No More Kissing [Hardcover]

Emma Chichester Clark (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2, 2002 | Age Level: 2 and up

Why does there have to be so much kissing? That’s what Momo wants to know. Everyone’s kissing boo-boos, kissing babies, and worst of all, kissing him. So he decides to put an end to it. “No more kissing!” he declares. But when Momo gets a little brother, will he be able to follow his own rule?

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Enough with the kissing, already! Momo the monkey cannot fathom why everyone, everyone insists on doing so much kissing. Lions, wild boars, snakes, flamingos, even Momo's own family has to kiss hello, kiss goodbye, kiss to make it better... "I wish no one had invented kissing," poor Momo laments. He's positively dreading the smoochfest when his new baby brother is born. But little does he know what his own reaction will be to the wailing tot.

Emma Chichester Clark, author and illustrator of numerous acclaimed books, including I Love You, Blue Kangaroo!, writes with a warm, fresh style, and drenches the pages of this irresistible jungle tale with tropical colors and droll details. There's an eminently recognizable Everyboy in Momo's furry body. When a girl relative tries to put the kissing in cousin, the determined look on Momo's face as he beats a hasty retreat is priceless. And when his adorable baby brother wins Momo's heart (and lips), every reader will cheer. (Ages 2 to 5) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly

Despite the title, there's plenty of kissing in Clark's (I Love You, Blue Kangaroo) cheery monkey tale. "Why does there have to be so much kissing?" asks Momo. "It goes on everywhere." From his vantage point high in a jungle tree, he can see that boars do it, butterflies do it, even airborne storks do it. Clark's sweet-tempered watercolors (her star looks vaguely reminiscent of H.A. Rey's famous chimp), offer a plethora of carefree families kissing goodnight, kissing to make up and, especially, kissing babies, who "get more kisses than anyone." Momo's first-person narration will resonate with any child who has had his or her fill of unwanted affection. The poker-faced text plays well against the illustrations, as in a spread in which the monkey declares, "And I wish no one would kiss me, especially... people I don't KNOW!" while being pursued by an aardvark, boar and rhino. In the end, Momo, too, falls prey to his irresistible new baby brother and, "by mistake I think, I kissed him." Clark's narrative never falters as Momo remains true to his nature to the very end ("It was lucky no one was looking," he says but of course, everyone was). Though it begins as an anti-Valentine, this volume will strike an affectionate chord with curmudgeons and romantics alike. Ages 2-5.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers (January 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385746199
• ISBN-13: 978-0385746199
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #170,308 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kissing...What's a Little Monkey to Do?, January 28, 2002

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: No More Kissing (Hardcover)

Poor Momo...he's decided there's just too much kissing going on here in the jungle and it's got to stop. Everytime he turns around there's someone kissing hello, kissing good-bye, kissing good morning and goodnight. If you get hurt, someone wants to kiss your boo-boo, and make it all better. And if you have a disagreement, they want to kiss and make up. "Why does there have to be so much kissing? It goes on everywhere, all over the place, especially mommies kissing babies. I wish no one had invented kissing." But all that is about to change when Momo's mommy brings his new baby brother home..... Emma Chichester Clark has authored a clever and entertaining story, starring an endearing little friend, that is sure to charm and delight all those who often suffer little Momo's plight. Her simple and witty text is complemented by bright and engaging jungle scenes, full of humorous detail and marvelous facial expressions, and little ones, tired of being constantly smooched by relatives and parent's friends will easily identify and empathize with Momo as he tries to avoid the often inevitable kissing ordeals. No More Kissing is perfect for preschoolers as young as two, and with its sweet and amusing twist at the end, is sure to put a big smile on everyone's face.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CUTE MONKEYS AND LOTS OF KISSES, January 10, 2002

By 

"pocah" (Marietta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No More Kissing (Hardcover)

This book is a cute little story about a little monkey who does not like to receive kisses. He thinks that all adults give kisses to little people all the time and he does not like them or see the need for them.....until he becomes a big brother. Read on to see his experience with his baby brother and find out of he still dislikes kisses and thinks you should not give them.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Momo doesn't like kissing!!, August 1, 2003

By 

audrey (white mtns) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: No More Kissing (Hardcover)

Momo is a cute little monkey who lives in a Babar-like jungle created by Emma Chichester Clark, the author/illustrator of the Blue Kangaroo books. In general he is a very happy little monkey ,,,, until the kissing starts! Kissing everywhere, all the time, for this and that, hello and goodbye, morning and night. Momo tells everyone he knows, "No more kissing!" But it doesn't do any good. He cannot understand why everybody likes it so much .... until his little brother smiles at him.

This is a sweet book for little ones who don't like kissing, or new big brothers and sisters, or even babysitters.