In answer to your question, yes this is a kissing book.  There is kissing.  A. Lot. Of. Kissing.

From the moment that I laid eyes on the cover of Sandhya Menon's When Dimple Met Rishi, it was love at first sight. This image brilliantly captures the personality of Dimple and sets up the scene in which she and Rishi meet for the first time. It's an invitation to turn the page that is impossible to ignore.
As a side note, this cover would make a terrific #bookface prop. Anyone up for a stunning #bookfacefriday ?

Dimple is the quintessential techie nerd. Behind her ever-present spectacles is the face of one determined young lady. With high school behind her and plans of Stanford this fall, Dimple will summer at Insomnia Con, an app creation competition for teams of bright young minds from across the country.
Rishi's parents have encouraged him to attend Insomnia Con where he will meet the woman arranged to become his wife. He is ready to go and meet his destiny.
It is soon evident that these two lives, while appearing to be on alternate trajectories, may have more going for them than either had imagined.
The course of true love never did run smooth. Certainly not for this couple. They work through the expectations of their parents, their individual life goals, and possibility of a future together.
​This romance is enhanced with Indian-American cultural​ richness. I loved the families, especially the aunties and the seamless inclusion of Hindi phrases, I adored Dimple with her mass of unruly dark curls and glasses that refused to stay on the bridge of her nose.

​Each year during the San Diego Comic-Con, winners of the prestigious Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards are announced. Recognition is awarded to outstanding comics and comic-related materials published during the previous year. Among the many categories, this year's nominees include a stellar group of comics published for early readers.
​Take a look at one of the nominees for this year's award.

Ape and Armadillo Take Over the World by James Sturm introduces readers to the playground antics of two friends: Ape and Armadillo. As Agents of Evil, they devise a scheme to combat the evil forces of the world. However, there is a problem. Armadillo has developed his own special plan. Ape will combat the evil-doers. Armadillo will sweep in afterward, assuming the role of the conquering hero.
This is not working so well for Ape and he objects. It's unfair!
There follows a discussion on the meaning of "unfair" and what is a "good idea" entails. Eventually the friends compromise, negotiating a plan that both agree will work. Engaging characters, sparkling dialog that zings when read aloud, great action scenes which include a space cannon, plenty of gentle humor, and ice cream, make this a sure-fire hit for young readers.
Bonus: There are also dogs. Lots of dogs.
World domination like you've never experienced it.

I have planned a few workshops and storytimes to take place this summer. One workshop will be with a group of teens and a separate storytime will be for children whose ages span a wide range. I plan to use this book along with the comic panel templates and prompts. While the book is specifically geared to younger readers, the concepts translate well with middle grade and teens interested in creating their own comics.

​Thanks James Sturm and Toon Books for this fantastic leveled comic for early readers.

Burt's Way Home
​by James Martz

The Creeps: The Trolls Will Feast
​by ​Chris Schweizer

I'm Grumpy
​by Jennifer L. Holm &
​Matthew Holm

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea
​by Ben Clanton

Welcome to the summer of 1976. Wealthy East Coast family dynasties escape the sweltering streets of New York City by retreating to Fire Island. Navigating the carefully orchestrated summer rituals belonging to this elite social class, days are filled with bike rides and beachfront sunbathing, tennis games and secret rendezvous. Evenings belong to long-standing traditions such as Punch Night and the Lobster Party.

Jean Custis discovers that this year's summer offers the promise of much more. Hiding behind the shadow of her older sister Daphne, Jean sees her chance to shine when she realizes that this year Daphne will be in Europe."A whole summer of no Daphne felt too good to be true." She meets Gil Burke, nephew of her godfather Carpie Burke. Gil has become his uncle's protégé, working in the city for his prestigious law firm. This summer he is a guest at the Burke's island summer cottage. Handsome, and oozing with southern charm, Gil becomes the object of Jean's desire.

The rivalry between Jean and Fritz escalates during the sultry days of June and July. What starts are a competition for domination on the tennis courts quickly moves off court and becomes an all- consuming contest to claim the attention and affections of Gil. Knowing that his future rests on maintaining his status with his uncle, Gil straddles his loyalties between the two girls. "I don’t want you and me to get more complicated than we are already."

Are you ready for a mystery filled with delicious puns? If so, make room on your shelf for 7 Ate 9: The Untold Story.
Private I of the Al F. Bet Detective Agency is stunned when new client 6,  barges into his office, begging for help.  He announces "word on the street" is that 7 ate 9. Now he fears that 7 is coming to get him. Private I is on the case. He tracks down 7, 8, 11, and even B the waitress; searching for clues as the whereabouts of 7 and 9. ​​At the book's conclusion, the mystery is solved and all ends well. Observant readers will anticipate what is coming and quickly figure out what happened to the missing digit.
​"I have solved this numerical nonsense."

​It is nearly impossible to keep track of all the clever puns packed into every page. Tara Lazar hits a mother lode of them here. "I knew about this 7 fella. He was odd." "But if 7 was gone, then where was 9? It didn't add up." MacDonald's visual puns will keep readers glued to the pages, looking for more clues. (Check out waitress B in Cafe Uno, who has the scoop. Be sure to take note of today's special.)
Kudos to the designer who selected the color-coded numerals sprinkled throughout the text. 

This story begs for multiple readings and is perfect for a read aloud. The tale could serve as a script for a delightful Readers Theater. Help youngsters make a few simple props to add to the frivolity. It works well for math class (make a list of all the references to numbers, create a cast of number suspects with a description of each number), a lesson on puns, and of course creating mysteries with a twist. Thanks Tara and Ross for this most entertaining picture book. Word and number play has never been so much fun!

Cue the music. "You are about to enter Rod Serling's Twilight Zone
​

Meet Addison Merritt, resident of the Spill. Three years ago her town became a no man's land for reasons that are not clear: Maybe a nano outbreak at the local nuclear power plant? Possibly some leakage from another world? Who knows? Addie lives with the remnants of that horrific night. Her parents are gone and her little sister Lexa is now mute.
Gruesome meat puppets, rats, mealy worms, and some type of otherworldly monster now inhabit the town. Addison makes her living by slipping past guards to take striking photos of the Spill. Later she discovers that someone is willing to pay her an obscene amount of money to return to the hospital, located in the Spill sector where her parents died. She need only return to the Spill one last time. However her "one time only" unleashes the wrath of a mutant monster of terrifying proportions.

Westerfeld's narrative includes connections to current events, giving the tale an additional chilling brush with the reader's present reality. Consider: the threat of nuclear destruction "don't mess with the zone’s little projects,' construction of a wall "sooner or later they'll put up a real wall." and ties to North Korea "they know things we don't."