Product Description

IF YOU'LL BE MY VALENTINE

Cynthia Rylant and Fumi Kosaka

If You'll Be My Valentine sweetly celebrates the true meaning of Valentine's Day.

Charming prose and captivatingly sweet art create an adorable tableau of loving wishes from one little boy to all the members of his family.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38354 in Books
• Published on: 2005-12-01
• Released on: 2005-12-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780060092719
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From School Library Journal
PreS - A little boy creates and presents valentines to his pets, family members, and even his teddy bear in this appealing picture book. Told entirely in rhyme, the story commemorates kindness as well as love: the child reads a book to a younger brother and sends an affectionate note to his grandmother. There are also touches of humor: he tells his dog, "If you'll be my valentine/I'll give you extra treaties./I'll give you two/and maybe three/and let you lick my feeties." The text reads smoothly and is ideal for sharing aloud. Kosaka's pastel artwork is warm and cheery, depicting simply drawn characters set against textured backdrops. On each spread, the text is printed on the left page above a small picture of the appropriate valentine; the right side contains a large illustration of the youngster interacting with the card's recipient. Include this book in holiday programs that celebrate sentiment over commercialism. - Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
PreS-Gr. 2. This pleasant picture book brings a young child's sensibility to Valentine's Day. In each verse of the rhyming text, a little boy addresses someone or something he loves, from his cat and his teddy bear to his little sister, his big brother, and his parents. He makes a card for each, expressing his affection and offering a way of spending time together, such as pulling his sister in a wagon or making funny faces with his father. The simplicity of the words and the warmth of the shared activities are reflected in the large scale of the artwork, which creates a friendly, reassuring world with its rounded forms, smiling characters, and gentle colors. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
".an excellent addition to holiday collection." (Kirkus Reviews )

"A good read-aloud choice for the holdiay." (Booklist )

Customer Reviews

A Quiet Warm Book
"If you'll be my valentine
I'll give you extra treaties.
I'll give you two
And maybe three
And let you lick my feeties."

It's Valentine's Day, and a young boy's thought turn to...his dog. The toddler has also written valentines for his cat, his teddy bear, a bird, his grandma, a neighborhood girl, his grandma, mom, and other family members. The book, written by the author of "The Nothing to Do Puppy," may serve as a reminder that one doesn't need to wait for Valentine's Day to enjoy playing and showing one's feelings towards others.

The poems are very lyrical and sweet, and the words easy to read. The book focuses on simple, shared fun, the enjoyment of animals and nature, and gentle give and take of good relationships: Sitting with his brother (I assume), the young boy assures him: "If you'll be my Valentine/I'll sit with you today. We'll read a book/ about some frogs/ If you don't want to play. L There's a Valentine showing a frog holding a heart underneath the text. The facing pages shows the boys read together on a soft-looking, big green couch with a plate of heart-shaped cookies nearby. Illustrator Fumi Kosaka's drawings are soft, soothing, and uncluttered, and the text is set against slightly textured solid color backgrounds. It's a warm, sometimes humorous book, good for Valentine's Day, sleep time, or just cozy up and read time. The book seems just a bit expensive compared to others, but that may be due partially to the fame of its author, the award-winning Cynthia Rylant, and its recent publication date.

Terrific for Teachers!
This is a great book to use for some modeled writing with our beginning writers. Children can relate to the text and the message. Illustrations are charming as well.

Great for preschoolers
Great pics. Kids like to try and read along. Nice rhyming. My kids (4 yr old twins) wanted to make valentine's for everyone after they read the book.