First Valentine

Arts-and-crafts and resilience help set the stage for a special Valentine's Day surprise in George's amusing rhyming story. Many a scissors-wielding creator will understand the frustration of Black-presenting child "little friend" as they try to fashion a perfect homemade valentine. "Little friend/ Snips to start, / Sure to make/ a perfect...// CIRCLE?" Following several more attempts at the elusive heart shape, little friend accumulates a "Great, big mess/ Without a heart!" But when all the attempts assemble on the floor, little friend sees the project and its purpose with fresh eyes, rekindling the creative spark. In cozily appointed and richly hued images with plentiful pink and red accents, Murray deftly captures the emotional highs and lows of the journey via the faces of both the kid and their expressive dog. Readers will have fun identifying the different shapes as they appear across this title about how "Care and love/ Make great art." Ages 3-5. (Dec.)

PreS—In this Valentine's story, a child called little friend struggles to make a heart for a valentine. Little friend's dog is there for support but cutting a valentine shape is still hard. The first attempt results in a circle, followed by a square, then a rectangle, triangle, and star. It seems like making a heart will never be a success. Little friend is ready to give up and sits on the chair with legs up, arms crossed, and sad eyes. Even the dog looks worried. The mood changes when little friend looks down at the floor and sees that all the shapes have come together into the shape of a heart. The story has a happy ending when little friend gets to present the piece of art to grateful recipients. Text and illustrations work well together. Little friend and other characters are Black. VERDICT Recommended; this title combines the theme of Valentine's Day with lessons on shapes and not giving up when faced with a challenge.—Robin Sofge

Praise for First Broom:

"The storyline is very much in the spirit of a child learning to ride a bike for the first time; there are struggles and frustrations at first, but ultimately the young witch is exuberant as she successfully takes off... Vibrant illustrations and a relatable message." —Kirkus Reviews