The Kiss That Missed

David Melling (author/illustration)

Hodder Children's Books, UK: 2003

ISBN: 0340797185

Genres: fantasy, picture book

‘Once upon a Tuesday, the king was in a hurry as usual. "Good night," he said, and blew his son a royal kiss. It missed.'

A somewhat nervous and clumsy knight is sent in pursuit of the kiss, even into the dark wood, where all sorts of unpleasant creatures, smells and sounds inhabit the dark and stormy interior.

A true picture book, the illustrations carry the story well beyond the simple text, adding humour and whimsy. The slightly cartoonish pictures will appeal to children, as they make for a wonderfully comical subtext that provides plenty of food for discussion and imaginative ‘retelling by pictures' by non-readers. Thoroughly delightful bedtime reading.