Get ready for Valentine’s Day by choosing from these unconventional
titles to enjoy. Pull out your
scissors and glue; hunt up paper and pencil; turn up the music; and prepare
your best and most thoughtful language – you and a lucky child in your life are
invited into a unique opportunity.
These titles offer the perfect occasion to create an original and distinctive
offering to share with ones you love.
Get busy and Have fun!!
A Giant Crush
by Gennifer Choldenko
illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Putnam, $16.99, Ages 5-8
Jackson
has a secret crush on Cami, and anonymously gives her little gifts before
Valentine’s Day. But show-off Carter
isn’t shy, and begins demonstrating his interest in Cami, too. Jackson’s friend, Cooper, who narrates
this sweet tale, urges his friend, “you have to at least tell her” you like
her.
Caldecott
Honor illustrator Sweet accents this charming school story of bashful first
love with watercolor, gouache and mixed media. She uses reds and pinks judiciously, without overwhelming
the greens and blues that represent the daily life of the rabbits who populate
Newbery Honor author Choldenko’s lively and entertaining text.
Based on an incident in the author’s
childhood, realistic dialog advances this gentle, authentic story with its
cheerful illustrations and happy ending.
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Ten Things I Love
About You
by Daniel Kirk
Penguin,
$16.99, Ages 5-8
Rabbit,
who adores Pig, shows up on Pig’s doorstep to ask for help in making a list of
all the things he loves about his best friend. Back and forth several times when he runs out of ideas,
Rabbit is encouraged to leave so Pig can finish what he is busy working on.
Patient
and kind, Pig is also complimentary, and always polite. But even his usual good humor is
stretched by Rabbit’s many interruptions.
Outlined in ink, the digitally colored paintings on paper and plywood deliver
expressive faces, and vivid body language to accompany the breezy, animated
text.
In
the final pages, we realize why the two are such good buddies -- Rabbit
discovers, what readers may be already guessing, that Pig had the same idea.
He’s been creating a list of his own about his good friend Rabbit.
The
two lists are included at the book’s end, suggesting an idea for young reader’s
to generate their own lists of what they love about their own good friend.
I’m in Love with a
Big Blue Frog
by Leslie
Braunstein
performed by Peter, Paul and Mary
illustrated by Joshua S.
Brunet
Charlesbridge, $17.95,
Ages 4-10
Neither
a typical holiday nor love story, this newly illustrated folk song, made famous
by the well-loved musical group, Peter, Paul and Mary, makes humorous use of clever
lyrics and a peppy melody, becoming an endearing vehicle for strengthening an
important message. The book delivers
a dynamic dose of optimism and tolerance, injecting a quirky measure of merriment
into a “painful remnant of slavery days.”
A
girl announces her love for a six foot three blue frog, whose mother is from
Philadelphia, and whose daddy was an enchanted prince. Clearly a representation of
African-Americans, the blue frog is loved by the girl, who symbolizes Americans
committed to ending segregation.
Beginning
with disapproving onlookers as they share a float in a soda shop, the bold
illustrations supply readers a candid view of community censure of the loving
couple. The positive final double
page spread shows a happy community sharing frog-shaped popsicles. While welcome, this transformation
remains unexplained by either text or illustration.
Back
matter includes both an Illustrator’s Note and a Performer’s Note. A CD recording by Peter, Paul and Mary
is enclosed.
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