Tuesday Treasure
"Emmy Lou's family loved to kiss."
When she arrives at school, Rosemary sees Papa giving Emmy Lou a great big sloppy kiss.
"EEEE-YEW!' said Rosemary.
'Your father still kisses you? That's just for babies.'
'Is it?' asked Emmy Lou.
'Kissing is yukky,' said Rosemary.
And she went off to hang up her coat.
'It is?' Emmy Lou whispered."
Everything changes in this moment for Emmy Lou. She tells her family she does not want to be kissed any more. She informs them that kissing is for babies. So that night, after Papa and Mama kiss her sister Dolly they give Emmy Lou a little pat on the shoulder. Poor Emmy Lou - she finds it so hard to get to sleep. Day after day and night after night Emmy Lou refuses to be kissed until finally one night she just cannot get to sleep.
Papa and Mama try all the things you would expect - Is Emmy Lou thirsty?; Does she need another blanket?; How about a story? Then Papa steps in and picks up Emmy Lou and he "gave her a great big sloppy kiss. Then he handed her to her mother, who gave Emmy Lou a nice soft warm kiss. Emmy Lou smiled."
Emmy Lou has a wonderful sleep but what will happen at school when Papa drops her off and what can she do about Rosemary?
Here is a photo of the last page:
I cannot think why I have not talked about this book here on this blog. It is an absolute favourite of mine hence it is a Tuesday Treasure. If I don't convince you this is a treasure here is a little trivia to think about. I spied a copy of Sloppy Kisses for sale (paperback) for US$135. The original paperback from 1980 cost US$3.95 and strangely less here in Australia only Au$3.50.
Elizabeth Winthrop has a Ted Talk on her web site. She is the author of over sixty books. Here is a Spaghetti Book Club review of Sloppy Kisses by two readers aged 6 and 7. Back in 2008 I was thrilled when Elizabeth Winthrop commented on my blog after I mentioned Sloppy Kisses should come back into print.
My friend at Kinderbookswithevery thing has a post about Kisses. Here are some of the books from her splendid library.
1 comment:
Today I bought a new book Kiss It Better by Smriti Prasadam-Halls and Sarah Massini which is a good one to add to this topic because among other things it says
Every day has its ups and downs
Sometimes you giggle, sometimes you frown.
But the thing to remember, the secret, is this . . .
Everything feels better with the help of a KISS.
...even adults!
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