Celebrate Valentine's Day
Whether you want to learn how make your own Valentines or you just want to curl up with a loved one and read, the following selection of books are the perfect to enjoy and celebrate Valentine's Day.
Reviews
Big Heart!: A Valentine's Day Story
Joan Holub
Illustrated by Will Terry
A classroom of ants is busy preparing a really special Valentine. It is big, red and decorated with stars and lace. The real dilemma arises when they must decide on a recipient. "My Mom!" says Tom, "My Dad!" says Brad, and all the rest chime in with their special Valentine's Day recipients. Then, they come to a consensus and decide to give it to their hard-working teacher. This is a story that might warm the heart of any teacher. The very simple text is usually just two or three rhyming words per page. It makes for easy reading and memorization. The Pre-K audience will probably enjoy shouting out the words to pretend that they are actually reading the book. The ants are given human expressions and minor details such as caps, hair bows and jewelry to help distinguish the boys from the girls. A pre-level 1 book in the "Ready-to-Read" series. 2007, Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, $3.99. Ages 3 to 5. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4169-0957-6
ISBN: 1-4169-0957-5
ISBN: 978-1-4169-2562-0
ISBN: 1-4169-2562-7
Bloom!: A Little Book about Finding Love
Maria van Lieshout
Bloom is an unusual pig. She would rather dance and sing and admire the flowers than jump into a puddle. When she spots a butterfly, she thinks it is a dancing flower and begs it to dance with her. She is heartbroken when it flies away; she vows never to love again. She refuses another pig's invitation to play in the puddle, but when the other pig brings her a flower, and then shows her a puddle filled with flowers, Bloom agrees to join him there. The pink ink used for the minimal text and for Bloom's body reinforces the sentimental love story. A very delicate, sketchy black line depicts her, the flowers, and the friend who finally arouses an appropriate reaction. There are no objects or background; just the two characters and a few flowers are all that is needed to illuminate this convincing evolution of love. 2008, Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan, $12.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-312-36913-2
ISBN: 0-312-36913-1
Celebrate Valentine's Day
Carolyn Otto
Consultant: Jack Santino
This nonfiction picture book takes a look at Valentine's Day around the world. Lovely, colorful pictures depict children making special cards for loved ones, married couples exchanging wedding vows in unusual ways, and people playing Valentine's games. Recipes for Valentine goodies are included. Large words in an easy-to-read font that encourages the young reader are set apart from the dynamic background photos. Part of a holiday series explaining worldwide customs, this book has captivating photos which demonstrate the spirit of the holiday as its history is explained, including an excerpt from the man named Valentine. Included are websites for additional information on the holiday, a glossary and an informational section including a letter from an American folklorist. Recommended for elementary children seeking information for a research report. 2008, National Geographic Society, $16.95. Ages 6 to 9. Reviewer: Gail C. Krause (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4263-0213-8
ISBN: 978-1-4263-0214-5
ISBN: 1-4263-0213-4
ISBN: 1-4263-0214-2
Clifford's Valentine's Day
Norman Bridwell
Two previously published stories, Clifford's First Valentine and Clifford, We Love You, have been repackaged into this book, which includes six punch-out Valentines and a song on the last page, "It's Clifford." When Clifford was a puppy, he found some unusual ways of helping Emily Elizabeth get ready for Valentine's Day. He used his teeth to nibble out the heart-shaped valentines, but when he got paste all over his paws, it made for a very sticky mess. Emily Elizabeth persevered and she and Clifford made a nice valentine for Grandma which she promptly decided to mail. Then the adventure begins with puppy Clifford falling down the mail chute, but of course he is eventually rescued. In the second story, Clifford is down in the dumps and neither food, playing games, nor flowers seem to cheer him up. Emily Elizabeth comes up with a great idea and you can join in and sing her cheery song, too. 2007, Cartwheel/Scholastic, $4.99. Ages 2 to 4. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-439-90667-8
ISBN: 0-439-90667-9
Dora's Valentine Adventure
Christine Ricci
Illustrated by A&J Studios
In this heart-shaped board book, Dora is waiting for Mail Bird to deliver her Valentine's Day cards. Any child familiar with Dora knows that there is going to be some sort of adventure, and in this case, Mail Bird has lost his mailbag and glasses, so they need to go help him. There are flaps to lift as Dora and Boots head out for Heart Hill, but before they can get there they have to solve a riddle posed by the Frumpy Old Troll. It is more of a play-on-words than a real riddle, but the group solves it anyway and, happily, the valentines are found and a party ensues. 2007, Simon Spotlight/Simon & Schuster, $6.99. Ages 1 to 3. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4169-1754-0
ISBN: 1-4169-1754-3
How Do I Love You?
