Darlene Ryan’s “Kisses, kisses, kisses” is an enchanting poetic picture book of bonding with baby through touch and play. Baby learns trust and love seeing himself reflected in the eyes of those who love him.

“Daddy kisses baby’s hair,
Cuddles in the big red chair,
Sunlight sparkling everywhere.”

Aimed at infants to two-year-olds, the text alone with its lyrical unforced rhymes produce vivid images that delight the senses. .

“Grandpa kisses baby’s toes,
Kisses them and gently blows,
Makes them curl up like a rose.”

Add Sackville artist Peter Manchester’s stunning rich oil paintings of cuddling, giggling, and sleeping babies and you have sensory overload. The babies that adorn the pages of this beautiful sensuous book are multi-ethic which was important to this Fredericton author, her adopted daughter being of Chinese heritage.

“Baby’s kisses fill the air
Tiny hands wave here and there.
Kisses blowing everywhere.”

An index of other books that feature “babies of diverse cultures” and a note to parents on the importance of reading to babies, not only for entertainment value but for the bonding experience, is included at the back of the book.

Gentle as butterfly kisses. ***** (of 5)

“Kisses, kisses, kisses” is available at The Early Childhood Centre, UNB Fredericton and selected bookstores. For more information www.unbf.ca/education/ecc/