BRIGHT RED KISSES

When a little girl helps her Mommy prepare for a night out, it results in a flurry of activity and a mountain of choices. Mommy’s beautician fetches polish and powder, then mixes up her own secret lotion potion. When it turns into a drippy mess, she quickly runs a bath, adding lots of ingredients that ultimately overflow the tub. Next, as fashion consultant, she chooses just the right fancy dress, trying on and picking the perfect heels to match. Only one choice remains—lipstick. She agonizes, finally selecting the “shiniest, prettiest, brightest red.” Its importance becomes clear, as Mommy kisses her little helper: “My kiss is my promise. / I promise, and then, / while you dream, / I’ll come home and I’ll kiss you again.” While the premise is very sweet, moms will shudder to think of giving their daughters this much autonomy, especially considering the mess it generates. Betteridge’s watercolors echo the activity level and myriad choices found in the rhyming verse. Cute, but Audrey Penn’s Kissing Hand is much neater. (Picture book. 3-6)