Little Love Stories
Valentine's Day is here! And what better time to share some little love stories with your little loved ones?
These ones are sweet and a little funny, and great fun for sharing.
The Ballad of Valentine, by Alison Jackson
To the tune of My Darling Clementine, this is the funny story of a man trying desperately to get a message to his would-be love and being thwarted at every turn. Think of a mode of older-days communication and it is probably here, from smoke signals to the Pony Express, each with its own problem. Just when he gives up, the apple of his eye appears, having taken matters into her own hands.
The song adaptation works really well, something I always look for if I'm going to sing a book, and the illustrations both clarify what's happening and provide a little extra comic relief, as picture book images should.
It's cute and clever, and great for sharing with slightly older kids. This title is a perennial favourite of mine!
Pierre in Love, by Sara Pennypacker
Pierre is in love… but a little shy. His poetic soul yearns to tell his one true love of his feelings, but he can't quite decide the best way, and is having an awfully hard time coming out with it. He does, of course, in the end, and love takes the day.
This is another story that leans a little older, but is one of the sweetest Valentine's Day books for kids around, and I do adore Sara Pennypacker, of Clementine fame.
Slugs in Love, by Susan Pearson
Perhaps the cutest of the lot, this is a tale of two slime-crossed lovers who just can't seem to meet up, though each adores the other from afar. The pair even leave love poems and letters to each scribed in slime in the garden, but somehow, their trails don't seem to cross, until Herbie grows bolder.
It's funny, and with the ick factor keeping it from getting too sweet, it's an all-ages hit. What kid doesn't love some good gross slime?! The balance of cute and squicky is excellently pitched, making the book perfect for sharing.
I love Kevin O'Malley's illustrations, too, which add a brightness and comic deftness that make this a real winner.
It's Valentine's Day, by Jack Prelutsky
Jack Prelutsky is a master of funny, super-accessible poetry for kids, and this collection is a perfect example of why he's been so well-loved for so long. Prelutsky just gets kids and their world, so his poems speak right to them, but never down to them.
A poem about accidentally eating the valentine that was meant for your mom? Even a kid who has never done such a thing would definitely understand the temptation and see the humour in someone else being so deliciously naughty!
With rhythm and rhyme made for sharing aloud and cute little cartoon-simple illustrations, this is a classic pick for a holiday that is all about sharing.
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