VALENTINE MICE!
by Bethany Roberts & illustrated by Doug Cushman
The stars of Halloween Mice! are back, but this time they're celebrating a different holiday. Four lively mice scamper through a snowy landscape, delivering valentines to all the woodland creatures, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, badgers, beavers, and more. In their exuberance, the three older mice don't notice right off (although observant readers will) that they've left their young companion behind. They track him down and rejoice in a Valentine's reunion. Simple rhythmic text and action-packed line and watercolor illustrations will draw young readers in; Cushman includes welcome details—such as a tag-along chickadee- -that enhance the story, and mixes full-bleed and framed illustrations to emphasize high points in the text. (Picture book. 3-6)