Customer Reviews

The Princess and the Kiss: A Story of God's Gift of Purity

5 star:		(89)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This book is just amazing! It is beautifully done - the illustrations are wonderful, the writing is excellent, and the story is done in such a way as to really touch you - heart and soul. We use this book to teach both our daughters and son about purity and its importance. This book presents this issue in a way that small children can understand and it builds a foundation that will be very easy for us to expand upon as they mature.

What a gift this book is in a culture where we are surrounded and overwhelmed by the most impure of things! We are teaching our children to disdain the cultural messages that surround them [and at this tender age, we protect them from those messages and images to the extent we possibly can]. We are teaching our children to follow God - the only thing that really matters.

The Princess and the Kiss is a precious book - a story of the real value of purity [for both girls AND boys], told in such a way that it still brings tears to my eyes every time I read it - even after dozens and dozens of readings!

This book has become our standard gift for Christmas and Birthdays for all the precious little girls and boys we know and love - and every single one that has recieved this book has *adored* it and their parents were very grateful. You can't go wrong with this one!

My 6 year old daughter loves princess stories. I hesitate reading them to her because the message portrayed is that you need to be beautiful and marry a handsome, wealthy, charming prince in order to live happily ever after.
This book is a refreshingly stark contrast in that it discusses the importance of waiting to "give away your kiss" and to give it away in marriage only after you have carefully screened your potential mate's character.
I really love how this book portrays typical suitors that have the potential to sweep any young girl off her feet. The rich suitor, the charming suitor, the physically attractive and strong suitor, and the romantic suitor all are rejected by the young princess. The one who is chosen is the one who admires her character and who also has a servant's heart.
This book combined with the True Princess book (which focuses on the character of the princess) are excellent in combating the belief that you need to be physically beautiful and marry a wealthy, strong, handsome, charming prince in order to be happy.

Dear Parent!

HOW RARE!!!

We looked near and far for a book like this!

Christian parents are deeply concerned with raising their daughters to be pure for marriage. Where on earth can you find books or movies to help reinforce these beautiful ideals that the Lord has given us? How do you raise your precious daughter to be a Proverbs 31 woman... a virtuous woman?

This book was one of two we finally found. It focussed on the ages 3 to 12. Nice age range! Our girl is 9. How do you talk about sex without actually dealing with the complex things they are not ready for yet? A book like this gets to the -root- now... you deal with the nitty gritty later when they are better prepared to deal with it. The words used are not sexual in any form in this book.

We also recommend:

- The True Princess by A. Hunt

- Items from "Pearables" website. (also for boys!)

- Items from "Doorposts" website. (also for boys!)

- "Christian-courtship" website. (If your girl is older!)

Enjoy! And happy hunting for products that instill healthy modesty, christian etiquette, honor and such!!!

This book was recommended to me by a couple of lady friends whom I deeply love and respect so I was very sad to see how far short it fell of expectations.

The story, intended for girls age 4-8, is typical of children's fairy tale direct toward girls. It begins with the birth of the beautiful baby princess to the good King and Queen. In their love they gave her a special gift from God, her first kiss. When the princess comes of age, the King and Queen tell her about this special gift that she can give to any man she chooses. They warn her to be careful who she chooses and to save it for the man she marries. After she turns down several unsuitable :-) suitors, caricatures of men of poor character, she is is visited by a humble farm boy who has nothing to give but his own special kiss which he has saved for her.

I will say that the story contains a nice idea of a man and woman saving their special "gifts" for one another. While the purpose of the story is a good one, it falls short of encouraging girls to respect and cherish their purity and paints a mildly insulting picture of girls altogether.

The first mistake was the use of "Kiss" as a metaphor for purity. A kiss is not metaphorical enough, in this context, and can easily be taken literally. Even if you explain that the book is talking about purity, it can impress upon a little girl a legalistic, puritanical fear that if she kisses a boy she has lost her purity.

Secondly, the suitors are poor and overly simplified representations of real men the reader may encounter one day. We do a disservice to our children when we teach them that bad men look bad all the time and good men look good. Good husbands are sometimes (often!) strong, romantic, and rich and bad husbands often appear humble. Oversimplifying to young people teaches them to stereotype and leaves them vulnerable when their stereotypes fall apart.

A third and more disappointing mistake is the way the princess is portrayed in the book. She really does nothing throughout the book but stare in awe at her "kiss" and wait for an acceptable suitor to come to the door. Her primary concern as she considers her suitors is how much they will value her "kiss." The reverence placed on the "Kiss" is nearly idolic, eclipsing (or perhaps representing) the value of the princess herself. All she has to offer the world and her suitors is the fact that she has not given her kiss away, and all her husband offers her is the fact that he hasn't given his away. Christians should be especially careful about placing too much value on NOT doing something, this has a nasty tendency to turn into legalism. We ought to remind ourselves and teach our children that God cares more for what we have done rather than what we have not done.

Even Christian girls are getting tired of reading stories about heroines that are solely concerned with getting a husband. It is neither biblical nor healthy and we ought to stop teaching our daughters that the greatest thing they can achieve is keep themselves pure for a man. The greatest thing a woman or a man can do is keep themselves entirely pure for God (so where is "The Prince and the Kiss?"). This goes much deeper and is much richer than sexual purity. "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this...to keep oneself unspotted from the world," James 1:27.

I do not wish to downplay the importance of sexual purity. But the reason we ladies keep ourselves pure is not so one day a man will marvel at our "diamond sparkly" purity and decide to marry us. Rather we keep ourselves holy to honor God, to save ourselves the heartache of wasted purity, and to deepen the relationship we will one day have with our partner. Purity has little to do with a girls relationship with her future husband and everything to do with her relationship with her heavenly father. It is from her status as His precious child that a girl derives her purity, her strength, and her purpose.

Again, I appreciate the purpose of the book and I recognize that this story was not intended to encompassed the full purpose of a woman. Still I found it thin, weak, and sadly typical.

"The Princess and the Kiss" is an outstanding book for any family who is striving to show their children, from an early age, the value of purity and integrity. In a very tasteful manner, even a small child can follow the plight of the princess who hopes for a suitor who will be worthy of her kiss (her "precious possession")and her hand in marriage. She dare not share her kiss with a man who shows himself as self-centered; her gift is too valuable to be wasted on these. She waits for the "hero" who is humble and generous -- and capable of authentic love -- and at last she can safely entrust her kiss to him. Hence, there are several valuable themes in this book: purity (and the preciousness of it); self-esteem (where the princess recognizes and values the gift of herself, and discerns who is worthy of her gift); the value of integrity and simplicity above vanity and superficiality; and the classic fairy tale ending where good has the ultimate triumph. All of these mature lessons(that will also benefit adults!)can be joyfully highlighted for children with this one book, and the simple text and delightful illustrations make it effortless to teach some truths that are often neglected

I just purchased this book for my son, and while, at 2 1/2 he doesn't quite sit through it, I expect the messege to become increasing important in the next few years.

Brief synopsis: When the princess is born, God gives her a gift - her first kiss. As the princess grows her parents warn her not to give it to just anyone, but to save it for the one she will marry. She is wooed by prince peacock, prince romance, and prince treasurechest, but doesn't think any of them are worthy of her first kiss. Then she is approached by a peasant. He proposes and explains that he believes only she is worthy of a gift he has been saving, his first kiss. She accepts, her parents are delighted she found someone worthy. They marry before the church altar and exchange their kisses infront of all.

To answer some previous reviewers, I don't think the point of this story is necessarily to keep your kids from kissing anyone until their wedding day. The point is to instill a value of purity and just as importantly a belief that his/her own sexuality is a precious gift and should not be given until the one God intends for you comes along. Come on, would you really read the book to your kids if instead of "the princess and the kiss" it was "the princess and her first sexual experience?" Isn't the parallel obvious and isn't it great to have a book on purity and self-worth that you can read to your youngest children?

