Panda Kisses (Step into Reading)

There's nothing I enjoy more than sitting down to read to my children, but it's just as enjoyable to have those children sit down and read to me. If you have an emerging reader, Panda Kisses is a sweet bedtime book.Panda Kisses is part the Random House Step into Reading series. It is a Step 1 (red) book. This step is considered “Ready to Read” and targeted to pre-K to Kindergarten readers.Panda Kisses is a very sweet story about Baby Panda and his quest for the perfect type of kiss. Baby Panda's parents offer him a variety of different types of kisses, “A soft kiss? A sweet kiss? A sticky bamboo treat kiss”, and in the end he realizes that the best kiss of all is “from both of you!” The text in this book is large and easy to read. With 3-7 words per page in this 31 page book, it doesn't take much time to finish. The rhyming allowed my child to quickly master this story and feel confident to move on to another book.The main reason I selected this book was for Kay Widdowson's illustrations. There's an awful lot of kissing in this book, so pucker up! The cover features the panda family: Father Bear kissing Mother Bear's head, Mother Bear kissing Baby Bear's head, and Baby Bear looking very happy. Hearts surround the family and two bluebirds watch from the branch of a cherry tree. I know--it sounds so sweet. And it is. My daughter didn't comment on all of the kissing until we got to “How about a bunny kiss?” There are two white bunnies in the foreground of the illustration (a mommy and a baby) with their bunny lips puckered and a heart rising above their kiss. Apparently, that was so funny that it left my daughter rolling on the floor in fits of laughter. Pandas kissing--no problem. Bunnies kissing--super funny! Birds, fish, frogs, bees, mice, worms, flowers--everyone kisses even if they don't have lips!Panda Kisses is a “learn to read” book in our house, not a classic we'll keep for the next generation, but it has served it's purpose well. My daughter learned to read it and I'm happy I bought it for her. Even though the story has been mastered, it is a book she is willing to read again.

It was an okay book. My son had no problem reading it but the story line was kind of weird. It is an easy read for a preschooler.

Good

It’s short sweet and to the point! Great for a quick bedtime story or for the beginner reader.

Beautiful simple illustrations and easy to follow words for a pre-schooler. My grandson is very fond of Pandas so this is great for him and he's learning without really trying...I will look into more of this book series as his skills increase.

Absolutely an adorable book. My 2 year loves it. It is a book that is fun to reread. Cute panda illustrations!

I liked this book for my granddaughter who is just stepping into reading.

My daughter is super into pandas and she can't get enough of this book.

A great book to end the bedtime story time! With lots of good night kisses to each other! Another sweet book that my D.D enjoys!

My son loves pandas and there aren't tons of books about them for toddlers so this one is great so cute!

Adorable book about Pandas and their kisses! Great colorful pictures and cute story! My daughter will love it! This book was packaged great and shipped quickly!