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Synopsis
The pupils of a first grade class prepare for their St. Valentine's Day party.
Children's Literature
Bee My Valentine is a reissue of one of the concept books written by Miriam Cohen in the late 1970s to address the emotional rights of children. Ronald Himler's illustrations upgrade the fashions to give a contemporary feel. However, the situation in the story is timeless: the story opens with children excitedly planning for Valentine's Day. When the classroom party starts, children start comparing how many they got. Of course one boy ends up feeling left out and neglected. But when the teacher appeals to the other children, they all work to make George feel special. While the intention of the book is laudable, the actual story is a bit labored and the resolution is too pat. It might be effective to stop reading at the point when George runs off to hide in the coatroom. Open up a discussion to explore how the children in your classroom might empathize with George and what ideas they have about what could help him feel better. Reviewer: Mary Hynes-Berry