Eyes that Kiss in the Corners

Synopsis:

“A young Asian girl notices that her eyes look different from her peers’. They have big, round eyes and long lashes. She realizes that her eyes are like her mother’s, her grandmother’s, and her little sister’s. They have eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea, crinkle into crescent moons, and are filled with stories of the past and hope for the future.

Drawing from the strength of these powerful women in her life, she recognizes her own beauty and discovers a path to self-love and empowerment. This powerful, poetic picture book will resonate with readers of all ages.”

Review:

Happy Book Birthday! This book is available in your favorite bookstore today! Where do I begin with a picture book that took away my breath with words and pictures? This is a gorgeous story about being proud of who you are and where you came from. If you loved Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry or Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal, then you must read Eyes that Kiss in the Corners.

The writing in this story is so beautiful – it’s poetic and repetitive in just the right way to connect the main character to all the other strong women in her life. “She toddles after me, gazing up at me like I am her best present.” If that doesn’t describe the love of a younger sibling, I don’t know what does. The words don’t crowd the page allowing the reader to soak in each one.

And you can’t ignore the illustrations. Between the beautiful way each character is drawn to the background that is light and bright and full of color, I think I’ve found a new favorite illustrator! I love the spread of the main character listening to her Amah’s stories. The steam billows around Amah’s head and creates the backdrop of the stories. Dung also illustrates the chapter book series Mindy Kim, so check those out as well!

This is my first must-read of 2021! And check out HarperCollins’ activity guide for some great activities for kids!

Need to Know:

Title: Eyes that Kiss in the Corners
Author: Joanna Ho
Illustrator: Dung Ho
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: January 5, 2021
Page Number: 32 pgs.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.