Juanito loves to count, and what could be more fun than giving and counting kisses! Children's book author Lee Merrill Byrd was inspired to write Juanito Counts to Ten when she watched her four-year-old grandson Johnny. He was so happy and full of life that he was dishing out kisses to everybody. He kissed his mother, his father, Stray Gray the Cat, and, of course, his grandmother! He was so happy he even kissed his bossy big sister. Previously published in hardback as Lover Boy.

Lee Merrill Byrd's first children's book Treasure on Gold Street was about her granddaughter Hannah.