Sweet Stuff!: Valentine's Day Reads

   --- Shannon Maughan

VALENTINE TREATS
by Sara Perry
Chronicle
ISBN: 0811825922
All ages

This title is filled with great ideas for making homemade Valentine's Day cards, bouquets, and other projects, as well as tasty treats like Peanut Butter with Love sandwiches and Chocolate Cookie Truffles.

ALL FOR LOVE
by Tasha Tudor
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 068982842X
All ages
96 pages

In this very pretty book, Tasha Tudor's wonderful watercolors illustrate quotes about love from some of her favorite writers. The collection includes songs, letters, stories and poems from such famous authors as Robert Browning and Emily Bronte. And in a special section, Ms. Tudor shares the special Valentine's Day traditions celebrated by her own family.

A BOOK OF HUGS
by Dave Ross
illustrated by Laura Rader
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060281472
All ages

Sometimes nothing feels better than a hug --- whether it's from Mom, Grandpa, Aunt Lucy or a good friend. This cute and cuddly picture book shows animals giving each other all the kinds of hugs we love: reassuring Fraidycat hugs when we're scared, I-love-you hugs, and of course Birthday hugs on our special day.

LOVE SONG (You're the One, #1)
by Fran Lantz
Simon & Schuster/Aladdin
ISBN: 0689834209
Ages 9-12
144 pages

Ready to read about romance? Well, then this book that kicks off the You're the One series is for you. Lots of girls have secret crushes on movie stars, singers, or maybe even a young prince from another country. What would it be like to meet the guy you dream of? The lucky characters in this series get to find out. In SING ME A LOVE SONG, Bethany gets to hang out with her friend and neighbor, James, who just happens to be part of the hottest singing group around. In the next book, LIGHTS, CAMERA, LOVE, Jessica meets movie superstar Brad Langley. And in A ROYAL KISS, ordinary girl Samantha wins the heart of young Prince Sebastian.

MADE FOR EACH OTHER
by William Steig
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060285125
All ages
48 pages

Lots of us have heard the lovey-dovey sayings like "We're made for each other," or "You keep me on my toes." In this unusual picture book, the wonderful William Steig illustrates these and other sayings in his gentle and humorous style. A perfect book for Valentine's day or any day.

MARY-KATE & ASHLEY: Be My Valentine
HarperEntertainment
ISBN: 006107568X
Ages 8-12
24 pages

The Olsen twins show off their arts-and-crafts skills in this collection of Valentine's Day cards that you can make. From easy-to-follow directions to confetti, ribbon, and other supplies, everything you need to create stylish valentines is included.

THE STORY OF VALENTINE'S DAY
by Clyde Robert Bulla
illustrated by Susan Estelle Kwas
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0064436268
Ages 7-10
40 pages

Did you ever wonder why we celebrate Valentine's Day, or why it's always on February 14th? This book has all the answers. You'll find all the legends behind the Valentine's Day traditions we have today. Discover who St. Valentine was, and have fun with holiday decorating tips and a great recipe for heart-shaped sugar cookies, too.

ARTHUR'S FIRST KISS (A Step into Reading Sticker Book)
by Marc Brown
Random House
ISBN: 0375806024
Ages 5-8
24 pages

Francine is inviting the gang to her birthday party. It should be a good time, but Arthur has heard the rumors that Francine is planning to kiss him sometime during the celebration, and he's pretty worried. Arthur calms down when he learns that the party guests won't be playing the kissing game called Spin-the-Bottle. Unfortunately, Muffy and Francine have another plan. Will Arthur pucker up, or will D.W. find a way to save him from being smooched?

VALENTINE'S DAY
by Anne Rockwell
illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060277947
Ages 3-6
40 pages

Valentine's Day is here and the kids in Mrs. Madoff's class are making very special valentines to send to their friend Machiko in Japan. See how each child finds a way to give their wishes for Machiko a unique look. And while you're reading, try to find the 200 hearts hidden throughout the story.

A VILLAGE FULL OF VALENTINES
by James Stevenson
Mulberry
ISBN: 0688158390
Ages 4-8

In the first six of the short chapters here, you'll see how the village animals, including Clifford the grumpy turtle and Gus the tailor, celebrate Valentine's Day. Making, sending and receiving special cards is all part of the fun. Then, in Chapter 7, everyone gets together at Sidney's barn for a Valentine's Day party.

ONE ZILLION VALENTINES
by Frank Modell
Morrow
ISBN: 0688073298
Ages 4-8

Marvin and Milton have figured out the secret of the holiday --- to get valentines, you have to give valentines. So they decide to send a valentine to everyone in the neighborhood. See what happens next in this fun-to-read story.

LOVE IS...
by Wendy Anderson Halperin
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0689829809
Age Level: 4-8

In this beautiful, intricately illustrated picture book, you'll find a story in both words and images. Well-known verse from the New Testament ("Love bears all things./Love believes all things./Love hopes all things...") is illustrated by scenes of everyday, contemporary life. It's a great title to share with the whole family.