Marion Dane Bauer
Illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church
Rhymed couplets reflect the scope of the little, curly-headed, blonde girl's love. This sturdy board book begins with "How do I love you? Let me count the ways." Then the single sentences lead the reader from ". . . as the bee loves a fragrant flower. I love you as the thirsty duck loves a sudden shower." to "I love you as the moon loves each shining star. I love all that you will be and everything you are." The large, colorful illustrations show the little girl in a variety of settings and seasons, making it the perfect vehicle for discussions with youngsters. The author does not stint on language, so the story line introduces a number of interesting words that may not be part of the target audience's regular vocabulary. "I love you as the sea loves the sandy shore. And as the ancient world loved the dinosaur." Adults will not mind reading this charming little tribute to love over and over again, since it is sure to be a hit. It will provide many opportunities for conversations about how love can be measured--"I love you as much as I love this book." 2009, Cartwheel Books/Scholastic, Ages 1 to 4, $8.99. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan
ISBN: 978-0-545-07270-0
ISBN: 0-545-07270-0
I Love You More
Laura Duksta
Illustrated by Karen Keesler
Told in verse, a mother and her son exchange messages about how much they love each other. Cleverly fashioned with a picture of the earth in the middle surrounded by the words "I love you more than anything in the whole wide world," the book is two stories in one. It is reversible from each cover, each story ending in the center with the picture of the world. The illustrations are soft drawings that depict the characters as they walk hand and hand, as well as showing the examples that they share. When the boy asks his mother "Just how much do you love me?" she replies in terms of the highest flying bird, the tallest tree, the longest path, the prettiest flower, "...deeper than the deepest fish ever swam. I love you stronger than the strongest big river dam," and so forth. He whispers in reply "I love you more!" and next we see the whole wide world. The reader then flips the book over and reads the story from the boy's point of view with the mom asking him the "how much do you love me?" question. His answers include comparisons to quiet caterpillars, frog leaps, biggest bubbles, freest kites, highest swings, sweetest songs, long-lasting lollipops, loud rocket ships, tall giraffes, and "so much more than you have ever known." Mom's "I love you more" reply finds the reader back at the center of things: the "whole wide world" of love page. Obviously love itself was poured into the creation of this book. Perfect for Valentine's Day, this is a genuine expression of love which will inspire readers to discuss their own ideas about the subject. 2007, Jabberwocky/ Sourcebooks, $16.99. Ages 2 to 6. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-40221126-3
ISBN: 1-40221126-0
Kiss, Kiss
Margaret Wild
Illustrated by Bridget Strevens-Marzo
Baby Hippo is in such a hurry to go play that he forgets to do something very important. He goes through the "squelchy, squelchy mud," over "bumpy, bumpy rocks," "up the mossy, mossy bank," "through the long, long grass," and "under the leafy, leafy trees." At each of these places he hears the same sound and finally realizes that he has forgotten to do something. Baby Hippo retraces his steps back to his mother, who is in the "deep, deep water," to kiss her. This simple story rises above the ordinary with these child-oriented descriptive phrases. The illustrator's baby hippo is a friendly, round little fellow. At each location we see the appropriate mother and baby animals: elephants, rhinos, lions, zebras, and chimpanzees created in colors and clean lines that draw the eye to the page. Young children will enjoy the animal identification, as well as the feelings of security as Baby Hippo happily leaves his mother and then returns for that very important kiss. This is a good selection for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or a jungle-themed story time. This new edition has been resized for small hands, but all of the charm has been retained. 2007 (orig. 2003), Simon & Schuster, $6.99. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4169-3440-0
ISBN: 1-4169-3440-5
Love, Ruby Valentine
Laurie Friedman
Read by Danielle Ferland
