A Village Full of Valentines

From Publishers Weekly Stevenson serves up seven Valentine's Day vignettes starring a congenial cast of animal villagers. Preparations for the February holiday inspire minor comedies: after Donald the frog hands Tricia the bird a valentine that she strongly suspects was given to him last year, she places an invisible card in his hand and tells him it's the "world's tiniest valentine"; crafty Curtis moans that no one likes him in order to accumulate valentines; unable to send cards to everyone, Gus the tailor comes up with a creative, collective valentine; and, skillfully swirling his tail, Lester (a snake) conducts the other villagers in a rousing rendition of "Let Me Call You Sweetheart." The links among the various vignettes might be clearer and a few stories seem to end in mid-air, but some genuinely funny dialogue and spirited pen-and-watercolors make this an effervescent medley, certain to add sparkle to a wintry February eve. Ages 5-up. Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From School Library Journal Kindergarten-Grade 2?The animal inhabitants of a small town wrestle with preparations for the 14th of February; make, give, and receive valentines; and put on a little show. The book's seven brief vignettes humorously highlight the feelings and struggles children often experience. The simple text, arranged in an elementary chapter-book format, is easy to manage, and the pen-and-watercolor cartoons are balanced nicely throughout. This pleasant holiday offering done in typical Stevenson style will appeal to beginning readers.?Virginia E. Jeschelnig, Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library, Willowick, OHCopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.