I think this was my favorite trio of Valentine's Day books yet. Very happy with how they flowed together, and two of the three got checked out afterwards by attendees - that ALWAYS makes me feel warm and happy inside.
A Short History of Valentine's Day
Sally Lee (consulting editor: Gail Saunders-Smith, PhD)
ISBN: 9781491460986
Excellent nonfiction resource for the very youngest. Part of a series (Thanksgiving reviewed here, and Christmas reviewed here.)
Nicely presented, with a focus on the history rather than the religious background. Explains who Valentine (probably) was, the origin of thinking of Valentine's Day for romantic love (birds pairing off in the early spring), the dates when cards, then flowers, then candy were given, and when commercial cards became popular. Exceedingly short, direct, and factual.
The Best Thing About Valentines
Eleanor Hudson, illustrated by Mary C. Melcher
ISBN: 0439521092
Gentle pastel-colored animal children celebrate creating, sending, and receiving valentines in rhyme.
This is exceedingly similar to The Day it Rained Hearts, but this one is both more straightforward and a little bit more cutesy with short (occasionally awkwardly paced) rhyming couplets. Our furry childish friends are busy creating, sending, and getting valentines in school, and the story goes into decent detail for the length, both in illustrations and in wording.
Bear in Love
Daniel Pinkwater, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand
ISBN: 9780763645694
The MOST adorable book. Bear gets a series of anonymous gifts, and leaves presents in return.
Hillenbrand has a special gift of making the most adorable illustrations. In this story, a bear and bunny share a cautious and largely anonymous courtship of gift-giving, but we focus mostly on the bear and his feelings about being given presents and of having an admirer. It's sweet and innocent and full of the delicious anticipatory and excited happiness that comes from feeling loved.
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