‘A kiss isn’t just a kiss, especially when giving it to those you miss,’ is the opening line in GOODBYE KISSES, a cute, candy-colored picture book designed to help adults and young children at moments during the day when they are about to part from each other. This could be when the child is heading off to school or even saying goodbye to friends at the end of the school day. Author Georgia Trussart’s aim is to show feelings of being alone, or even temporarily abandoned, can be overcome by the child remembering how loved they are. As the couplet running alongside an image of a young girl stretching and smiling on a park bench has it, ‘Put out your arms and feel the warmth from your home, and always remember you’re never alone.’
The book is illustrated with full page drawings showing a young blonde haired girl in various situations including playing with friends, riding the school bus and visiting her grandparents. Flying above her on almost every image is a kind of guardian angel in the form of a heart with wings. The heart is smiling and encouraging, helping the child by keeping a gentle eye on her, allowing her to find her own strengths. The character design is good, as is the use of quite muted colors with a predominance of pink. As demonstrated by the lines quoted above, the book is written in rhyme. Trussart uses the rhythm of the words cleverly and the simple text can be read with a sing-song flow. They are irrepressibly positive and cheerful, designed to show that there is nothing for the child to be worried about. The author worked in television for more than a decade but has now shifted into education with a focus on children with special needs. She writes that GOODBYE KISSES is intended to offer some coping tactics for anxious children. It’s likely that most children, whether anxious or not, will get enjoyment from the colorful, adorable illustrations in this well designed book.
GOODBYE KISSES by Georgia Trussart is an enjoyable children’s picture book with simple rhymes, cute illustrations and a strong, positive message that parents and caregivers will enjoy sharing with their kids.
~Kent Lane for IndieReader
