Books with author Marijeke ten Cate

A delightful depiction of a universal bedtime routine, told with warmth and humor. When a baby raccoon asks her imaginative father for a simple kiss at bedtime, she finds herself on the receiving end of a string of silly smooches. When Dad plants the lightest butterfly kiss on Lisa's cheek, the pair become surrounded by a lush forest filled with blue-shaded, bamboo-style trees and periwinkle butterflies. A circus kiss calls for a little horseplay under a yellow-striped tent, as Lisa's stuffed-animal friends practice their trapeze swinging. Ten Cate's bright and appealing illustrations perfectly complement Roep's loving text and artfully capture the endearing bond between father and daughter. The result is a gentle, inventive bedtime story that will coax giggles from both the reader and the "read-to." Better still, there's a built-in opportunity here for parents and their children to pucker up and invent their own special nighttime rituals.

Getting dressed can be an adventure! After taking a bath, a boy must put on his clothes—but where are they? Children as well as adults will recognize the mystery of the lost sock. Author-illustrator Marijke ten Cate turns this universal theme into a lively hide-and-seek picture book. Each colorful spread is full of captivating characters at play. Look closely, and you will see clothes hidden among the jumble of images and objects. The illustrations are accompanied by a simple text (“Where is my yellow sock?” “Where is my red sweater?”). The more a child looks at the book, the more he or she will discover.