The Princess and the Kiss: A Story of God's Gift of Purity was written by Jennie Bishop for her daughters. She explains her goal on the back cover of the book: "I asked God how I could teach my young daughters the value of their purity, how I could begin in their early years to stress the importance and beauty of saving themselves for marriage."

The story, like most fairy tales, begins with a wonderful castle in a majestic kingdom. There a princess is born to the king and queen. On the day of her birth they give her a very special gift from God -- "her first kiss." The king and queen take care of her kiss while she is growing and, when she is old enough, they give it to her and explain how special it is. "This kiss is yours to keep ... or to give away, as you see fit." Her father warns her to use wisdom and save her kiss for the man she will marry.

Eventually suitors come calling. One is prideful and full of himself. Another is rich and another romantic. The princess finds reasons to dismiss them all. None are good enough for her kiss. Finally a poor farmer approaches her. He has nothing to give her but his very first kiss, which he has saved just for her. They are married and live happily ever after.

The book concludes by quoting 1 Timothy 1:5 -- "Love ... comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." (NIV)

Preston McDaniels does a fantastic job as illustrator. The pages are filled with pastel colors, regal details and enchanting characters. Perfectly fitting for the tone of the story.

What I Like: The concept. It is important to teach children the value of purity. The author has tackled a difficult subject for a young audience. I love the illustrations! I wish they were more colorful, but they are so classic and beautiful.

What I Dislike: I found this book very odd. The intended audience is far too young for such a detailed metaphor. It's confusing. Does this mean we shouldn't kiss anyone? What if we find a good man who has already given away his "kiss"? Do only poor people know the value of their "kisses"? The story, I felt, was too simplistic in its conclusions. I have friends who love this book and read it often to their preschoolers. I love the idea of teaching the lesson early, but feel this book is more appropriate for older girls: tweens and above. I still haven't read it to our daughter(three years old).

Overall Rating: For the suggested age range: Poor. For teengagers: Good.

Age Appeal: 4-8 (according to the publisher), but I recommend 10 and above.

Tanya -- Christian Children's Book Review (CCBReview *dot* blogspot)

I am a 21 year old "princess" my Mother and Father gave me this book last Christmas. It is the best book I have ever read. I am 21 and I myself have never been kissed. I had formerly thought myself a freak of nature, or something, the opportuunity had just never been made to kiss someone, but after reading this book I am so happy that my parents helped to protect my kiss. It was a wonderful reminder int his day and age how special a kiss really is. wonderful book, I have one for my future daughter, and my soon to be born neice a great book every princess should own!

Recently while at a weekend Peer Education Training event at Harsens Island, Michigan, I was introduced by the trainer to this wonderful book, "The Princess and the Kiss," by Jennie Bishop. I was SO VERY IMPRESSED with its message, I bought it for each of my seven grandchildren, who are all under the age of 12. Our's is a sacred responsibility to help our children learn who they are, where they came from, why they are on this earth, and where they are going when they leave. This outstanding story helps them understand WHO they are, that they are precious to their parents, and that they can understand and live by principles that will preserve their lives. As a registered nurse and adolescent health coordinator in a community health center, I see first hand every day the devastation when parents do not teach their children of their divine nature, and when children make choices that break with family values that have preserved trust throughout time. Thank you Jennie Bishop for conveying this is such a wonderful way. You are my hero! I will be buying this book again and again to give as a gift to new parents.

This book is great. This is what we should be teaching our children. From the littlest of girls to my seven year old boy it's perfect. I used to teach Kindergarten in a private school and if I was still there I would definately add this book to my classroom. Young children need to know that God wants us to "wait" for the person He has for us...not to "be with" just anyone! Which unfortunately is what is taught everywhere. Get this book! It's wonderful!