Flubby does not like Valentine's Day

PreS-Gr 1--On Valentine's Day, Kami wants to show her cat Flubby that she loves him. She tries it all--a card, a gift, and flowers--but nothing's right. This story treats the earliest readers to simple prose and appealing pictures that facilitate decoding skills. The author uses onomatopoeia in the story--"Achoo!"--and the pictures are clearly structured, with a graphic flair that includes thought bubbles and works in tandem to illustrate the story's action with a bright palette. The narrative presents the true nature of Valentine's Day as a holiday of love and care. Although the book does not discuss exactly why Flubby doesn't like Valentine's Day, the story's plot structure, unique presentation, and accessible text present an authentic holiday story to young readers. VERDICT A simple, fun text for the earliest of independent readers.--Jennifer Strattman

Having survived snow and sleep, Flubby faces his most dire opponent yet: heart-shaped holidays. Right from the start, Flubby's owner, a brown-haired child with brown skin, declares that since today is Valentine's Day, they intend to show Flubby some love. Flubby, a stubby-legged white cat with gray markings, reacts as any cat would--which is to say, he couldn't care less. Cards, fruit baskets, and flowers all prove insufficient gifts for an insufficiently interested cat--he can't read, he doesn't like to eat fruit, and the flowers make him sneeze. Fortunately, where gifts fail, good old-fashioned hugs are always a welcome choice. Any cat-owning kid reading this story may instantly recognize Flubby's very catlike instincts to curl up in an empty heart-shaped box or try to sit in the fruit basket. Humor is conveyed in Flubby's complete lack of facial expressions, more than anything else. The simple text, ideal for new readers, shines through, illuminating the heart within the story. As holiday titles go, this one sticks to the rudimentary basics of what it truly means to love your pet. Child readers may also find that they identify sometimes with the child owner, and sometimes with the preternaturally self-possessed Flubby. A holiday title worthy of even the most reticent feline companion. (Early reader. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.