Eyes That Kiss in the Corners
Through a series of beautiful repetitions, a girl discovers how her eyes reflect the features of her mother, her grandmother, and her sister. It is a moving celebration of family resemblance and pride in one's heritage.
Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho is estimated to take about 5.5 minutes to read aloud (405 words, about 2 sentences a page), and it lands best with children aged 4-8.
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- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 5.5 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Word count
- 405Counted words
- Sentences per page
- 2Sentences per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 4/5repeat friendly
- Vocabulary level
- 3/5a few new words
- Best for
- Ages 4-8Our editorial fit
Our review
The rhythmic refrain about "eyes that kiss in the corners" creates a lovely sense of continuity throughout the family tree. It's a beautiful way to help a child see themselves in their relatives.
This is perfect for celebrating family and identity. The way the text connects generations is visually and emotionally resonant for young children.
Themes
- family resemblance
- grandmothers
- sisters
- Asian American
- pride
Books like Eyes That Kiss in the Corners
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
Sulweabout 9.5 minutes estimated · 3/5 re-read
The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Familyabout 7.5 minutes estimated · 4/5 re-read
Alma and How She Got Her Nameabout 5.5 minutes estimated · 4/5 re-read
In My Heart: A Book of Feelingsabout 6 minutes estimated · 4/5 re-read
Hair Loveabout 6 minutes estimated · 4/5 re-read
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read Eyes That Kiss in the Corners aloud?
About 5.5 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 405. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is Eyes That Kiss in the Corners actually for?
Ages 4-8 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 2 sentences a page and vocabulary at 3 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does Eyes That Kiss in the Corners survive being read on repeat?
Yes. It survives a fortnight of nightly repeats, which is the real test.
Is Eyes That Kiss in the Corners a good book for a child who will not sit still?
It helps that it has a refrain a child can join in with. Those three features are what keep a wriggling toddler listening, far more than the subject matter does.
Will my child memorise Eyes That Kiss in the Corners?
Probably, and fast. The book leans on a repeated refrain, and at 4 out of 5 for re-read tolerance it survives the nightly repeats that get a book memorised. Expect your child to chant the pattern back before they can actually read.
Can a beginning reader read Eyes That Kiss in the Corners on their own?
Not yet. At vocabulary level 3 out of 5 and 2 sentences a page, it is a read-aloud book rather than a first solo read. Read it to them now, and hand it over in a year or two.
What themes does Eyes That Kiss in the Corners cover?
We tag it with family resemblance, grandmothers, sisters, Asian American and pride. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.