THE BEST VALENTINE: The Wild Thornberrys #5
by Adam Beechen
illustrated by Patrick Dene
Simon Spotlight
ISBN: 0689837968
Ages 3-7

Eliza Thornberry is just doing what comes natural --- helping animals --- in this latest adventure based on the Nickelodeon cartoon. When Eliza finds a beaver that's been swept down river from its dam, she promises to get the beaver back home to its family in time for Valentine's Day.

CLIFFORD'S FIRST VALENTINE'S DAY
by Norman Bridwell
Scholastic/Cartwheel
ISBN: 0590921622
Ages 4-8

On his first Valentine's Day with his owner, Emily Elizabeth, Clifford the little red puppy really gets into the spirit of things. Unfortunately, he causes a little trouble, too. He gets stuck in the paste Emily Elizabeth is using to make Valentine's Day cards and then later he falls into a mail chute at the post office. Will Emily Elizabeth be able to rescue her puppy from the huge pile of Valentine's Day mail?

FROGGY'S FIRST KISS
by Jonathan London
illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz
Puffin
ISBN: 0140565701
Ages 3-7
32 pages

Froggy thinks his classmate, Frogilina, is the prettiest frog in school. He feels happy and nervous and clumsy whenever she smiles at him. Could Frogilina feel the same way? Maybe she'll want to be Froggy's girlfriend. Now with Valentine's Day coming up, Froggy sets out to make her an extra-special card.

JUNIE B. JONES AND THE MUSHY GUSHY VALENTIME
by Barbara Park
illus. by Denise Brunkus
Random House
ISBN: 0375800395
Ages 4-8
80 pages

Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentime Kindergartener Junie B. Jones can't wait to exchange "Valentime's Day" cards with her class. She imagines all the great cards she'll get. But when she opens her box to find a very mushy "valentime" from a secret admirer, Junie B. wonders who could of given it to her. Do you have a guess??

LITTLE MOUSE'S BIG VALENTINE
by Thacher Hurd
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0064432815
Ages 4-8

Little Mouse is very excited about Valentine's Day. He can't wait to make cards for all his friends. But Little Mouse gets a little carried away: he makes a Valentine heart card so huge that nobody wants it. Well, nobody except a friendly mouse named Gloria. She shows Little Mouse how he can turn his giant card into a swell Valentine's Day gift that everyone can enjoy.

LOVE AND KISSES
by Sarah Wilson
illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Candlewick
ISBN: 1564027929
Ages 4-8

What happens to a kiss when you give it away? This cozy books shows how the love you give may just come back around your way. A girl kisses her cat, the cat kisses the cow, who then kisses the goose, and so on. Follow the sweet trail of kisses for Valentine fun.

OLIVE YOU!: And Other Valentine Knock-Knock Jokes You'll A-Door
by Katy Hall and Lisa Eisenberg
illustrated by Stephen Carpenter
(HarperCollins
ISBN: 0694013552
Ages 5-8

Get ready to tickle the funnybone of your favorite Valentine with these sweet and silly jokes. Here's a sample: "Knock, knock!/Who's there?/Olive!/Olive who?/Olive you!"

ROSES ARE PINK, YOUR FEET REALLY STINK
by Diane De Groat
Mulberry
ISBN: 0688152201
Ages 4-8

When Gilbert thinks one of the rhymes on a valentine he received sounds mean, he makes up some real mean verses of his own. But soon Gilbert discovers there has been a misunderstanding and how words can hurt people's feelings. The sweet story has a happy ending that's just right for Valentine's Day.

ROTTEN RALPH'S ROTTEN ROMANCE
by Jack Gantos
illustrated by Nicole Rubel
Houghton Mifflin
ISBN: 0395739780
Ages 4-8

You'll love this latest adventure of Rotten Ralph the red cat, and his human owner, Sarah. It's Valentine's Day, one of Rotten Ralph's least favorite holidays. Not only does he not want to celebrate, he REALLY doesn't want to go to Petunia's boring party. But when Sarah brings Ralph to the party anyway, he acts very rotten --- planting a stink bomb and rubbing himself with smelly garbage, for starters. Will Sarah ever forgive him?

SILLY TILLY'S VALENTINE
(An I Can Read Book)
by Lillian Hoban
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0064442233
Ages 4-8

Tilly Mole is always forgetting things. When she wakes up on February 14th Tilly remembers that it's a special day, but can't remember why. Could the bright red something in her mailbox be a clue?

SUPER-FINE VALENTINE
by Bill Cosby
illustrated by Varnette P. Honeywood
Scholastic
ISBN: 0590956221
Ages 5-8

Little Bill really likes his classmate Mia and wants to give her a nice valentine. But when Little Bill's friends find out, they tease him like crazy. Little Bill sticks with his feelings, though, and comes up with the perfect, super-fine valentine for Mia. And he's glad he did!

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