Valentine's Day

February 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-Simple examinations of popular holidays aimed at beginning readers. The format is effective and features highlighted key words, a large font, and bright photos of beaming kids making valentines, carving pumpkins, and setting the table for Thanksgiving. Well organized and nicely designed, the books are festive and appropriate for youngsters making their first forays into nonfiction but the titles tend to focus on North American holidays. Halloween, for instance, makes no mention of Mexico's Day of the Dead. There is some simplification here; for instance, the author answers the question "What is Halloween?" with "Halloween is on October 31st." VERDICT Despite a few flaws, these are delightful and engaging options.-Kathryn Diman, Bass Harbor Memorial Library, Bernard, ME

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