Hearty Matters: Happy Valentine's Day, Mouse by Laura Numeroff

MOUSE IS MAKING VALENTINES FOR FRIENDS.

HE WANTS EACH ONE TO BE JUST RIGHT!

That jolly, overall-clad mouse has all the supplies for festive homemade Valentines--colored paper, scissors, ribbon, and the all important (Yipes!) red glitter to sprinkle over the gluey hearts.

It's a housekeeping nightmare, but Mouse is determined that Dog, Bunny, Cat, and Pig will have just the perfect Valentine for that all important day for showing your friends that you care about them.

And the gang knows that as well, with the final two-page spread showing them, loaded down with their own creations, rushing in to give Mouse a rousing happy Valentine's Day greeting as well.

With its theme of the fun of planning a surprise for others, Laura Numeroff's little board book Happy Valentine's Day, Mouse! (If You Give...) (Balzer & Bray, 2009) from her ever-popular If You Give a Mouse series, makes perfect use of Felicia Bond's wonderful illustrations, set off against a bright white sturdy board background, to inspire preschoolers to do their own personalized Valentines for the big day. Happy Valentine's Day to you, too, Mouse!