Eyes that Kiss in the Corners
Published January 5th 2021 by HarperCollins, Hardcover 34 pages
A young Asian girl notices that her eyes look different from her peers'. They have big, round eyes and long lashes. She realizes that her eyes are like her mother’s, her grandmother's, and her little sister's. They have eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea, crinkle into crescent moons, and are filled with stories of the past and hope for the future.
Drawing from the strength of these powerful women in her life, she recognizes her own beauty and discovers a path to self love and empowerment.
User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
'I have eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea.'Me *before reading*: Let's read this picture book so that I can complete my
edited 2020 reading challenge
Me *after reading*: LOL SOBS I'M FINE
For real, though Eyes That Kiss in the Corners is absolutely beautiful and so well-written, I got emotional barely halfway through. It's important to have such affirming stories when we live in a world where people of color are discriminated against and made to feel inadequate on the basis of something as simple as how their eyes look. Some strides have no doubt been made, but there's still a long way to go and Eyes That Kiss in the Corners provides a stepping stone to such a future for which I'm glad.
However, do read Jess's review about how reading such a book as a kid could posed more questions than answers for adoptee kids.
P.S. Also read this author letter, which talks about her own story and what she hope that this book achieves as
'Learning to recognize our own beauty is an act of revolution.'-------------------------------------
I can already tell that this will be everything ✨
Rating: really liked it
4.5 Stars
Super sweet 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Rating: really liked it
Eyes That Kiss in the Corners is a children’s picture book about a young Asian girl feeling good about herself. The book is written by Joanna Ho and illustrated by Dung Ho.
She realizes that her eyes are not like everyone’s. Her eyes are like her mother’s. Her eyes are like her grandmother’s. Her eyes are like her little sister’s. Her “eyes kiss in the corners.”
She realizes that her eyes are her eyes and that they are beautiful.
Great little story and great illustrations.
Great book for kids ages 2 to 7 about self love and empowerment.
Rating: really liked it
1-15-21: Pardon me while I wipe the tears away, but this book!
I'm a biracial woman (part Chinese and part Mexican); growing up, I wasn't aware of my features until I was enrolled in a new school. My peers made it clear that since I wasn't fully Asian or fully Latina, I was going to have to work hard to fit in. Long story short, I spent a lot of my life ashamed of myself, including my eyes.
I'm in a better place, but when I first heard about EYES THAT KISS IN THE CORNERS, I sobbed for about twenty minutes. Here is a book that embraces kids who looked like me. Here is a book that celebrates those same kids. As I mentioned in my previous review, this is everything my childhood self (and, if I'm honest, my current self) needed to hear. A quiet yet empowering affirmation of love and acceptance. I hope this book reaches not just those children whose eyes kiss in the corners, but all readers.
- - - - - -
The title alone made me cry. This is the book I would go back in time and give my younger self.
Rating: really liked it
I don't usually log the children's books I read anymore — especially since having a 5-year-old means I would be logging
a lot of them, and I don't have much of a commentary to offer on the majority of them — but we picked this one from the library's ebook selection after I saw it in the Goodreads Choice Awards, and truly, it was so stunning and sweet. The art is BEAUTIFUL and we were both totally enthralled by this sweet family. I highly recommend this to anyone with a small child in your life, but even if it's just for you, as an adult: I still think you should read this lovely little story.
———
twitter | booktok | bookstagram | blog
Rating: really liked it
"Some people have
eyes like sapphire lagoons
with lashes like lace trim on ballgowns,
sweeping their cheeks as they twirl.
Big eyes, long lashes.
Not me.
I have eyes that kiss on the corners and glow like warm tea."
Celebrating a girl and her sister and mother and grandmother and cultural and ethnic pride.
"They are me and they are beautiful."
Rating: really liked it
this was the loveliest book ever and I shall always cherish it
Rating: really liked it
Loved the beautiful illustrations!
Rating: really liked it
did not expect to sob over this book, but "my eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea are a revolution. they are mama and amah and mei-mei. they are me. and they are beautiful." made me bawl for a good ten minutes.
Rating: really liked it
THE ARTWORK IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL and the story will help so many asian children overcome their differences in appearances and have self-love
Rating: really liked it
A completely beautiful and important reading experience. The illustrations are exquisite and the text is so heartfelt -- tender yet powerful. But, don't take my word for it, read the reviews by those for whom this book has personal meaning. I couldn't help but think of my young nieces as I read this book -- their eyes "kiss in the corners" and I hope they will feel as strong and as beautiful as the little girl in this book.
Rating: really liked it
Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho reviewed by H
“My eyes crinkle into crescent moons
and sparkle like the stars.
Gold flecks dance and twirl
while stories whirl
in their oolong pools,
carrying tales of the past
and hope for the future.”
Perhaps, it is just the time I chose to read this children’s book.
It certainly isn’t sad; it is very self-affirming. The illustrations are imaginative and charming. It recognizes that a child should not be embarrassed when she or he notes differences between her/him and others.
Yet, the news now is fraught with acts of violence and disrespect against people of Asian descent. The past year has seen this fanned by many ambitious for political (or other) gain.
I will read this with my six-year-old and see what are her non-Asian thoughts about it.
Rating: really liked it
STUNNING!!! Even more so in the print book than the digital galley! An affirming story for Asian American children that should be in every classroom and school. Will pair beautifully with Where Are You From? & Hair Love. The perfect picture book to start counteracting the too often seen stereotype of slanted/squinty eyes in illustrations of Asian characters.
Rating: really liked it
Such a beautiful and sweet book about accepting the things that make us different and wonderful (in this case the eyes) and that learning to love your body is a constant but fulfilling journey.
The illustrations were really charming and I loved the lyrical text, especially towards the end!
Also eff Western beauty standards forever.
Rating: really liked it
My partner heard me bawling in the bathroom over this book. I wish I had this book growing up. It would have taken me on a better journey to self-love (and most likely many others). I implore every educator, whether you're a teacher or parent, to grab this book and add it to your libraries. It's important for children to see themselves in mainstream media. To see eyes, something on our body that is often scrutinized as undesirable, represented in such a way is so...freeing. Definitely recommend this. 10/10 would cry again.
