Mama's Kisses

by Kate McMullan, Tao Nyeu (Illustrator)

Overview

From bestselling author Kate McMullan, a sweet rhyming bedtime story celebrating mothers’ love

It's bedtime in the jungle, but baby panda, elephant, orangutan, and leopard are nowhere to be found. Their mamas set out to look for their wayward little ones, calling them to bed with a soft lullaby. But look! The baby animals are crawling, creeping, hiding, and giggling, playfully staying just one step ahead of their loving mamas.

Kate McMullan's lilting rhymes pair perfectly with Tao Nyeu's rich illustrations, creating a dreamy picture book that is a perfect new baby or mother’s day gift.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780735229167
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	03/28/2017
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	58 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Kate McMullan taught elementary school in inner-city Los Angeles and on an American Air Force base in Germany. After earning a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education, she decided to try her hand at writing. She also writes under the names K.H. McMullan and Katy Hall and has more than fifty children's books to her credit, including her bestselling picture book collaborations with her husband Jim. She lives in New York, New York. 

Tao Nyeu is the creator of Wonder Bear, which won the Founder's Award from the Society of Illustrators and a Marion Vannett Ridgway Award Honor; and Bunny Days, which won the Ezra Jack Keats Award and a Golden Kite Award Honor. Tao was born in Ohio and grew up in New York. She earned a BFA from Cornell University and an MFA from the School of Visual Arts. She now lives in Southern California with her children.

Editorial Reviews

★ 12/19/2016
Four animal mothers know that it’s bedtime, but the kids—a little panda, monkey, elephant, and leopard—are anything but tired. They’re playing a rousing game of pirates in the branches of a tree, and when the mothers “stomp, stomp, stomp” over to collect them, they run and hide, disguising themselves as birds and flowers. While the kids may win in the short term (“Babies, we’re calling!/ We hope you are near!/ Playtime is over./ Sleep time is here”), the end is never in doubt, and none of the little ones looks too disappointed, given all the snuggles and sweet species-specific lullabies that McMullan (I’m Cool!) unspools: “Rock-a-bye bear cub,/ Come closer now, scootch/ So Mama can land/ a Panda bear smooch.” Nyeu (Squid and Octopus: Friends for Always) puts together a dreamy tapestry of blue curving lines and lush botanical motifs, with accents of yellow and orange that underscore the playful game of hide-and-seek woven throughout. McMullan’s rhymes are spot on in every way, and despite spiky moments of mischief, the overall impression is comforting and lulling. Ages 3–5. Agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

* "With its short text and stand-out art, this will make agreat read at storytimes, but parents and children will enjoy it’s humor and warmth at home as well." —Booklist, starred review

* "McMullan’s rhymes are spot on in every way, and despite spiky moments of mischief, the overall impression is comforting and lulling." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"The gentle rhyming verses are interspersed with onomatopoeic words and moments of tension.... A sweet bedtime tale." — Kirkus 

"McMullan’s charming singsong verse pairs perfectly with Nyeu’s whimsical illustrations in soft orange and blue tones, laid out on lush spreads... A perfect option for a bedtime cuddle or pajama storytime, this sweet and funny tale is sure to delight its audience and may well become a nightly staple." — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

06/01/2017
PreS—As the sun sets over the jungle, four mischievous baby animals—an orangutan, a panda, an elephant, and a leopard—are playing in their tree house. When they hear their mamas say that it's time to find their babies, "sing lullabies," and "put them to bed," the little ones sneak away and hide while the mothers look for them. Once the moms retrieve their babies, they snuggle their darlings, sing them a lullaby, and give them a kiss. The verso page offers a little blurb explaining how to "give YOUR baby animal kisses: Leopard kiss=rub cheeks/Panda kiss=tummy smooch," etc. McMullan's charming singsong verse pairs perfectly with Nyeu's whimsical illustrations in soft orange and blue tones, laid out on lush spreads. VERDICT A perfect option for a bedtime cuddle or pajama storytime, this sweet and funny tale is sure to delight its audience and may well become a nightly staple.—Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY

School Library Journal

2017-03-20
In a rain forest, four animal mamas search for their rambunctious, not-at-all-tired babies so they can put them to bed.The mothers—leopard, elephant, orangutan, and panda—all obviously friends, sit in and under a tree knitting or sewing as they notice that the sun is going down. Meanwhile, in the background, readers can spy the four tots climbing a tree, their fun clearly not yet done. Indeed, their imaginations are still running wild with pirate adventures. But when they realize their mothers are looking for them, the game is on—hide-and-seek, that is. The children try all sorts of camouflage and costumes as they attempt to blend in to the forest backdrop. Meanwhile, their mothers call to them in patterned verse that includes a description and a promise for tomorrow's fun: "Come now, my leopard, / All spotted and peppered, / Tomorrow you'll pounce, / You'll roar and you'll race." The gentle rhyming verses are interspersed with onomatopoeic words and moments of tension ("Gotcha!"), though the whole ends on a quiet note that makes this a good choice for children's own bedtimes. The yellow, orange, and blue palette in the ink, colored pencil, and Photoshop illustrations is striking, especially considering the jungle setting. Although readers shouldn't expect these animals to be found in the same locale in the wild—or to be friends—it's a genial outing.A sweet bedtime tale. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews