Don't Be My Valentine

I remember Valentine's Day well in second grade. I wanted everyone to give me a great valentine, and I didn't want to have to give anyone else one. If I had to give everyone else one, I didn't see the point. Each year my ideas changed about this day, and I came to cherish the hand-made valentines that classmates made because they could not afford the store-bought kind. I also grew to appreciate a sincere wish more than a valentine, and still do. This book reminded me of all those lessons I have learned since second grade. A lot of children (especially boys) become grumpy about Valentine's Day. The teacher and parents feel strongly about the occasion, and set up the rules. I remember how hard it was for me to make hand-made valentines when that was the art assignment in fifth grade. What frustration!Albert in this story feels the same frustration. He cannot follow the instructions to make the valentines. He cannot remember to take a note home to his parents. Amy Lou wants to help him. He doesn't want help. He wants to be left alone (unless it is his idea to ask for help). When Amy Lou tries to help him, that distracts him and makes it harder to succeed. He also doesn't like people to notice he's having trouble. Albert insults Amy Lou hoping to get some psychological space, and tells her he won't give her a valentine. He is annoyed about everything. Because the teacher makes him put a valentine in for Amy Lou, he makes a valentine saying "Don't be my valentine" with an insulting picture of a moose. When the valentines are distributed though, Amy Lou gets a nice one from him and the teacher gets the unpleasant one. What happened?The story resolves the mystery and develops the basis for a more cooperative relationship among the children. There are many lessons in here about male-female stereotypes, different attitudes towards helping and receiving help, and good ideas for how to work with others. As such, the wise parent will build on this book like a moral fable. The mystery itself will intrigue your youngster to make the other messages more interesting.Although aimed for grades 1-3, I think most children will find that this is about a second grade book.I graded the book down because of some potential for the book to subtly encourage racial stereotypes. The two key figures are both black, and they seem to be the most disruptive children in the classroom. It would have been better for avoiding unspoken messages about black people if both had not been black in a mostly white-faced classroom. Also, there is a reference to Albert by a white classmate that could be viewed as racially derogative in nature. I don't like to see books exhibiting that kind of behavior. Maybe I'm too sensitive to these issues, but I think the story didn't need these complications in order to work in exploring effective cooperation. I suggest that you use this book as an opportunity to ask your child to think about when she or he likes to have help

A realistic school story centered around Vaneltine's Day. Sam doesn't want Amy Lou's constant help and decides to send a mean Valentine card. There is a mix-up and the teacher ends up with it. Shows some true emotions. Doesn't resolve it at the end in a sitcom ending. This is a humorous book with good color illustrations. Recommended for K through the 4th grade, as well as the teachers and parents. p.s. don't ask us why we spelled it "vaneltine's".....