designer--have taken all these interests into account. Looking back, I can see that these passions and career choices have played a large part in influencing me to become a children's book author and illustrator.

But most importantly, it was after my husband and I adopted our daughter from Guatemala that I was inspired to do a children's book for her. My first book, Over the Moon, was the story of that magical experience of welcoming our daughter Lena into our lives. I painted, I drew, I collaged, and I wrote, and after working very hard... a beautiful book was born! Twenty-two books later, my daughter--now fourteen years old--still is an inspiration for me.

I am fascinated by babies and little kids. The simplest words and gestures can make them laugh. Sometimes standing in line at the supermarket and watching kids in grocery carts, my best ideas are born.

I am fascinated by people from all over the world and what they look like and how they live and the differences that make us all unique.

When an idea pops into my head I ask these questions:
Will a child want to read this book?
Will a parent want to read this book with their child?
Will this book make a parent and child feel something?
Is there something visual here that will hold a child's interest?
Will a child see something in a different way after reading this book?
If the answer is yes, then I know I'm on the right track.

I am very lucky to get to do what I do. Everyday I go into my studio and have fun. Don't get me wrong, some days are very frustrating. Sometimes the colors are all wrong and the words don't sound right. But after I work at it for a while...and try to do it a different way...and think...and change the words or colors...and try some more...suddenly, there it is--a great page of writing, or a great illustration. And nothing is more satisfying than that.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

92 of 94 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book - A FAVORITE in our house, January 22, 2003

By 

Melanie R (Mesa, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Counting Kisses: A Kiss & Read Book (Board book)

I got this book for my older son when he was just a few months old. He is 2 now and this is one of his all-time favorite books. It's fun to read and what child doesn't love getting kissed?? His baby brother also enjoys it when we read this book. My parents visited from out of state recently and I videotaped them reading a few books, this one included. My toddler asks me to fast forward so that he can hear his grandpa read this story and watch them on TV. We give this book often as a gift because it is such a favorite.

100 of 105 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kisses Good Night....., March 12, 2003

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Counting Kisses: A Kiss & Read Book (Board book)

"My tired little baby, do you need a kiss?" A cranky, crying, sleepy little one is about to go to bed. But first she needs "ten little kisses on teeny tiny toes" and "nine laughing kisses on busy, wriggly feet" from Mommy. Daddy's ready with "eight squishy kisses on chubby, yummy knees." Grandma plants "seven loud kisses on a pretty belly button." And so on... Baby is passed from one member of the family to the next for her good night kisses, and even the dog and cat get into the act..... Karen Katz's minimal text is engaging and filled with lots of love and charming descriptive words. Her bright and playful illustrations are large and inviting, rich in bold color and eye-catching shapes and patterns. Together word and art offer gentle, fun-filled opportunities to practice counting and to identify different body parts. Perfect for preschoolers as young as one, Counting Kisses is a sweet and heartwarming little book youngsters will beg to add to their bedtime ritual. "...two gentle kisses on tired closing eyes, one last kiss on your sleepy, dreamy head, and now it's time for baby's bed."

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sure to put Smile on Baby's Face!, April 16, 2004

By 

A. Miller "athyme" (Lansing Mi United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Counting Kisses: A Kiss & Read Book (Board book)

I bought this book for my daughter when she was four months old. From the first day she was absolutely captivated by the bright, colorful patterns in the pictures of this book. The story is so much fun and what baby could resist all those kisses? Now at ten months old she loves this book so much that I only have to recite the first line of the story, "My tired little baby, do you need a kiss..." or show her the cover of the book to elicit a huge, cheesy grin! After buying this book I was motivated to purchase several other books by Karen Katz. Her talent has made her my daughter's author/illustrator. Her books are the first chosen every time!