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By Nicki Richesin, The Children’s Book Review
Published: February 6, 2012

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and you know what that means: time to read some love stories! Below are just a few selections with which you’re sure to fall in love. So snuggle up with your favorite little reader and share a good laugh, a cuddle, and a whole lotta love.

Mr. Prickles

By Kara LaReau; illustrated by Scott Magoon

Even though Mr. Prickles may be prickly on the outside, he’s warm and fuzzy on the inside and looking for someone to see past his rough exterior. Thank goodness for Miss Pointypants who knows a thing or two about being judged on her sharp appearance. The deeper message LaReau humorously imparts is how to control one’s anger when ostracized by friends. Little kids who have been banished from the sandbox will love Mr. Prickles. (Ages 2-6. Publisher: Roaring Brook Press)

A Giant Crush

By Gennifer Choldenko; illustrated by Melissa Sweet

Ah, young love. This book is absolutely perfect for second and third graders confused by their beloved’s sudden mood swings. When a little bunny falls in love with another funny bunny, what’s a bunny to do? Leave it to a good friend to help him unravel the mysteries and agonies of a first crush. First rule of thumb: you have to speak to the one you love. (Ages 5-8. Publisher: Penguin Group (USA))

Love, Splat

By Rob Scotton

This tale about two star-crossed cats is seriously funny. Scotton’s silly illustrations of Splat the Cat reminded me just a bit of Garfield, but his story is pure fun. Splat goes to great lengths to impress his lady love, Kitten, but when Spike intervenes, it seems all is lost. Leave it to Kitten, with her feline prowess, to choose the best suitor to win her affections. (Ages 4-7. Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers)

Hedgehug

By Benn Sutton; illustrated by Dan Pinto

Two books about pointy critters in one review? Yes, indeed. In this “sharp lesson in love,” Hedgehug discovers love hurts after his many failed attempts to share a hug. In Sutton’s playf

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Not only is Mr. Prickles: A Quill-Fated Love Story the perfect, fresh story for this Valentine's Day, but the author and illustrator also happen to be creative busy bees who have put together a few BONUS items sure to enhance Cupid's special day.

Haven't picked out your valentines yet? Look no further: click here for beautifully illustrated and clever cards and click here for some black and white ones that you can color in yourself!

We don't have to remind you that everyone loves STICKERS. Print these out on Avery labels (style #5293) and use them as envelope seals or lapel decoration.

Calling all teachers and librarians! The color-in valentines and sheet of stickers make a perfect activity to follow storytime.

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Rabbit & Squirrel: A Tale of War and Peas by Kara LaReau, illustrated by Scott Magoon
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1 edition (May 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0152063072
ISBN-13: 978-0152063078
Source of book: Review copy from author and illustrator


Have you ever jumped to a conclusion and confronted someone only to find out later that it wasn't the person's fault at all? But by the time you realized it, your pride prevented you from admitting you were wrong? Nah, me either. In actuality, one such incident that occurred when I was a teenager resulted in my sister pushing me into the bathtub and turning on the shower.

The author and illustrator of Ugly Fish have joined forces again to bring us a story that reveals the ugly consequences of what may happen when you make incorrect assumptions. A rabbit named Rabbit and a squirrel named Squirrel live across the way from each other. They are frequently outside tending to their gardens but have never made an effort to speak to each other until one dreadful day when Rabbit wakes up to find that someone had taken carrots and lettuce from her garden. Immediately assuming it was Squirrel, she barges in on him in his whitey tighties, threatening him to stay away from her garden, or else. The next day, Squirrel awakes to find sweet peas and tomatoes missing from his garden. After declarations of war, name calling, tomato throwing, and a destroyed house, they find out who the real culprit is. But have they gone to far to make amends? Can they forgive each other?

Through this engaging and humorous story, Kara LaReau manages to make an excellent point without ever sounding preachy or condescending. While Rabbit and Squirrel's antics are funny, children learn what can happen if you can't keep your emotions in check and automatically jump to conclusions. Ms. LaReau also makes her point even more clear by not wrapping the book up in a pretty little bow. Instead, readers are left with uncertainty and a small glimmer of hope.

And just look at Scott Magoon's illustrations! A squirrel in underpants! What could be funnier than a sleepy squirrel in underpants?

And check out the illustration below of the warring Rabbit & Squirrel's deranged faces! Anger can turn even the most civil people into raving lunatics, and Magoon does an exceptional job of showing this progression through his illustrations.




Rabbit & Squirrel: A Tale of War and Peas is storytelling at its finest and a sure discussion starter. Highly recommended.



*A special thanks to Kara LaReau for providing the images and for her patience and perseverance through a number of technical difficulties.


What Other Bloggers are Saying:

Three Silly Chicks: "LaReau's smart text is perfectly balanced with Magoon's nuanced illustrations which reveal Rabbit's and Squirrel's surprising breadth of emotion. If you've ever wondered what a vengeful rabbit or a suspicious squirrel might look like, this is the book for you." (Read more...)

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast: "This is not a tidy, morally prescriptive tale about fighting and bad manners for young children (but then if you know LaReau’s books, you know she has more respect for children than that)." (Read more...)

A Year of Reading: "There's great power in a cautionary tale such as this one. It gives our children a way to distance themselves from their disagreements and think about the problem in terms of Rabbits and Squirrels." (Read more...)

A Fuse #8 Production: "If you’ve had your fill of garden pest picture books and you feel like you want a break, just give this book a chance before you throw in the trowel. Sometimes war is just a series of miscommunications and sometimes the two parties are communicating perfectly. This book gives it to you both ways. Smart stuff that’s easy on the eyes." (Read more...)

If you have a review of Rabbit & Squirrel, leave a comment with your link, and I will add it here.

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This is a close-up of the gorgeous river birch in my backyard. Although I have a black thumb, this is the one thing I've planted that has thrived! I love it.

What does this remind you of? Fuzzy sweaters? Your grandfather's workbench, covered in shavings? A bad sunburn? What time of year does it make you think of? What smells or sounds do you associate with it? Choose any topic and write a 15 Words or Less poem to share with us. 

Remember, this is for fun! There's no wrong answer. We're just playing on a beautiful autumn day. Check out the samples below to see what wonderful and varying takes people had on the poem yesterday. But don't be intimidated by the particularly lovely batch of poems this week. Enjoy them, forget them, and write your own! 

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This is a close-up of the gorgeous river birch in my backyard. Although I have a black thumb, this is the one thing I've planted that has thrived! I love it.

What does this remind you of? Fuzzy sweaters? Your grandfather's workbench, covered in shavings? A bad sunburn? What time of year does it make you think of? What smells or sounds do you associate with it? Choose any topic and write a 15 Words or Less poem to share with us. Post it in the comments today, and I'll include it in my post tomorrow!

Remember, this is for fun! There's no wrong answer. We're just playing on a beautiful autumn day. See the sidebar links for guidelines and previous examples if you're new to this. Thanks for joining in.



 

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