Book Review: You Can’t Kiss a Bubble by Karen Wyle (Author) and Siski Kalla (Illustrator)

Oh my GOODNESS but you have to check this one out, this is my official new favorite children’s book… The author, Karen Wyle, is a long-time favorite of mine. I’ve reviewed a number of her adult titles on the blog – Twin-Bred, Wander Home, and Division – and she has provided excerpts and character interviews for several others – including the second Twin-Bred novel and Water to Water in a two-part series of posts – but this is her first foray into children’s books, and it’s a brilliant place to start.

For the official blurb, I’ll let her tell you herself:

What can you do with a bubble?

Many children – and adults – find bubbles fascinating, even enchanting. And yet they’re so different from most things we enjoy, lasting only a few moments. This little book, with its lovely and whimsical illustrations, looks at both the charm and the transitory nature of bubbles, and reminds us that we can take joy even in the impermanent.

That sounds so straightforward – but the story is not so simple. It’s brilliant in its deceptive simplicity. And oh my goodness, but this is such a lovely and sweet story! And it has such a surprisingly powerful message about valuing things while we have them for what they are and not expecting them to be something they are not…

Wyle has done a remarkable job capturing the transient beauty not only of bubbles but of childhood, and the myriad experiences contained within, and Kalla’s illustrations are absolutely stunning.

This is a beautiful book and my new go-to baby shower gift.

Thank you to the author for my obligation-free digital review copy. Now I’m going out to buy a hard copy because this is one I want for the shelves!