A puzzled teddy bear asks its child, a round-headed, button-nosed tot clad in a yellow top with stocking-cap hood, "What's a kiss like?" The ensuing conversation describes "supersoft" kisses from mama, prickly-but-tickly kisses from papa (and his five-o'clock shadow), cotton-candy kisses from full-bearded grandpa and so on. The "tasty" kisses from Christopher, who loves chocolate and never wipes his mouth, may elicit a "yuck!" or two; the kisses that "make me blush" will probably sail over the heads of this French import's toddler audience Stateside. The petite trim, warm palette and soft-edged, just-surreal-enough digital illustrations beckon, moonlike faces huge and expressive against the appropriately textured backgrounds. When they're finished, readers will enjoy creating their own catalogues of kisses. (Picture book. 2-5) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A small boy explains to his raptly attentive teddy bear that "[t]here are many kinds of kisses, and they're all different." But whether a kiss is "supersoft, like cuddly wool," prickly like a cactus (courtesy of his father's stubble), or wet (if it's delivered by Rex, the boy's dog), it's a "really wonderful" experience-especially because they tend to come in groups. The text in Mandine's U.S. debut is sweet if unmemorable; the main draw is the endearingly spheroid characters, who bring to mind the cast of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and other classic Rankin-Bass TV specials (the boy's grandfather, whose fluffy "cotton candy" beard covers an entire spread, could easily double for the stop-motion Santa). Their doll-like adorableness transforms what would otherwise be a pedestrian book into one wholly capable of sneaking its way into readers' hearts. Ages 3-7. (Dec.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

PreS-When a teddy bear asks a child what a kiss is like, the youngster describes the different kisses that he has received from various family members. Some are soft "like cuddly wool" while others prickle "like a cactus." Grandpa's kisses are just like cotton candy, Grandma's are noisy as if she is "enjoying a lollipop," and the dog's kisses are wet. When the teddy bear still doesn't understand, the child gives him a special one. The illustrations are soft and rounded, with gentle pastel backgrounds that emphasize the sweetness of this tale. Preschoolers are certain to find comfort in this story, especially if it is read to them by a loved one.-Donna Atmur, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.