A Lyrically Lovely Picture Book

One of my goals is to write a picture book that washes the reader into a world of lovely language, evoking a mood of beauty through its words. I have not yet accomplished this goal, but Joanna Ho certainly has with The Eyes That Kiss in the Corners (illustrated by Dung Ho). This quiet book is one I want to read over and over as I savor each appealing phrase, embracing her message for each of us to honor our unique beauty and inner strength.

Celebrating “eyes that kiss in the corners, and glow like warm tea, crinkle into crescent moons” is just one passage which makes me wish my eyes could do such marvelous things. The book is so sweetly written where she admires the eyes of her mama, her Amah, and her younger sister. Listen to this gorgeous writing: “Gold flecks dance and twirl while stories whirl in their oolong pools, carrying tales of the past and hope for the future….my ashes curve like the swords of warriors…”

I truly am in awe of Ms. Ho’s artistry with words. As an aspiring picture book author, I realize how difficult it is to create such rich text with such scarcity of words.

Please take a moment to enjoy this masterpiece of a picture book.