If You'll Be My Valentine

by Cynthia Rylant, Fumi Kosaka (Illustrator)

Overview

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

ISBN-13:	9780060092719
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	12/13/2005
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.80(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Cynthia Rylant's gift for conveying the enchantment and beauty to be found in everyday life is seen in such award-winning books as Missing May, winner of the Newbery Medal; A Fine White Dust, a Newbery Honor Book; and The Relatives Came and When I Was Young in the Mountains, both Caldecott Honor Books.

Books she's written and illustrated include the much-beloved Dog Heaven and Cat Heaven.

Cynthia Rylant grew up in West Virginia. She now lives in the Pacific Northwest.

Fumi Kosaka is the illustrator of many picture books, including Under My Hood I Have a Hat by Karla Kuskin and If You'll Be My Valentine by Cynthia Rylant. She lives with her husband in New York City.

Editorial Reviews

A good read-aloud choice for the holdiay.

Booklist

A young boy makes valentines for those who are special to him: his dog, his cat, his grandmother and other family members, his teddy bear, and even the bird who sings outside his window. The rhymes are simple, reflecting that they are composed by this little boy, and sometimes seem a bit too ordinary. Each mentions something particular he likes to do, such as reading a book, scratching his cat's ears, and taking his teddy bear for a ride in his little car. There is a drawing of the front of each valentine under the verse. The opposite page shows the little boy, or in the case of the card to grandma, a picture of the little boy involved in the activity. The illustrations will appeal to and engage young children. The large size makes this appropriate for group readings, but the text may become a bit tedious. 2005, HarperCollins, Ages 3 to 7.
—Sharon Salluzzo

Children's Literature

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 2005 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

"If you'll be my valentine / I'll kiss you on the nose / I'll scratch your ears / and rub your head / and pet your little toes," writes a young boy to his kitten. Each double-page spread presents the rhyming text of a Valentine's Day card above a picture of the card that he's created. There is one for all of the special someones in his life. He also writes to his dog, grandmother, siblings, teddy, parents, and a bird outside his window. The Valentine's wishes end as he's tucked into bed with a kiss on the cheek. Rylant's sweet, simple rhymes capture the likely sentiments of a toddler without resorting to syrup or sentimentality. Kosaka's serene, silly, smiling cartoon toddler, captured mostly in close-up with the object of his Valentine, is rendered in bright chalk pastel. The text and illustrations are a fine match, making this an excellent addition to holiday collection. (Picture book. 3-8)

Kirkus Reviews