Kiss Kiss!

by Margaret Wild, Bridget Strevens Marzo (Illustrator)

Baby Hippo is in such a rush to play one morning he forgets to kiss his mama, but strangely all the jungle noises seem to remind him, in a heartwarming, affectionate story perfect for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or any day that a child wants a kiss from Mama.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Storytime, Childrens, Family, Love, Fiction

21 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 2003

About the author

Margaret Wild is one of Australia's most highly respected picture-book creators whose award-winning children's books are loved by children all over the world. Margaret has published over seventy picture books for young children and she has been the recipient of the Nan Chauncy Award and the Lady Cutler Award for her contributions to Australian children's literature.

Reviews

[Jourdan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this story to be absolutely adorable. It's about a baby hippo who started his morning off really fast. He ran out of the water eager to play. He was so preoccupied with starting the day that he left without giving his mama a kiss! He was wandering around the land and saw every little animal giving their mama a kiss! It wasn't until then when he realized what he had forgotten! He raced back to his mama to start the day off again, but the right way this time! I would for sure add this to my bedtime list for my kids.

There were a few things I found interesting about this story. One thing that really stood out to me was the story inside the story. I didn't catch it the first time I read it, but as I reread it I really enjoyed it. From the moment when the baby hippo stepped out the water, he started following a dragonfly. He followed this dragonfly through the squelchy, squelchy mud all the way through the leafy, leafy trees. At this moment, the dragonfly he was following found his mama to give her a kiss. He had been hearing "kiss, kiss!" all the way there, but it didn't hit him until then. At that moment he made his way back. Little things like these that take a while to realize, are really interesting to me. There are probably other hidden things in this story and I can't wait to figure them out.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, quick hippo book for storyhour. Read this when the kids' attention spans are waning.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are animals everywhere who give there babies a kiss
Baby Hippo is in such a rush to play one morning he forgets to kiss his mama, but strangely all the jungle noises seem to remind him.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little too precious for me.

[Annabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the animals in this book

[Veronica Molina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiernucho, con jueguitos de palabras y atractivo para los pequeñitos.
Además, perfecto para leer entre madre e hijo.

[Netaniel Dempster · Rating 4 out of 5]

First he left with no kisses and then he followed that dragonfly. Then he looked at the other animals and they got kisses. He kept following that dragonfly. First, the Hippo woke up and then he followed the dragonfly. First he walked passed the elephants, second he followed the dragonfly, third he saw the lion, number 4 he was passing the rhinos and then he walked past the zebras, zeb-ras, and next he was following the dragonfly. Then he saw a monkey in a tree then the dragonfly got to his family and the Baby Hippo ran off to kiss his mama!

[Jessica Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this book and would highly recommend it. It is a story of a baby hippo and even though he forgets to kiss his momma goodbye, once he sees all of his friends doing it, he races back to give her a kiss but he can't find her at first. Seeing his mother coming out of the water then, he asks her, "kiss, kiss?" and he gives her a kiss.

[Lara Bate · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book I read was called "The Very Best of Friends" by Margaret Wild and Julie Vivas. This book is currently not listed on Goodreads however won a gold award for "picture book of the year" but the Children's Book Council of Australia. It's about a farmer who passed away and the wife lived on. The wife was never fond of the cat but then ends up looking after her well.

[The Book Squirrel · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this adorable book, a baby hippo sees all the animals kissing their babies and remembers that he forgot to kiss his mum before he left, so hurries back to do so.
Well-loved by all the toddlers I've read it to.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Baby Hippo forgets to give his mama a kiss goodbye when he goes off to play in the morning. As he goes about his day he finally realizes he forgot something important. This isn't a great book, but it's not horrible. There are better books to use for story time so I won't be using this one.

[The Reading Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trop mimi. Acheté alors qu'enceinte lors de la Foire du livre de 2005, je crois que je ne l'ai jamais lu à aucun de mes deux bébés. Je l'ai lu hier à ma fille de 12 ans 1/2. Les effets du confinement commencent à se ressentir 😂

[Mely · Rating 2 out of 5]

didn't really dig it

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would be a great toddler storytime read-aloud

[Milton Louie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little hippo misses his kiss. B

[Alicia Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

For: hippo fans; readers wanting a sweet picture book about the love between mother and child.

Possible red flags: running off.

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute little book. Great short story to read to the kids before bed.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a mom who love to hug and kiss her children. I love this book that illustrates so gently that all moms love to hug and kiss their children.

[Sie Kensou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tierna aventura, pero tanto el dibujo como la historia están por debajo de lo que se exige actualmente de las aventuras para niños.

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute book

[Elinna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estuvo bien cuteee 💖

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt like it was missing something. I think someone should come up with a tune for this book, and sing it instead

[Guilherme Semionato · Rating 3 out of 5]

Open Library.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good use of repetition, "Beso, beso!" and various animals, as baby hippo makes his way through the jungle and finally finds mama.

Themes: hippos, books in Spanish
Ages: toddler-K
Pub year: 2003

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute little book for toddlers- it's just the right length so they don't get bored while it's being read to them and the illustrations are cute as can be.
The story is about a little baby hippo is leaves to go play one day and the reader follows him past this, through that, up the hill, down the path, etc. and then he finally remembers........he forgot to give him Mom a kiss!
Baby hippo needs to give his Mom a kiss so he promptly heads back- up the path, down the hill, past that, and through this again....until he finds his Mom just waiting for him.
Very, very cute- my daughter got a kick out of it.

[Kelly Thevenot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kiss Kiss is a book that scaffold's to make learning within read for children. This book could be used in preschool. I actually read this books to my preschoolers at work and they love to repeat the words, "Kiss,Kiss," at the end of every page. We also make the smooching sounds of kissing and they love it. It is a fun book for children and is also has the benefits of problem solving. The hippos forgot to give his mom a kiss, so he has to make his way all the way back home to give her smooches. :)

[Robert Beveridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margaret Wild, Kiss Kiss! (Simon and Schuster, 2003)

A baby hippois eager to get an early start on playing and forgets to give his mother a kiss goodbye in the morning. He traverses various types of terrain (We're Going on a Ghost Hunt-style), witnessing a number of other types of animals kids usually love kissing their babies, then realizes what he forgot and heads right back for home. Fun illustrations (going back through the tall, tall grass is my favorite), strong rhythm, and lots of love by all the animals are making this one a current favorite at Goat Central. *** ½

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baby hippo was in such a hurry to go out and play that he forgot to do something this morning. On his way out he passes by a lot of other animals with their mamas all saying goodbye for the day. Suddenly baby hippo realizes what he forgot. He turns around and goes all the way back home to give his mama a kiss.

The illustrations are painted brilliantly. The animals look realistic in their own anthropomorphic way. The alliteration and rhythm is fun to read as well.

[Hope Mullinax · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the baby hippo wakes up and goes out to play, he forgot something really important..to give his mom a goodbye smooch before he left. As he is walking, he hears the loving "kiss, kiss" of other animals saying goodbye to one another, this prompts him to hurry back home and kiss him mom. When he makes it back home, his mom is nowhere to be found..but after calling out she appears ready to help in whatever way. Repeated text allows for easy predictions from readers.