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Kiss That Missed #1
The Kiss That Missed
A heartwarming and cute bedtime story about a busy king whose goodnight kiss to his son flies right out the window. When the king is in a hurry, his goodnight kiss to the little prince goes astray. It flies out the window and floats into the dark forest! The king must do something! The perfect book for anyone looking He orders the knight to climb on his horse, ride into the forest, and bring back the kiss. But the forest is filled with spooky things that frighten both the knight and his horse. How will they ever succeed in bringing the kiss back to the castle? This funny story features atmospheric and richly colored illustrations on every page. It makes a great bedtime story for kids who are about the same age as the little prince.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
13 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
About the author
David Melling
260 books48 followersDavid Melling grew up in London with various siblings and a selection of animals, including a dog. It took him a while to decide what he wanted to do, but he never stopped drawing. He worked as a cel renderer and background artist in several animation studios before he began illustrating children’s books. His work includes the Hugless Douglas series and The Kiss That Missed, which was short-listed for the Kate Greenaway Medal. To date he has created around 150 books in over thirty languages. David Melling lives in Oxfordshire, England, with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
December 10, 2014
My son, Fin, gets two stories at nap time, and two more at bedtime, and frequently a few more scattered throughout the day. At last count he owned well over a hundred books of his own, plus an extra five from the library at any one time. He's 2 and 1/2 years old. This is how you raise a book addict.
If I stopped to review all of them, I wouldn't have time to read any other books. Or go to work. Or wash. So I tend to review just my favourites, or his. This is one of his favourites.
It's got a king, a knight and a dragon in it - which ticks a lot of boxes for Fin. The story is very sweet - the King blows his son a bedtime kiss, but it missed! The kiss floats away out the window and the King sends his knight to fetch it back. The knight has an adventure in the dark forest and ends up coming home with a dragon. Then the King reads them all a bedtime story.
Personally, I like it, but I don't love it.
The art is probably the best bit - the framing on the imagery is perfectly done, and the text is embedded into the imagery (which I always approve of). But even there it falls foul of one of my pet-peeves - poor contrast choice, eg black text (rather than white) on a dark green background - makes it hard to read in the low-light environment of a bed-time story.
Some of the word choices are great - alliterative and/or onomatopoeic - words the really want to be read aloud - but again, there are a few places where opportunities are missed and I find myself ad-libbing more apt phrases.
Hmmm... looking at the last couple of paragraphs I may have become quite a harsh critic for kids books...
I credit this book with introducing wolves to my son as an imaginary nemesis. More than once Fin has walked into a room and gone "Oh no, wolves with dribbly mouths!" and fled, giggling to hide under a table. Getting a little one to read a lot does great things for their vocabulary and imaginative play, but there are moments where he seems quite, quite mad...
After this I read: Last Chance To See
If I stopped to review all of them, I wouldn't have time to read any other books. Or go to work. Or wash. So I tend to review just my favourites, or his. This is one of his favourites.
It's got a king, a knight and a dragon in it - which ticks a lot of boxes for Fin. The story is very sweet - the King blows his son a bedtime kiss, but it missed! The kiss floats away out the window and the King sends his knight to fetch it back. The knight has an adventure in the dark forest and ends up coming home with a dragon. Then the King reads them all a bedtime story.
Personally, I like it, but I don't love it.
The art is probably the best bit - the framing on the imagery is perfectly done, and the text is embedded into the imagery (which I always approve of). But even there it falls foul of one of my pet-peeves - poor contrast choice, eg black text (rather than white) on a dark green background - makes it hard to read in the low-light environment of a bed-time story.
Some of the word choices are great - alliterative and/or onomatopoeic - words the really want to be read aloud - but again, there are a few places where opportunities are missed and I find myself ad-libbing more apt phrases.
Hmmm... looking at the last couple of paragraphs I may have become quite a harsh critic for kids books...
I credit this book with introducing wolves to my son as an imaginary nemesis. More than once Fin has walked into a room and gone "Oh no, wolves with dribbly mouths!" and fled, giggling to hide under a table. Getting a little one to read a lot does great things for their vocabulary and imaginative play, but there are moments where he seems quite, quite mad...
