Synopsis
It’s only a week until Valentine’s Day, and Lily wants to make the perfect heart-shaped valentine for Mommy. But every time she cuts out a heart, it’s either too pointy, too round, or too skinny. As the days go by, Lily tries again and again, and when Valentine’s Day finally arrives, she has a heart for each day of the week! Which one will be the perfect valentine surprise for Mommy?
Young readers will enjoy this sweet, simple story that introduces the days of the week, as well as the special tradition of creating handmade valentines.
Children's Literature
Author Corinne Demas and illustrator R.W. Alley create a heart-warming Valentine Surprise. Lily wants to make her mother a paper heart for Valentine's Day but each effort goes wrong. Monday's heart is too pointy, Tuesday's is too square and so on. When the holiday arrives, Lily gives her mother all the cut-outs with diffidence because "none of the hearts is perfect." Says Mommy: "'That doesn't matter. The heart inside you is."' Preschoolers will relate to Lily's frustration over the gap between her artistic vision and her skills and appreciate the loving message at the end. The pencil-and-watercolor illustrations engage with expressive characters, bright colors and two playful cats "helping" Lily on each page. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum