Valentine’s Day in the ­Village

PreS-Gr 1–“When hearts hang in all the shop windows/ And chocolates sit boxed in a row,/ When a bouquet of pink and red roses/ Comes tied with a beautiful bow,/ That’s when I know it’s time/ For Valentine’s Day in the village.” The village bakery joins in preparations for Valentine’s Day, lining shelves with red and pink heart-shaped treats. A young girl, with light hair and skin, savors the anticipation of the holiday as she helps decorate her grandpa’s ­bakery with heart garland. However, from the shop windows, the girl observes the glum faces of some passersby; Grandpa says that Valentine’s Day can be a lonely time for people. Wishing to warm the hearts of everyone in town, the girl imagines hosting a Valentine’s Day celebration in the town square and organizes community contributions to bring the idea to life. An endearing addition to Alsdurf and Hunt’s idyllic “Countryside Holidays” series, this ­Valentine’s Day story does not focus on ­secret admirers but instead honors the love and belonging of ­everyone in a ­community. As is ­characteristic of the series, each spread ends with the phrase “Valentine’s Day in the village,” offering predictable repetition for young readers. Illustrations are soft and simply comforting, matching the wholesome tone of the story, and depict ­diversity among residents. Back matter provides recipes and craft instructions for readers to add a homemade touch to their ­Valentine’s Day. ­