(3) PS Illustrated by Addy Rivera Sonda. Bespectacled Bobby and gap-toothed Eddie are inseparable best friends. When Valentine’s Day approaches, Bobby worries over a gift; he wants to craft something as “colorful...and sparkly...and BIG” as his feelings for his friend, but what if Eddie rejects him? Bobby’s apprehension is tender, but his worries are quickly assuaged: Eddie has a “Big Valentine” of his own to share. This is a sweet depiction of the risks and rewards of vulnerability, with appealing candy-colored art to match.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(1) YA Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. In this unique and engaging graphic novel, Vietnamese American high schooler Valentina Tran has always loved giving handmade cards to her widower father and classmates on her namesake holiday. She is assisted by her "best imaginary friend," Saint V (for Valentine), initially shown in the illustrations as a classic winged baby surrounded by cartoon hearts. This year her spirits are crushed when her dad storms off, and a classmate, Jae, trashes her card. Worse, Grandma reveals that Valentina's father lied about her mother's supposed death and, later, that their entire family is romantically cursed. Valentina despairs until she meets two cute lion dancers at a Tt (Lunar New Year) celebration and dates one of them (who happens to be Jae's cousin). Is the relationship real? Or will Valentina give her heart to Saint Valentine to be safe from the pain of love? Yang (Dragon Hoops, rev. 5/20) and Pham (Friends Forever, rev. 9/21) do a wonderful job of weaving fractured families and romantic yearning with fantasy elements that show emotional states and growth as well as plenty of humor throughout. Pham's digital illustrations adeptly mix realistic scenes with celestial animals and ghosts. Her gorgeous, kinetic depictions of Chinese and Korean lion dancers are joyful, and the section in which Valentina first learns about Tt and meets her love interest is especially vibrant.

Reviewer: Michelle Lee | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2024

(3) K-3 Super SandCastle: Super Simple Holidays series. Each volume in this appealing, child-friendly series begins with a short introduction to the designated holiday and a few of its celebratory customs, followed by directions for nine or ten holiday-related crafts. Projects include garlands, greeting cards, snacks, decorations, and games. Each project includes a materials list (requiring mainly standard craft supplies) and step-by-step instructions; clear photographs helpfully illustrate crucial steps. Glos. Review covers these Super SandCastle: Super Simple Holidays titles: Super Simple Christmas Activities, Super Simple Earth Day Activities, Super Simple Halloween Activities, Super Simple Presidents' Day Activities, Super Simple Thanksgiving Activities, and Super Simple Valentine's Day Activities.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Swirl series. This season-themed series serves up relatable middle-school dramas involving a crush kept secret from a friend (Pumpkin), a crush on a friend (Peppermint), and having to cooperate with a frenemy (Cinnamon). But there are also richer community-focused subplots, such as saving an animal shelter from closing in Cinnamon. These quick novels invoke warm-and-fuzzy feelings, just like their namesake treats. Review covers these titles: Cinnamon Bun Besties, Pumpkin Spice Secrets, and Peppermint Cocoa Crushes.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins. Each time a boy gives his female classmate a gift (dandelions, a rock, etc.), he explains why it isn't to be construed as a valentine (e.g., valentines "come with buckets of roses"). Readers, like the girl, will see right through him and appreciate him all the more for his vulnerability, reinforced in mixed-media illustrations that have the conspicuous non-polish of children's art.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. Little Duck prepares for the Valentine's Day dance by decorating the barnyard with balloons, streamers, lights, and hearts; and by making valentines for all the chicken, pig, and sheep guests. When Little Fox follows the decorations to the party, Little Duck welcomes the unexpected visitor with her last valentine. Lewin's lively--and appropriately glitter-filled--watercolor illustrations sparkle, lifting up Cronin's kindhearted message of embracing difference.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) K-3 Rather than practicing scaring sounds with his ghoulish buddies from Fright Club, Fran K. Stein cuts out pink heart shapes, and his grossed-out friends, via speech-bubble dialogue, wonder why. Eventually, the adorable, digitally colored graphite-pencil illustrations reveal Fran stargazing with his (Bride of Frankenstein–looking) sweetheart as he reflects on the true definition of love. Long's latest is unique, surprisingly thoughtful storytime fare for Valentine's Day.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Christopher Denise. The sweet luminosity of Denise's digital illustrations temper the sappiness of Pace's tale of Moose, Squirrel, Bunny, and Porcupine's plan to include Groundhog in their Valentine's Day celebration. But on February 2, even after they convince Groundhog that shadows aren't scary, he still opts to retreat for six more weeks: "it is cold up here." A slight story of possible use for Groundhog Day storytimes.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jeff Mack. One-eyed extraterrestrial Dewey is getting used to Earth, except that a bully makes fun of his speech. When Dewey can't pronounce love on Valentine's Day, the teasing intensifies until Dewey teaches classmates to say "I love you" in his alien language. As in Time for (Earth) School, Dewey Dew, issues of diversity and inclusion are explored lightly and with humor; Mack's cartoons communicate emotions fluently.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kevin Zimmer. On Valentine's Day, Mr. Goat determines to "show my first love how much she means to me"--with "ragweed salad," a "tasty" can, and "delicious rotten eggs." Saturated colors and wide-eyed, anthropomorphized characters evoke a Pixar sensibility; gross goaty details up the child appeal. That grown-up Mr. Goat's valentine is his mother is a sweet twist, befitting this confection of a tale.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jan Brett. Determined to celebrate Valentine's Day, Mrs. Bear sets "her alarm for February 14" and gets busy making valentines, retrieving treats, and trying to rouse hibernating Mr. Bear. The gentle story's surprise ending emphasizes the affection between the couple. Set against snow-white pages (sans what would become her trademark), Brett's detailed line drawings are enhanced with bursts of red and honey-brown.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Holiday Crafts series. Illustrated by Mernie Gallagher-Cole. Each book offers five or six simple craft projects that can be completed with ordinary materials by children of many ages (with adult help). The steps, which involve mostly easy cutting, gluing, and painting, are illustrated with drawings, some more clearly than others. Notes on the titular holidays are included. There are four other fall 2016 books in this series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Holiday Crafts books: Thanksgiving Crafts, Valentine's Day Crafts, Christmas Crafts, and Birthday Crafts.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Wes Hargis. A revolting breakfast cereal figures prominently in Ghost, as saucy narrator Agatha and her friends try to discover if a ghost is haunting their school. In Mud, Agatha's scheme to help a friend rejoin the soccer team becomes much more complicated than she planned. These light, fast-moving stories from the UK, profusely illustrated with comical black-and-white drawings, will attract fans of broad humor. Review covers the following titles: Agatha Parrot and the Heart of Mud and Agatha Parrot and the Odd Street School Guest.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Elephant Chloe Zoe joins in the Easter egg hunt and the classroom Valentine's Day festivities with "extra-special friends" Mary Margaret (crocodile) and George (giraffe). Mary Margaret finds Chloe Zoe's sought-after golden egg, but she shares the treats inside. When Chloe Zoe loses her special valentine for George, everyone helps search for it. Colorful, multi-patterned illustrations convey the tame holiday stories' cheery tone. Review covers the following titles: It's Easter, Chloe Zoe! and It's Valentine's Day, Chloe Zoe!.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) PS In Museum, the Pig family enjoys different exhibits, including dinosaurs and space. In Game, Peppa and family celebrate love and Valentine's Day. In Ducks, Peppa and George go on a duck-hunting counting adventure. Fans of the cartoon will be drawn to the cheery illustrations and the thin, mildly entertaining stories adapted from the TV show. Review covers these titles: Peppa Pig and the Day at the Museum, Peppa Pig and the I Love You Game, and Peppa Pig and the Lucky Ducks.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Green Light Readers series. Illustrated by Ed Briant. It's Valentine's Day, and best pals Petal (an elephant) and Poppy (a rhino) have a mystery on their hands: someone is showering them with presents and cards, but who? Beginning readers will take pleasure in spotting the answer long before Petal and Poppy do, thanks to the gently humorous illustrations. It's a sweet celebration of the holiday--and of friendship and gratitude.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 4-6 Mia shakes up Stanton Middle School when she buys chocolate roses from the student council Valentine's sale and gives them anonymously to kids who aren't part of the in-crowd. Wild speculation about crushes and friendships leads to miscommunication and hurt feelings. It's a slight picture of early adolescence, but readers will recognize the uncertainty that new emotions can evoke.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Cupcake Diaries series. Each book (and the themed cupcakes within) are centered on a holiday--Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine's Day--with the Cupcake Club friends strongly supporting one another through crises of varying degrees: the stress of a fashion contest (Mia's), the embarrassment of a facial injury (Emma's), and a non-reciprocated valentine (Alexis's). Tween readers will relate to the rampant emotions of middle-school life. Review covers the following Cupcake Diaries titles: Alexis's Cupcake Cupid, Emma's Not-So-Sweet Dilemma, and Mia's Recipe for Disaster.

Reviewer: Sophie Williamson

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Claudia Rueda. Cat (Here Comes the Easter Cat) can't think of anyone to grace with a Valentine, and annoying new neighbor Dog doesn't seem a likely candidate. Using this series' trademark format--offstage narrator addresses Cat, who responds with humorous placards--the book shows Cat's escalating plans against Dog. Ink and colored-pencil illustrations convey lots of information via Cat's facial expressions and other simple cues.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2016

(3) PS In this wordless meta-story, a mouse "chews" a heart-shaped hole through a page (not literally, just an illustrated hole), then chews flaps into the page, which he folds to make a paper house. He's joined by a friend, and together the two gaze contentedly out of the heart at readers. Felix's dainty illustrations are as charming as ever in this newly designed edition.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn