Rissy No Kissies
Age 4+
Children's & Young Adult Fiction & True Stories
Engaging, rhyming text from author Katey Howes and colorful watercolor illustrations from illustrator Jess Engle introduce young readers to the concept of body autonomy and consent. Readers with sensory processing issues and those who prefer more personal space will recognize Rissy's dilemma, while others will learn how to respect the preferences of friends and peers.
A love bird who doesn't like kisses?
Rissy's friends and family wonder if she's sick, confused, or rude. But kisses make Rissy uncomfortable. Can one little love bird show everyone that there's no one right way to show you care?
Rissy No Kissies carries the message that "your body and your heart are yours, and you choose how to share." A note at the end provides further information for kids, parents, and educators about body autonomy, consent, and different ways to show affection.
Creators
Katey Howes is thrilled to be writing books for children and is the author of the picture books Magnolia Mudd and the Super Jumptastic Launcher Deluxe, Grandmother Thorn, and Be a Maker. Katey lives in Upper Makefield, Pennsylvania, with her husband and three adventurous daughters.
Jess Engle works in a studio in Austin, Texas and creates beautiful work that makes people feel extraordinary. Her art can be found in a number of retailers, including Crate & Barrel and West Elm, and on Instagram @studioxjess.
Reviews
Rissy is a lovebird hatchling, with one unusual quirk: she doesn’t like kisses! One by one, her family and friends learn this the hard way, as they attempt to show affection, tuck her into the nest, or soothe her boo-boos. Each time, Rissy responds with the same ’emphatic squeak’: ‘No kissies!’ The other birds wonder if Rissy is sick or confused or just mean and rude, but when she despairs that she’ll never belong, her mother assures her that she is still a true lovebird and that how she chooses to receive or show affection is entirely her choice. It’s a purposeful story, but Howes’ sing-song, rhyming text, coupled with Engle’s charming characters and gentle watercolors, makes it an easy means of conveying big concepts—body autonomy, boundaries, consent—to the littlest readers. Back matter includes a ‘note to kids,’ sharing small lessons on establishing boundaries and respecting others’, as well as a ‘note to caregivers,’ which defines key terms and explains the importance of beginning this kind of education early. A cute conversation-starter.
Booklist
