ShareThisCelebrate two February holidays -- Valentine's Day and Presidents Day -- with these great children's books:VALENTINE'S DAY:-- National Geographic continues its excellent series of "Holidays Around the World" with "Celebrate Valentine's Day" ($15.95). Written by Carolyn Otto, this book is a simple yet fact-filled introduction to the holiday. But it's the spectacular photos that really will attract reader interest. For example, one photo shows a couple, dressed in wedding finery, skiing down a Colorado slope after their wedding ceremony atop the mountain, while another depicts couples making their wedding vows while riding upside down on a "roller coaster of love" in Florida. (Ages 5-8.)-- In "Hug Time" (Little Brown, $14.99), a little kitten named Jules embarks on a crucial mission -- to hug the whole world. Author-illustrator Patrick McDonnell combines a bouncy rhyming text with a series of evocative watercolors to make a simple point: hugging is something we all can do to make the world a better place. It sounds sappy, but McDonnell manages to carry it off on the strength of his wonderful illustrations. (Ages 3 up.)-- Author-artist Matt Novak adds to his series of wacky holiday books for very young readers with "My Froggy Valentine" (Roaring Brook, $7.95). Like the other two books in the series ("Too Many Bunnies" and "Rock-a-bye Christmas"), this latest effort features a die-cut cover that allows readers to see "within" the book. The slight but delightfully silly story, depicted with cartoonlike illustrations, revolves around a princess who is asked to kiss four frogs, with varying results. Young readers will enjoy the surprise ending. (Ages 3-6.)-- Lily has a week to make the perfect valentine heart for her mother. But none of her efforts works out. One heart is too thin, another is too pointy and another is too round. But, as author Corinne Demas and illustrator R.W. Alley show in "Valentine Surprise" (Walker, $12.95), a valentine doesn't have to be perfect to be the perfect valentine for someone you love. Demas' story will ring true to many young readers, while Alley's illustrations emphasize how much love and effort Lily pours into her valentines. (Ages 3-7.)PRESIDENTS DAY:-- Author Anne Rockwell and her illustrator daughter, Lizzy Rockwell, meld facts and fun in the entertaining "President's Day" (HarperCollins, $16.99). Part of their series of books focused on the fictional classroom led by Mrs. Madoff, "President's Day" is a great introduction to both the holiday and several presidents, from George Washington to Theodore Roosevelt. (Ages 3-6.)-- George Washington is best known in his roles as a general and as the first U.S. president. But, as author Peggy Thomas shows in "Farmer George Plants a Nation" (Calkins Creek, $17.95), Washington reveled in being a man of the soil. Filled with examples of how Washington worked to find better ways to farm at his beloved Mount Vernon, Thomas' text highlights a lesser-known but interesting side of an American hero. Illustrations by Layne Johnson add color and texture to Thomas' portrait. The book concludes with a time line and bibliography, as well as a brief but key essay about Washington's feelings on owning slaves. (Ages 8-12.)-- Franklin Roosevelt was the coddled -- some say spoiled -- only son of a wealthy older father and overly protective mother. So it's no wonder that he had no idea of poverty or deprivation until he went off to boarding school at age 14. As author Judith St. George shows in "Make Your Mark, Franklin Roosevelt" (Philomel, $16.99), Roosevelt learned about the concerns of the wider world from both the rector of his school and his fifth cousin, Theodore Roosevelt. Eventually, Roosevelt's desire to change the world would lead him -- like his cousin -- into politics and into the White House. Part of a series designed to highlight "turning points" in the lives of famous Americans, St. George's new book is both fun and interesting to read. The illustrations by Britt Spencer underline Roosevelt's wealthy childhood as well as his energy and desire to improve the lives of the underpriviledged. (Ages 7-12.)-- Noted biographer Albert Marrin tackles the complexities of the "first modern president" in "The Great Adventure: Theodore Roosevelt and the Rise of Modern America" (Dutton, $30). Marrin explores the many sides of Roosevelt's personality, such as the contrast between his efforts to conserve the nation's parklands and his delight in big-game hunting. This is a dense volume, despite the many photographs and illustrations designed to relieve the long stretches of text, yet Marrin's writing ability -- coupled with the charismatic nature of his subject -- makes this book one that will readily attract young lovers of non-fiction. (Ages 12 up.)(Karen MacPherson, the children's/teen librarian at the Takoma Park, Md., Library, can be reached at Kam.macpherson(at)gmail.com.)(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
Good books looking at valentines and presidents
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