LOVE, RUBY VALENTINE

Childhood Education, Spring 2009 by Starcher, Jennifer

Friedman, Laurie LOVE, RUBY VALENTINE. II. by Lynne Avril Cravath. ISBN 978- 1-57505-899-3. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books (a division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.), 2006. 32 pp. $16.95. Roses are red, violets are blue, Ruby Valentine is here to say, Happy Valentine's Day to you! Love, Ruby Valentine is a delightful story told in rhyme and depicted through colorful, pastel watercolor-and-col- lage illustrations, making it a perfect book for parents and teachers to read aloud. This book is about a young girl named Ruby Valentine and her cockatoo, Lovebird, who live in a cottage in Heartland. Ruby's favor- ite holiday is, of course, Valentine's Day and she spends the whole year preparing for it. With only five days left, Ruby works morning, noon, and night, making all sorts of glit- tery cards, heart-shaped cakes and cookies, and goody bags for everyone in the town. She finishes the night before Valentine's Day. Completely exhausted by their work, Ruby and Lovebird decide to lie down and rest for a short while. They oversleep, however, and miss Valentine's Day completely! When they finally wake up, they realize that they are too late and will have to wait until next year. Lovebird convinces Ruby that they should deliver the presents anyway, so Ruby pulls her wagon through the town and passes out her gifts, apologizing for being so late. To Ruby's surprise, no one seems to mind that she is a day late. Instead, they all thank her and hug her for being so kind. Ruby then realizes that you don't have to wait until Valentine's Day to say "I love you" - any day will do. This book sends the wonderful message that one can say "I love you" and do nice things for others any time of the year, not just on Valentine's Day. Thus, Love, Ruby Valentine can be enjoyed all year long and used to help teach children about caring for one another. Ages 4-8. Reviewed by Jennifer Starcher, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

Reviewed by Jennifer Starcher, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL