Another Review at MyShelf.Com

If Animals Kissed Good Night

by Ann Whitford Paul
Illustrated by David Walker



      The bookstores abound in bedtime picture books. And there are plenty of kissing picture books. So what makes If Animals Kissed Good Night stand out? One thing is the almost illegally cute illustrations of mommy and baby animals. Each time I thought I has seen my favorite, I would turn the page and have to reevaluate - was it the sweet smiling sloths, the bright parrots, the tubby penguins, the snoozing hippos? I simply couldn't decide but they are all certain to charm the young child cozying up with this story. The other thing that really make these animal kisses stand out was the way each fit so perfectly, as if this would be exactly how each animal would kiss if they kissed like us. Clearly Paul spent a lot of time pondering exactly how an elephant, a peacock, or a walrus would kiss - with whiskery swishes, of course. It's loving and playful with just enough romp to be fun, while sending the young child off to bed with a smile. In my opinion, this book would work for even the youngest child who will enjoy the mommy-baby love oozing from every illustration.

The Book

Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Books for Young Readers)
April 1,2008
Hardcover Picture Books
0374380511 / 978-0374380519
Children / Ages 4 - 8
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Excerpt
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The Reviewer

Jan Fields
Reviewed 2008
NOTE: Reviewer Jan Fields is the editor of Kid Magazine Writers emagazine and has written dozens of stories and articles for the children's magazine market.
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