Accepting a book for review is always a risk.  What if the writing is cringe-worthy?  What if you detest the book from start to finish?  What if you hate to post a "bad" review, but can't in good conscience give it a positive one?  What if the author responds to your forthright evaluation by sending you a furious email insulting your intelligence, your writing ability, and your very existence on Earth just because you said her newest book wasn't her best (not that this has EVER happened to me—hee hee)?  

You know what poses an even bigger risk?  Accepting a book for review that is written by not just someone you know, but also someone you like and respect.  I have (no joke) lost friends/blog followers because of something I've written about their precious books 😒, even after they assured me they wanted my honest, unbiased opinion!  It's a relief, then, when I get the privilege of posting a favorable review of a book penned by a friend of mine.

Such is the case with Walrus Kisses Are Scratchy, an adorable picture book by Brent Weight, a man I've known since college.  With bright, colorful illustrations by Mar Fando, the story concerns a little girl who asks her daddy to kiss her goodnight.  In any other household, this would be a pretty straightforward request.  Not in hers!  As her dad runs through a list of different kisses (each of which is named after an animal and comes with a handy how-to graphic), the child waits and waits for her very favorite one.  Which will it be?  A starfish kiss?  A bunny kiss?  A (gulp!) spider kiss?  Which one will your child choose?