Karen Katz's Counting Kisses is a wonderful bedtime story for your little one to grow up with. The younger children will delight in the bright cartoon pictures filled with fun recognizable patters like polka dots, flowers, diamonds, and plaid, while older children can continue to enjoy learning to count down from ten, and naming some body parts. Plentiful adjectives and some rhyming provides a steady cadence for the book, making reading and listening fun! The medium-sized book and board pages is perfect for holding and reading together before bed, when mommy gives baby "one last kiss on your sleepy, dreamy head."
This book is a great bonding experience, as 's so easy to imitate and give you little one the same kisses being described, "Nine laughing kisses on busy, wriggly feet" or "five quite kisses on an itty bitty nose." Expect some giggles - from both of you. You can have fun pointing to the numbers with your child and having them name it, or naming all the different family members who give Baby kisses throughout the story; Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Sister - even the puppy and kitty join in! Expect your child to bring this book to you when they want to snuggle and feel special.
My friend reads this book to her daughter, Hanna, a few times a week. Hanna recognizes it now and gets into bed with less fuss, as she's excited to pucker up and give her mom big kisses. Her favorite is when her daddy gives her the "Seven loud kisses on a pretty belly button" because he blows on her belly to make noise, causing her to erupt in giggles every time.
--Audra