Ruby is known for her love of the phrases "I love you" and "be mine." Imagine Ruby's dismay when she finds that, after days of preparation, she has slept through that special February day. Ingenuity reigns, and Ruby creatively handles the situation, bringing satisfaction to herself and delightful treats to her friends. Danielle Friedman narrates deliberately, with careful enunciation and slow pacing. She emphasizes the repetitiveness of the Valentine countdown so listeners can visualize the frosted cake and the curled ribbons and also enjoy the fanciful rhymes. Listeners might be inspired to emulate Ruby and share compliments and appreciative tokens more often. A.R. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine 2007 (Orig. 2006), Recorded Books, One cassetes, 15 min., Library Ed., $15.75, Two CDs, $15.75. Ages 4 to 6. Reviewer: Ann Ritchie (Audiofile, June/July 2007).
ISBN: 978-1-4281-3657-1
ISBN: 978-1-4281-3662-5
ISBN: 1-4281-3657-6
ISBN: 1-4281-3662-2
Super-secret Valentine
Abby Klein
Illustrated by John McKinley
Freddy is not pleased with his mother's idea of hand-made Valentines, but he does like the idea of making a super-special Valentine for a super-special friend. Not a girlfriend, he insists to his teasing sister, just a very good friend who happens to be a girl. Before he ever has the chance to give Jessie his Valentine he must secretly get markers and glue to his room and deal repeatedly with the school bully. Young readers will probably recognize most of the characters from their own classrooms, but most of the situations are exaggerated or overdone, including constant and angry battles with his sister, and getting around his mother's rules that forbid art supplies in the bedroom. Simple black-and-white line drawings capture the changing emotions effectively. The back material includes a letter from the author and a variety of Valentine word games. 2007, Blue Sky Press/Scholastic, $3.99. Ages 6 to 8. Reviewer: Karen Leggett (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-439-78459-X
ISBN: 978-0-439-78459-7
Valentine Friends
April Prince
Illustrated by Elisabeth Schlossberg
What do friends do on Valentine's Day? They make things for each other. First they draw, cut, and paste paper to make Valentine cards. Then they work together to prepare valentine treats--heart-shaped cakes with plenty of pink icing and red berries on top. The pastel and pencil illustrations have a soft tone and each page has a simple phrase, most often only two words. For example, "Dog draws....Stork Stirs." The book closes with a cheery message noting that the real fun is in preparing all of these Valentines because the holiday is made for sharing. This is a very simple book that should appeal to lap-sitters and toddlers. 2007, Cartwheel/Scholastic, $3.99. Ages 1 to 3. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-439-79999-6
ISBN: 978-0-439-79999-7
Valentine Surprise
Corinne Demas
Illustrated by R.W. Alley
Author Corinne Demas and illustrator R.W. Alley create a heart-warming Valentine Surprise. Lily wants to make her mother a paper heart for Valentine's Day but each effort goes wrong. Monday's heart is too pointy, Tuesday's is too square and so on. When the holiday arrives, Lily gives her mother all the cut-outs with diffidence because "none of the hearts is perfect." Says Mommy: "'That doesn't matter. The heart inside you is."' Preschoolers will relate to Lily's frustration over the gap between her artistic vision and her skills and appreciate the loving message at the end. The pencil-and-watercolor illustrations engage with expressive characters, bright colors and two playful cats "helping" Lily on each page. 2008, Walker, $12.95. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8027-9664-6
ISBN: 0-8027-9664-8
A Very Special Valentine
Geoffrey Hayes
The cover has a die-cut circle which shows a little fox named Tyler with a valentine in his hand. He spent all morning making a beautiful card for his mother. As he walks around the house to ring the bell and surprise her, he hears the door bell ringing. His cousin Obie is delivering a valentine to Tyler's mom, and she has one for him. What distress! A confused Tyler runs away to sit on the swing. All is put to right when mama seeks him out and explains that "A Mama can have more than one valentine on Valentine's Day." The soft pencil illustrations are just right for this little board book which closes with a special feature. The back page has a pull-tab to create a three-dimensional valentine--a reproduction of the one that Tyler has made for his Mom? 2007, HarperFestival/HarperCollins, $5.99. Ages 1 to 3. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-06-122756-1
ISBN: 0-06-122756-0
What's Love?
