How Many Kisses Do You Want Tonight?
What’s inside...
In 'How Many Kisses Do You Want Tonight?' by Varsha Bajaj, various baby animals, from little birds to elephants, are preparing for bed and each asks their parent for a certain number of goodnight kisses corresponding to the number of babies in their family. The book concludes with a human mother giving her child a goodnight kiss, emphasizing the theme of parental love. The repetitive and rhythmic text, along with charming illustrations, make it a soothing bedtime story for young readers. The modern packaging of this board book refresh edition makes it ideal for bedtime and Valentine's Day, featuring a love theme and a counting game.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
1-5
Length
20 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What is your favorite part of bedtime?
How do kisses make you feel when you are getting ready to sleep?
Why do you think all the different animals ask for different numbers of kisses?
Can you think of other ways to show love besides kisses?
How many kisses would you want tonight?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start the conversation by sharing your own favorite bedtime ritual when you were a child.
Emphasize the feelings of comfort and love that kisses can bring at bedtime.
Relate the differing numbers of kisses the animals receive to your child’s own experiences and feelings.
Ask your child to think of other bedtime rituals they enjoy or would like to start.
End with asking your child about their ideal number of goodnight kisses, and share yours as well!
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Importance of affection
Explanation: The story shows various animal parents asking their little ones how many kisses they want before bed, demonstrating a comforting nightly routine that involves affection.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to express love and affection openly with their family members, enhancing emotional bonding and security.
Example Lesson: Counting and numbers
Explanation: As each animal child responds with a number, the book integrates basic counting skills in a fun and engaging way.
Real-World Application: Children can practice their counting skills in everyday scenarios, reinforcing their mathematical understanding in a practical context.
Example Lesson: Understanding bedtime routines
Explanation: The book centers around a bedtime theme, showing different animals going through their night-time routine, which can help children understand and accept their own bedtime rituals.
Real-World Application: Children can relate this to their own bedtime routines, aiding in smoother transitions to bedtime and reinforcing the importance of a good night's sleep.
Example Lesson: Diversity and inclusion
Explanation: Featuring a variety of animal families, the book introduces children to diversity in a subtle manner, depicting different types of families all engaging in similar loving interactions.
Real-World Application: This can help children appreciate diversity and embrace differences in people around them in their everyday interactions.
Example Lesson: Emotional expression
Explanation: The book's repetitive and gentle narrative allows children to see the importance of expressing their needs and desires, such as how many kisses they want, fostering healthy emotional development.
Real-World Application: Children learn to express their feelings and needs clearly in their family and social environments, contributing to their emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.