Alsdurf, Phyllis. Valentine’s Day in the Village. illus. by Lisa Hunt. Beaming Bks.  ISBN 9798889832706.
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. VERDICT A community-oriented Valentine’s Day story to sweeten any library holiday collection.–Emily Brush

Smith, Lane. A Stickler Valentine. illus. by Lane Smith. Random House Studio. Tr  ISBN 9798217025350; lib. ed. ISBN 9798217025367.
PreS-Gr 2–Smith’s signature illustration style shines in this sweet and quirky Valentine’s Day tale. Stickler, “a one-of-a-kind creature,” returns with his usual charm and earnestness. Hoping to share a stick for Valentine’s Day, Stickler searches for another creature who might appreciate his gift. However, each animal he meets prefers something else, like cards, jewelry, or flowers, leaving Stickler disheartened. When he comes across his friend Cat, she seems sad. He remembers that she likes flowers for Valentine’s Day and realizes that giving something she would enjoy might be better than giving what he likes. With a heartwarming flourish, Stickler grows a flower from his head, much to Cat’s delight. The story ends a bit abruptly, and readers may wish for an extended ending. Still, the humor, heart, and vivid visuals make this a worthwhile addition to holiday collections. It’s also refreshing to see a Valentine’s book that doesn’t rely solely on pink, red, and hearts on every page. Smith’s latest in the “A Stickler Story Series” continues to impress with artwork that’s both visually striking and unmistakably his own—cool, textured, and full of character. VERDICT A whimsical holiday read with standout artwork, recommended for most collections.–Melanie Leivers

West, Alexandra, adapt. My Little Pony: A Magical Valentine’s Day. HarperCollins/HarperPop. ISBN 9780063389731.
Gr 1-3–Izzy is ready for Hearts and Hooves Day, which is what Valentine’s Day is called in Equestria. She decides to celebrate with all the ponies in Maretime Bay, but soon realizes that not every pony celebrates the day as enthusiastically as she does. Izzy is so focused on celebrating that she does not realize the mess she has made: cutting flowers, breaking benches, and even scaring some friends. She does notice that the other ponies are not happy. Zipp helps Izzy understand that love takes time, and that while joy is great, it’s important to notice everyone around you. West adapted the story from an episode of the My Little Pony animated series. She includes dialogue from key scenes and adds text to visual moments. Most of the images are stills from the show and coincide with the text to emphasize the most expressive moment. Colors from the series make the pages pop. While the vocabulary level and simple sentence structure keeps it at a Level 1 beginning reader, the amount of text is more advanced. This story shares the importance of celebrating with friends instead of for them, and of being mindful of personal impact. VERDICT This book is sure to be a hit beyond Valentine’s Day and is a great addition to early reader sections and for kids who love funny books.–Nicole Gaudier Alemañy

Woolley, Katie. Guess Who? I Love You! illus. by Grasya Oliyko. Nosy Crow.  ISBN 9798887771205.
PreS–With lots of repetition and flaps for children to open, this latest in the “Guess Who?” series by Woolley and Oliyko is a solid story with plenty of interaction. A series of woodland animals bound, run, skip, and soar (kudos to the author for the use of descriptive, exciting verbs) to the doors of their friends, delivering special gifts. At the very end, all the animals bring a present for “just one more”—and surprise—readers are greeted with a mirror when they open the final flap. The book provides a positive introduction to gift-giving, taking turns, and developing a love of reading. In a spoiler that’s no doubt intended to entice, the prominently placed phrase “With doors to open and a mirror ending!” on the cover is a distraction. Similarly, a speech bubble stating, “With a free Stories Aloud audiobook!” gets in the way of the cover image. VERDICT A charming read-with-me experience in the tradition of many door-based, lift-the-flap board books.–Benjamin Ludwig