After this I read: Last Chance To See
April 28, 2021
A hastily tossed goodnight kiss travels around the kingdom causing general wackiness as a brave knight attempts to return it to the young prince. Though I love Melling's artwork, this one was just an okay read for me. There is a dragon, however, so the kiddos may enjoy it more than I did.
January 10, 2024
It is a very sweet and funny story with beautiful pictures. Perfect for reading at bedtime.
March 18, 2021
Just as the kiss in the title misses it's mark (a young prince on his way to dream land), this picture book also misses it's mark in never living up to it's potential. The premise is that a very busy king rushes by the prince's bed room at bedtime and blows a kiss that misses the prince. The kiss flies out a window and the king summons his "best" knight to track down the kiss. The illustrations are delightful and full of whimsy and the knight does head out on a grand adventure. However this is where things fall apart. The book feels rushed and good bits seemed left out. I wish it had been better because the idea and the artwork seemed so promising.
January 19, 2011
Absolutely one of my favourite kids stories. Melling's illustrations are amazingly good, and this is a great story as well.
It's great for typical boys (knight, dragon) and typical girls (princess, kiss). It has a great moral that isn't in-your-face (in fact, the kids probably don't overtly get it, which is fine, since it's aimed at the parents too).
Can't recommend this highly enough.
It's great for typical boys (knight, dragon) and typical girls (princess, kiss). It has a great moral that isn't in-your-face (in fact, the kids probably don't overtly get it, which is fine, since it's aimed at the parents too).
Can't recommend this highly enough.
September 17, 2019
A complete twist on a traditional tale, leaves you wanting to turn the page to find out answers to your questions. A great book that could be used for activities and discussions with KS1 children.
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May 4, 2020This is an adorable story with a big plot twist! This would be a great read aloud for a younger group. It has great illustrations!
February 21, 2012
This cover of this book leads the reader to believe there might be a fair maiden who is delivering the kiss... Once the story begins we learn that the wayward kiss is delivered by the busy king who is not attentive to his son and misses his son's cheek.. Thereby bouncing around the room and out the window... Thus creating a chase scene by a faithful royal knight. The misadventures of the knight are comical and the illustrations delightful.
I first chose to read this story to a classroom of students around valentine's day when most stories are predictably mushy between the opposite sex. This story surprised my students and they were all delighted and often giggled uncontrollably throughout the remainder of the story. It's element of surprise delighted the students and made them chatter to one another in delight. They then talked to one another about goodnight kisses they receive from family members also.
A great spring board for setting up a creative writing assignment for school age children.
I first chose to read this story to a classroom of students around valentine's day when most stories are predictably mushy between the opposite sex. This story surprised my students and they were all delighted and often giggled uncontrollably throughout the remainder of the story. It's element of surprise delighted the students and made them chatter to one another in delight. They then talked to one another about goodnight kisses they receive from family members also.
A great spring board for setting up a creative writing assignment for school age children.
September 16, 2011
A glossy, eye catching cover always gets my attention and this one promises great action and adventure. The high standard of detail continues through the entire book and some illustrations have a comic book effect.
It is a narrative of a very busy king who blows a kiss at this son, but it misses and flys out the bedroom window. Upon realising the kiss has missed the king employs one of his loyal knights to retrieve it. As this clumsy knight hunts down the flying kiss he is taken through wild woods and disturbs a gigantic dragon. With a bit of luck he manages to net the kiss and returns it to the royal family.
The king promises to stop always being in a hurry which seems to the moral to this story. However, I think some children would need a bit of guidance to discover this moral for themselves.
It is a narrative of a very busy king who blows a kiss at this son, but it misses and flys out the bedroom window. Upon realising the kiss has missed the king employs one of his loyal knights to retrieve it. As this clumsy knight hunts down the flying kiss he is taken through wild woods and disturbs a gigantic dragon. With a bit of luck he manages to net the kiss and returns it to the royal family.
The king promises to stop always being in a hurry which seems to the moral to this story. However, I think some children would need a bit of guidance to discover this moral for themselves.
