View source for The Kiss That Missed by David Melling

{{infobox2
|title=The Kiss That Missed
|sort=Kiss That Missed
|author=David Melling
|reviewer=Keith Dudhnath
|genre=For Sharing
|summary=A high energy, warm-hearted and fun quest to find a blown kiss that misses its target. With plenty of visual gags and sparkling writing, it'll strike a chord with lots of young readers. Recommended.
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=978-0340999851
|pages=32
|publisher=Hodder Children's Books
|date=January 2011
|aznuk=0340999853
|aznus=0340999853
|cover=0340999853
|website=http://www.davidmelling.co.uk/
}}

The king is in an awful rush, and doesn't even have time to read the prince a bedtime story. He blows him a kiss, but it misses! So, he dispatches his knight to track it down, and an elaborate and bizarre adventure ensues.

''The Kiss That Missed'' is a lot of fun. It takes a silly premise, and runs with it, cranking up the oddness at every turn. The humour has a surreal twist, but rooted enough in reality that the youngest book fans will be able to follow it. The plot doesn't suffer for the craziness, which can often be a downfall in wacky books. The writing is punchy and exciting, with plenty of amusing touches that will have adults and children giggling along. From the very first line of ''Once upon a Tuesday'', you know you're on to something a little bit different, and the energy and excitement in maintained throughout.

David Melling's illustrations are, as always, bright, bold and cartoony. They match the jolly mood of the book perfectly. It would be easy to dismiss the style as too light-hearted, but anything more purely artistic wouldn't fit in. Every page is packed full of silly action and adventure. There are plenty of visual gags to support the text.  I particularly enjoyed seeing the lion on the knight's shield changing his expression to fit the action - a clever little touch that adds extra depth to proceedings.

''The Kiss That Missed'' bears up well with subsequent readings - there's a gentle heart, a witty plot, intriguing visual style and funny writing. The youngest book fans will be wrapped up in the adventure, whilst those on the cusp of reading for themselves will find plenty to reward their efforts. Warmly recommended.

My thanks to the publishers for sending it to Bookbag.

For more knightly fun, check out [[Sir Charlie Stinky Socks and the Really Dreadful Spell by Kristina Stephenson]], [[Nat Fantastic and the Brave Knights of Old by Giles Andreae and Katharine McEwen]], [[Sir Laughalot by Tony Mitton and Sarah Warburton]] and [[The Sunflower Sword by Mark Sperring and Miriam Latimer]].

{{amazontext|amazon=0340999853}}
{{amazonUStext|amazon=0340999853}}

{{commenthead}}