Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
The Very Special Valentine
Illustrator: Maggie Kneen
Novelty Book
For ages 3 to 5
Chronicle Books, 2003 ISBN: 978-0811840736
Bunny Gray is looking for the perfect Valentine’s gift for his special friend Rose. He wants to give her something that will "remind her of the happy times we share" and with the other animals keeping him company he goes off to look to see what he can find.
As Bunny Gray walks through the countryside he finds all sorts of treasures. Then only thing is that they are not what he initially thinks they are and they are not the kind of thing you can carry away and give to someone. For example he sees what looks likes "glistening diamonds" only to discover that he is looking at are dewdrops on a spider’s web. Again and again Bunny Gray finds something beautiful, a jewel or gem, which turns out to be a gift from Mother Nature instead.
Luckily for Bunny Gray Rosie really does not mind at all that he hasn’t found her a present for after all, all the animals are given the gift of Nature’s beauty every day. Best of all it is a gift that they can share with each other.
In this sweet little Valentine story with Maggie Kneen’s delicate illustrations complete with their bright foil cut-outs, the author shows her readers that a Valentine gift can be as simple as love given and shared. For as Rosie so wisely says: "The gift of love within your heart is by far the sweetest kind."