April 24, 2010
A harried king blows his son a Royal Kiss, but in the king's haste, the kiss misses the prince, rattles around the room, and flies out the window into the night. A blundering knight sets out into the wild wood to retrieve the kiss and return it to it's rightful owner. "Wild creatures with wild eyes, too much hair, and very bad manners lived there." Will the knight return with the kiss or will he be eaten by the dangerous creatures of the wild wood night?
I thought this book was ultra fun and charming. The text and illustrations are in humorous harmony with one another and I would absolutely recommend this book as a sweet bedtime story or even a storytime pick.
I thought this book was ultra fun and charming. The text and illustrations are in humorous harmony with one another and I would absolutely recommend this book as a sweet bedtime story or even a storytime pick.
November 20, 2020
Some details before explaining why I've read it.
I like the fact that the king is not the common one. He dresses and acts differently, which makes children think about possible ways of expression and not the usual one.
After that, I had to translate this book for class and I surely enjoyed it. I think it's a sweet story with an unexpected ending, since a kid would never think about it. If I had children on my own, I would defintely read this book before they went to bed.
It is so cuuute.
I like the fact that the king is not the common one. He dresses and acts differently, which makes children think about possible ways of expression and not the usual one.
After that, I had to translate this book for class and I surely enjoyed it. I think it's a sweet story with an unexpected ending, since a kid would never think about it. If I had children on my own, I would defintely read this book before they went to bed.
It is so cuuute.
January 27, 2014
I thought the beginning of this book was super funny. Then slowly as the book went on I lost interest and by the end I noticed that I wasn’t even listening anymore. I didn’t see a lesson to be learned or a theme. I don’t plan on reading this book to my students in the future.
May 17, 2015
I really enjoyed this story about the power of a kiss. The illustrations were adorable and fit the story well.
October 29, 2020
"The Kiss that Missed" by David Melling is a great entertaining read! In it, the king of the land is always in a hurry and when he blows a goodnight kiss to his son, the kiss misses! The prince can't go to bed without his goodnight kiss, so the King sends out his trusted and bumbling knight to retrieve the wayward kiss. On his journey, the knight encounters wolves, owls, and a dragon!
The characters of this story are fairly one-dimensional, but the story itself is what carries all the laughs and adventure that make it so entertaining. The illustrations are essential to the comedy and bring the story to life with vivid depictions of the characters' antics.
I very much enjoy this book for its entertainment value and its potential to inspire imagination in young children. In a classroom setting, I might use this book as a read-aloud before recess or some other break to really fuel the students' minds with creativity. I would love to see any of the kids at recess running from "dribbling wolves" or other games inspired by the charming adventure that is "The Kiss That Missed".
The characters of this story are fairly one-dimensional, but the story itself is what carries all the laughs and adventure that make it so entertaining. The illustrations are essential to the comedy and bring the story to life with vivid depictions of the characters' antics.
I very much enjoy this book for its entertainment value and its potential to inspire imagination in young children. In a classroom setting, I might use this book as a read-aloud before recess or some other break to really fuel the students' minds with creativity. I would love to see any of the kids at recess running from "dribbling wolves" or other games inspired by the charming adventure that is "The Kiss That Missed".
November 18, 2019
The Kiss That Missed, written and illustrated by David Melling, is a humorous and wonderful children’s book about a kiss from the king that went AWOL. The illustrations in this book are very well drawn, and they are very bright and colorful. They look somewhat like an old fairy tale that would involve royalty, and some of the words are like that, too. However, this book has many spins on it compared to classic fairy tales. There are many funny aspects to this book that the author included, and most of them will appeal to young children. It also has some moral lessons that can be taken from the book. One of them is that it is better to take your time and do something right than to hurry through it and have it be mediocre. The dad (the king) was in a hurry when going to bed and is the reason why the kiss got away. If he would have slowed down and taken his time, this would not have happened.
