Heart-y Reading: Amelia Bedelia's First Valentine by Herman Parish

Amelia Bedelia's mom played cards with friends.

"WOW!" Look at all of the HEARTS!" said Amelia Bedelia, looking at her mother's hand.

"Amelia Bedelia! Don't tell them what I'm holding!" her mom cried.

Amelia's mom gives her a brand-new pack of cards and send her off to the kitchen, but little Amelia Bedelia still can't help seeing hearts everywhere--in the shapes of trees in the park and the blob of catsup on her French fries. It's almost Valentine's Day, and she can't wait to exchange cards with her friends. Still, she's a bit confused when her dad tries to explain Cupid's job in the art of love. "Don't tease me, Daddy! Babies don't have wings," she protests.

Finally the big day comes. Amelia Bedelia arrives at school to find a pink Valentine cake and a fancy bowl of some delicious pink-colored drink for the students.

"Can I have a little punch, please?" asked Clay.

Amelia Bedelia gave him a little punch on his arm.

Then it's time to exchange their Valentines, and to her dismay Amelia Bedelia discovers that she's left her carefully addressed cards on the school bus. But resourceful as always, Amelia rummages in her book bag and finds the deck of cards her mom gave her! HEARTS? She's got some, and snatching up a marker, she soon transforms the whole suit of hearts into handmade Valentines for her classmates.

"It's okay," announces Amelia Bedelia. "I've got CARDS for everyone!"

Herman Parish, nephew of the lamentably late Peggy Parish, continues the first-grade adventures of little Amelia Bedelia in his latest, Amelia Bedelia's First Valentine. (Greenwillow, 2009), ably assisted by the light-hearted illustrations of Lynne Avril. For more Valentine's Day stories, pair this one with Fancy Nancy: Heart to Heart
or Diane deGroat's Gilbert and Friends story, Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink.