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Valentine Books You’ll Love!
by Suzanne Maryeski
What better way to show your love for your child than by reading
a special book celebrating Valentine’s Day?
 For the youngest set, don’t miss Where Is Baby’s Valentine? Karen
Katz continues her winning style with a lift-the-flap board book
that conceals shiny, glittering pictures on every page and a
valentine “just for Mommy” at the end.
A Mama Bug’s Love, written by local Farmington author Janet Lawler,
is a poetic pop-up book about the love mama bugs share with their
children.
Owen & Mzee: Language of Friendship, by Isabella Hatkoff, Craig
Hatkoff and Dr. Paula Kahumbu, is a true Valentine’s story about the
inexplicable power of love between Owen, an orphaned hippo, and Mzee,
a rescued 130-year-old tortoise. This heartwarming book would be a
wonderful gift or a great family read-aloud.
 Be Mine, Be Mine, Sweet Valentine by Sarah Weeks is a fun, rhyming
book that shows what each animal might give their sweetheart on
Valentine’s Day. Secret flaps reveal the answers.
Other great picture books for the holiday include Mouse’s First
Valentine by Lauren Thompson. A precocious little mouse watches and
spies on his big sister, Minka, as she collect items needed to make
something special – a valentine for her brother, Little Mouse.
In If You’ll Be My Valentine by Cynthia Rylant, a little boy creates
valentines for his pets, family members and even his teddy bear.
Told entirely in rhyme, the story commemorates kindness as well as
love.
In Rhyme Time Valentine by Nancy Poydar, Ruby’s homemade valentines
blow away while she is walking to school, but she figures out a way
to give everyone a valentine anyway.
 The beautiful cut-paper collages of Nancy Elizabeth Wallace are
again evidenced in The Valentine Express. Minna and Pip make
Valentine’s Day gifts for their neighbors after learning about the
history of the holiday at school. Simple directions for making the
gifts are included in the text.
In Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli, an anonymous
valentine changes the life of quiet, unsociable Mr. Hatch, and turns
him into a laughing, full-of-life friend who helps and appreciates
all his neighbors. This is a wonderful story showing how one act of
kindness can snowball and change the lives of others.
 In Porcupining: A Prickly Love Story by Lisa Wheeler, Cushion, a
lonesome,
prickly porcupine, pines for true love. He wants to find someone who
is easygoing like him, but rabbit is too jumpy and rude, pig is
stuck-up and beaver doesn’t appreciate Cushion’s serenading. But
that special someone, Barb the hedgehog, is listening in the
background. This is a perfect tale of love and friendship between
two prickly creatures in a petting zoo.
Most children’s Valentine’s stories are sugary tales, highlighting
love for family and friends. Ed Young’s Voices of the Heart speaks
to older children of the many emotions, besides love, that can fill
the heart. This beautiful picture book is illustrated with 26
Chinese characters, each containing a symbol for the heart, and
combines Eastern calligraphy and Western symbols.
Young, a Caldecott Award winner, has created a jumping-off place to
explore the world of feelings in this book, and you and your child
will be reflecting on it long after Valentine’s Day has gone.
Events at the Farmington Library
The spacious Children’s Room at the Farmington Library has a play
house, train table, doll house and a large selection of
entertainment for families on these blustery days.
A recently added puppet theater is a work of art not to be missed,
and playing with puppets is an excellent way to encourage creativity
and literacy skills in your children. Playmates, conversation and
comfortable seating are always available in the Children’s Room.
Everyone is welcome to attend the following drop-in events, and
registration is not required:
- Tots & Tunes is held every Friday from 9:30-10:15 a.m. and
10:30-11:15 a.m. Children ages birth to three, accompanied by an
adult, celebrate music, movement, play and socialization. The
parachute game is a big favorite at these weekly groups.
- Daddy & Me meets on the first Saturday of every month from
10:30-11:15 a.m. Daddy and child enjoy games, music and play time.
Upcoming sessions will be held on February 2, March 1 and April 5.
- Don’t miss Family Pajama Storytimes from 6:30-7:15 p.m. on the
following Monday evenings in February and March: February 4 and
March 10 and 17.
During the school vacation, the library is sponsoring a puppet show,
Peter and the Wolf, put on by our library director, Jay Johnston.
Don’t miss this event on Thursday, February 21 at 2 p.m. This is a
family program (children under five accompanied by an adult), and
registration is required.
On Wednesday, March 12 from 6:30-8 p.m., the library is hosting a
Summer Camp Showcase. Representatives from area camps and summer
activities across the state will be present to explain their
programs and display flyers, pictures and slideshows about their
camp. The snow date for this activity is Thursday, March 13 from
6:30-8 p.m.
The Farmington Library is located at 6 Monteith Drive, Route 4 in
Farmington. For more information call
860-673-6791 or visit
www.farmingtonlibct.org.
Suzanne Maryeski is Head of Children’s Services at the Farmington
Library.
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