Here Comes Valentine Cat
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Here Comes Valentine Cat is another holiday-inspired romp from the author-illustrator team of Deborah Underwood and Claudia Rueda, following Here Comes Santa Cat and Here Comes the Easter Cat. This Valentine story is about friendship, not romance, and shows that even dogs and cats can be friends. The broader message is you can be friends with anyone if you don't let your biases and assumptions stand in the way.
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What's the story?
Cat is in a '"No-Valentines Zone" because he thinks it's too mushy. But when the narrator explains that you can make a Valentine's Day card for a friend, he reconsiders. The narrator suggests he give one to the dachshund on the other side of his fence to welcome him to the neighborhood. But Cat assumes Dog is mean because he's thrown bones and a ball over the fence and hit Cat on the head. But after Dog sends Cat a valentine over the fence, Cat realizes the other items were gifts and makes his own card for Dog.
Is it any good?
Cat learns to drop his prejudice and open up to his neighbor in this cute Valentine's Day story. In the typical motif of this series, the narrator asks Cat questions, and Cat answers by holding up signs with mainly images on them. The jokes are light and funny, as Cat once again conquers his negative tendencies.
Claudia Rueda's spare but expressive illustrations perfectly capture all the shifts in Cat's changing emotions. And the broader point about not holding on to preconceived notions about others is a great message for kids -- and grown-ups.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about cats and dogs. Can they be friends in real life? Do you have pets of different species that get along fine?
What's funny about this and the other books in the series? Is it that Cat talks by holding up signs the narrator reads? Or is it Cat's personality? Or maybe the way he's drawn?
What do you like best about Valentine's Day: the cards or the candy?
Book details
- Author: Deborah Underwood
- Illustrator: Claudia Rueda
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice, Friendship
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Dial Books
- Publication date: December 22, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 3 - 5
- Number of pages: 88
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
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