Shelley Rotner and Deborah Carlin
A photograph of a heart-shaped rock adorns the front cover of this tribute to the feelings love evokes. Soft toned black and white photographs show a variety of faces individually and in family groups as well as with friends or neighbors. There are shots taken in natural settings and some with animal friends and other aspects of the world around us all. The text reminds the reader of the many facets of life that prompt us to express feelings such as: "Love lets us share. Love helps us trust." The photos accompanying these words show two children reading a book together and an adult catching a youngster in exuberant play. The careful placement of the simple text on the pages with the various photos shows the thoughtful consideration of the photographer (Rotner) and her collaborator. The tender moment of a young child placing a kiss on the cheek of his/her father (grandfather?) is captured with grace and the text reads: "We love the people in our life. We love our families." The other page shows a close up of a toddler being hugged by a somewhat older child. The purity of expression on the children's faces seems to echo the simple clarity of the text. The double page spread of children perched on a fence rings true to the age group—girls together—boys some- what apart. The quiet contemplation of a pre-school child watching some bubbles float by is balanced with a simple photo of a daisy with several drops of rain on its petals. Here the text reads: "We love the colors and shapes in the world around us." This gentle look at the things we love about life will make a perfect Valentine's gift but will also serve any library collection, public or private, as a look at photography and a thoughtful examination of "love." "Love comforts us like a strong, old tree." Make this a first purchase in this year's budget. 2008, Neal Porter Books/Roaring Brook Press, All ages, $15.95. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan
ISBN: 978-1-59643-362-5
ISBN: 1-59643-362-0
Yummiest Love
Lisa McCourt
Illustrated by Laura J. Bryant
Grown-up Bear (Mama/Papa/Grandparent) tells how much love there is to shower on Baby Bear (boy/girl) and some of the reasons why. The sweet, softly colorful pictures have enough details to be interesting and yet are uncluttered and endearing. One of my favorite double spreads show them reading a book together. The text reads: "I love the questions you ask—so many questions that one storybook can take a whole afternoon of sharing." The vagaries of food obsessions and dislikes is perfectly depicted in the scenes showing Baby Bear alternately loving and despising broccoli...who hasn't known a child who changed his/her mind about a favorite food? I especially admire the page that says: "I love your free, courageous spirit, even when it trips you up..." The illustration shows the youngster tumbling off a tricycle—having to watch a child learn a new skill is often difficult for parents and this shows both the adult and the child that it is part of the growing experience for everyone. The invention of a "snuddle" is one of the highlights of this tale—a snuddle is a cross between a snuggle and a cuddle. I am planning on sharing this idea with my own grandchildren. With a text that is a bit more detailed and much longer than some of the other books about love between a parent and child, this will be a good addition to the Valentine's Day collection or for reading about love anytime of the year. 2009, Orchard Books/Scholastic, Ages 2 to 6, $14.99. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan
ISBN: 978-0-439-75058-5
ISBN: 0-439-75058-X
To view Valentine's Day reviews from previously years, click one of the following links:
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
Updated 1/23/09
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