April 2, 2020
A busy king blows a kiss to his son but the kiss misses and floats off into the night. A trusty knight is dispatched to catch the kiss and follows it into the wild woods. The kiss proceeds to save him from the wild animals by floating by and saying goodnight to each of them. It even goes on to save them from a dragon who kisses the knight and his horse goodnight and sends them back home with the captured kiss. From that day on the King promises to be in less of a hurry and reads them all, from the little prince to the giant dragon a bedtime story every night.
This darling picture book is full of bright illustrations that are certain to entertain young readers. The illustrations of the forest are drawn in darker tones to indicate the danger but the forest creatures and dragon are drawn child friendly. This book would make a lovely addition to any family collection and is sure to be a favorite book read at bedtime from preschool-age children.
This darling picture book is full of bright illustrations that are certain to entertain young readers. The illustrations of the forest are drawn in darker tones to indicate the danger but the forest creatures and dragon are drawn child friendly. This book would make a lovely addition to any family collection and is sure to be a favorite book read at bedtime from preschool-age children.
November 16, 2019
The story of a kiss blown by a busy king at his son that misses its target. The art is really cute and detailed, the kind that young readers would find both comforting and interesting. And the story is both a funny and entertaining read and a great moral story. It builds upon the idea of slowing down and spending time with family. A moral more aimed at parents than at children. This direction at parents makes the book a good choice for parents to read aloud to their children. The book could also be read effectively in classrooms. The book's story and its emphasis on sleep could be used really well as an introduction to discussions about the importance of sleep and why humans need to sleep. The topic is really important for kids to understand, and the book could help get them actually interested in learning about it.
February 26, 2018
It was too advanced for my baby at the time, but I actually really liked this story. Should read it again. Anyway a kiss goes missing and a knight goes out to find it, but it wreaks havoc on the fantasy landscape!
Language: Lovely. Lots of adjectives! 4/5
Artwork: Pretty good, shows some complex scenes which I think are drawn well enough that toddlers can follow, e.g. when the dragon picks them up. 4/5
Fun: A kiss destroying a fantasy kingdom? Why not! 4/5
Morals: Make time for your kids, parents. 5/5
Feminism: Seriously falls down here :( All the main characters are male, and the queen has no name and only domestic duties. Ouch! I genderswap half the characters randomly when I read this. 1/5
Language: Lovely. Lots of adjectives! 4/5
Artwork: Pretty good, shows some complex scenes which I think are drawn well enough that toddlers can follow, e.g. when the dragon picks them up. 4/5
Fun: A kiss destroying a fantasy kingdom? Why not! 4/5
Morals: Make time for your kids, parents. 5/5
Feminism: Seriously falls down here :( All the main characters are male, and the queen has no name and only domestic duties. Ouch! I genderswap half the characters randomly when I read this. 1/5
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October 28, 2025***read through audio/visual material via YouTube page: StorylineOnline where celebrities and other notable personalities read kids' book stories that also features subtitles and some videos with sign language interpretation to offer accessibility of reading material online.***
This short and sweet to read at bedtime story captures the expression of "smelling the roses" and that "time is priceless" as it tackles how unexpected occurrences may be triggered by rushed and quickened actions as opposed to careful undertaking. Form of fiction and a new take on a knight's tale, this story is heartwarming despite the quick read. Recommend for night time reading and lesson teaching to kids who are able to understand emotional building.
This short and sweet to read at bedtime story captures the expression of "smelling the roses" and that "time is priceless" as it tackles how unexpected occurrences may be triggered by rushed and quickened actions as opposed to careful undertaking. Form of fiction and a new take on a knight's tale, this story is heartwarming despite the quick read. Recommend for night time reading and lesson teaching to kids who are able to understand emotional building.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2017
Sterling example of words and images that work wondrously together. Melling's fanciful tale of a father's goodnight kiss that missed it's mark is reeling with sly humour and enough suspense to keep carers and youngsters scrambling to turn the page. Full of captivating expression and wit with a delightful cameo appearance from your neighbourhood dragon (it is a story about princes and knights after all), The Kiss That Missed ends on a positive note of family and the importance of taking time out to feast on every moment of life together with them. Highly recommended.
April 16, 2020
The Kiss that Missed was a wonderful read. This book could be for many boys and girls. It has a fantasy twist to it which I really enjoyed. My favorite part of this book would be the illustrations. The illustrations are amazing on every page I never got tired of flipping the pages and reading more and more. This is a cute tail for younger children about the kiss that missed. This book could be used around Valentine day because of the kisses. The illustrations added humor which I personally always enjoy in a children's book.
October 17, 2017
Very cute premise and plot. The busy king takes only just enough time to blow his son a kiss. In his rush, the kiss misses and flies out the window. A brave knight is sent to retrieve the kiss. Before he can, it lands on wolves, bears, and owls to tame them, and even calms a dragon before the knight can return the kiss to the royal family. This escapade changes the king into a father willing to slow down and enjoy his family. Sweet message, fun adventure to get there.
December 3, 2021
A kiss so fugitive and elusive that it escapes but surprises all the inhabitants of the forest with its arrival. Very nice and very nice illustrations.
Hain iheskorra eta harrapatzeko zaila den muxu batek ihes egiten duela baina bere etorrerarekin basoko biztanle guztiak harritzen ditu. Oso ilustrazio politak eta oso politak.
Un beso tan fugitivo y escurridizo que se escapa pero que a todos los habitantes del bosque sorprende con su llegada. Muy bonito y muy bonitas las ilustraciones.
Hain iheskorra eta harrapatzeko zaila den muxu batek ihes egiten duela baina bere etorrerarekin basoko biztanle guztiak harritzen ditu. Oso ilustrazio politak eta oso politak.
Un beso tan fugitivo y escurridizo que se escapa pero que a todos los habitantes del bosque sorprende con su llegada. Muy bonito y muy bonitas las ilustraciones.
April 28, 2025
I thought it was a fairy tale send up - prince failed to kiss princess the right way, or something. Nope: King Father blew a casual kiss to his Prince Son that missed and blew through the world. The end point was for dad to be more mindful in his care/attention to his son, which is great, but as the kiss blew through the world, peace was created from havoc, which undermined the point a bit.
Cute, but not totally to my taste.
Cute, but not totally to my taste.
July 16, 2019
Aw, a book with castles and knights, etc. My weakness. The king blows a kiss to his son in the morning, but it misses and flies away! The king sends a knight off to find the kiss. I love the knobby-kneed horse and the silly, flamboyant king. There isn't a ton of text on each page (probably a preschool appropriate level)
April 24, 2020
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Grade Range: K-1st
Book Review: This book took such an unexpected turn than I thought it would. I did not expect the kiss to bounce around the room and to eventually escape. The quest for this lost kiss is very suspenseful and even took another turn that I was not expecting. This book has a very sweet ending in giving every animal a good night kiss
Grade Range: K-1st
Book Review: This book took such an unexpected turn than I thought it would. I did not expect the kiss to bounce around the room and to eventually escape. The quest for this lost kiss is very suspenseful and even took another turn that I was not expecting. This book has a very sweet ending in giving every animal a good night kiss
February 11, 2022
Overall I really enjoyed this book. It focused on family and loving each other but also touched on other fun subjects. I really enjoyed how wholesome the story was but also the different little characters added into it. If I was a kid I’m sure I would be excited to read and see a dragon, castle and more. I could tell however that this book is most likely for younger grades as it was quite simple.
January 23, 2019
When the king hurriedly blows a goodnight kiss to the prince, and misses, panic ensues until a faithful knight brings the kiss home.
I like how the kiss has a calming effect on everything it touches. Also the way anticipation is used in this book.
I like how the kiss has a calming effect on everything it touches. Also the way anticipation is used in this book.
April 30, 2019
Cute story. I'm probably showing my age, but there was a super expensive video game back in the day of arcades that had a knight that looked like a cartoon. The illustrations in this book reminded me a lot of that game. All the nostalgia :).
September 8, 2019
King flew a kiss to the prince and it missed. There are medieval elements in this book such as knights, the dark forests and dragons. The lesson is that the king should make time to spend at bedtime with the prince. Very cute illustrations and nice message.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews