Happy Valentine’s Day! There are some terrific new books filled with lots of heart; kids can enjoy them all year long.
Just for fun, there’s ZOMBIE IN LOVE, by Kelly DiPucchio. How can you not love a hero who takes out a newspaper ad touting himself as “tall, dead, & handsome.” Will he ever find a girl who shares his, um, special qualities? No worries; there really is someone for everyone. Special kudos to Scott Campbell, who did the hilarious illustrations. I’m recommending this for a little boy who can’t stand “all the mushy stuff.”
Janet Schulman’s 10 VALENTINE FRIENDS is a honey of a counting book for children who are learning their numbers. I appreciate the fact that this is a story about neighbors of every color, all getting along and making sure everyone gets a handmade card. The rhymes are easy and the message of generosity and thinking of others is put forward in a child friendly format.
Milena Kirkova has both written WHERE DOES LOVE COME FROM? and illustrated it with wildly colorful pictures of trees, gardens, the ocean, and a brilliantly splashy rocket ship in outer space. I applaud the publisher for releasing this in board book form; the pages are super thick, and as good for chewing on as they are for reading.
Willa Bean Skylight is a cupid, and the admonishment BE BRAVE, WILLA BEAN! means she’ll have to employ all her courage to grab a piece of a cloud. Cecilia Galante has created a world where the most important thing little cupids can do is to help Earth children who are sad or angry. When Willa Bean’s best friend, Harper, comes for a sleepover, the tiny cupid isn’t prepared for the adventure of having to fly in the dark.
Australian Stephen Michael King has filled his book with charming pictures of a small creature who finds out that in a world of wonderful things, the best of all is YOU. He presents a place that is always exciting, full of color, music, happiness, and even sadness. It would be wonderful to read this with a child, and then have a fine discussion. Is this a bunny or a puppy, or maybe even a stuffed animal? What are some big things and some small things where we live? Where is the little bird going in the airplane?
The unconditional love a parent feels for his child is at the heart of JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE MINE, by Sally Lloyd-Jones. A little red squirrel is out on a romp with his dad, who asks “Did I tell you today that I love you?” The son questions the reason; is it because he’s found so many berries? Or because he can spin around fast? Or maybe because he can climb high into an oak tree? The answer, of course, is in the title. I like the fact that not only is this a very reassuring book for a child, but also because it involves a father and son. This is rare for the genre, where it’s usually the mother who is interacting with her offspring.
There’s no better way to foster a child’s intellectual curiosity than to set aside time for the two of you to read together. Incidentally, I think it’s a mistake to only read to young ones at bedtime. If you do, you set a pattern of associating reading with sleeping, which is not at all helpful for dealing with the years of schoolwork ahead. Even if it’s difficult, make an effort to read together during the day, when you’re both wide awake.
Michall Jeffers is an accomplished Cultural Journalist and an avowed bibliophile. She writes extensively, both in print and online. Her eponymous cable TV show is syndicated throughout the tri-state area, and features celebrity interviews, reviews, and commentary. Michall is a voting member of National Book Critics Circle. www.michalljeffers.com
