Kiss That Missed - Hardcover

David Melling

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0340911476 ISBN 13: 9780340911471

Publisher: Hodder Children's Books, 2006

Synopsis

It's bedtime, but the little prince's goodnight kiss from his dad, the king, has gone astray. It has missed the little prince's cheek, drifted out the window, and escaped into the forest. The brave and fearless knight is sent out on a mission to retrieve it. This whimsically funny picture storybook, originally published by Barron's several seasons ago in hardback, is more popular today than ever. Now it's available in a new paperback edition with every word of its original text and every one of the memorably funny color illustrations.

Praise from the critics:
"Readers will find both the text and the playful, color cartoon illustrations amusing. Melling captures great expressions in his caricatures of the bewildered prince, the terrified knight and horse, and the gleeful royal family when the kiss is returned. The tale is refreshingly original and relevant, showing a busy family full of love."
--School Library Journal

"The humorous narrative... delivers its message in a lighthearted way."
--Horn Book Guide

"The bold, bright illustrations make this a fun read any time, but the story is definitely bedtime material."
--Santa Maria Sun (Santa Maria, CA)

". . . funny picture book for little princes everywhere. . . . This 'Kiss' doesn't miss a thing."
--The Midwest Book Review

About this title

Review

This disarmingly cute bedtime story from writer-illustrator-dad David Melling (Where Are You?) follows a busy king whose misfired good-night kiss flies right past his son and out the window.

"Once upon a Tuesday the king was in a hurry as usual. 'Goodnight,' he said and blew his son a Royal Kiss." But after rattling around the young prince's room and finding its way out the window, the Royal Kiss hurtles off into a dark and snowy forest. "Follow that Kiss!" commands the king to his loyal knight, and so begins a lengthy, silly chase scene. Even the putative bad guys in this story-- "growly" bears, "swoopy" owls, "dribbly" wolves, and a gigantic dragon--get a shot at providing comic relief, as the kiss streaks and swoops its way through the woods with the not-too-brave knight in hot pursuit.

The inspired illustrations and excellent design alone make this book a fun one, but it's Melling's restrained but infectious sense of fun that will ensure many repeat reads. From the comically animated lion emblazoned on the knight's shield to the forest creatures who seem to dance as they flee the dragon, Melling is clearly having a good time as he tucks us in--and when it comes to ensuring sweet dreams, that almost beats an accurately delivered good-night kiss. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes

From the Back Cover

Here?s a funny story for kids, featuring David Melling?s atmospheric and richly colored illustrations on every page. One evening, when the King is in a hurry, his goodnight kiss to the Little Prince goes astray. After rattling around the Prince?s bedroom, it flies out the window and floats into the dark forest, where it has no business to be. The King orders his Knight to climb on his horse, ride into the forest, and bring back the kiss. But the forest is filled with spooky things that frighten both the Knight and his horse. How will they ever succeed in bringing the kiss back to the castle? David Melling has come up with a great bedtime story for kids who are about the same age as the Little Prince.

About this edition

• Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0340911476
• ISBN 13: 9780340911471
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 32