Omni Daily Crush: Valentine's Reads for Little Cupids

Valentine's Day is one of those non-holiday holidays that kids love.  Fortunately, it's one of those gift giving occasions that cuts adults--still reeling from the real Holiday season--some much needed slack. Compared to say Halloween or Christmas, Valentine's Day is a breeze. Grown-ups get to treat the kiddies with a minimum of fuss. There's no need to spend a bundle or the better part of a weekend trying to get a hold of the season's "it" toy.  There are no costumes to sew, no instructions to decipher. Besides a sugary treat or two, and a sweet note, there isn't much standing in the way of total gifting satisfaction--for both parties.

Naturally, I like to put a book or two into the Valentine's goody bag with the chocolates and candy hearts. This year I've got my arrow pointed towards a few books, in particular, for little cupids. The first book is not new, but is certainly a favorite: Doodle All Year by the Japanese artist and author, Taro Gomi (best known for his Doodles: A Really Giant Coloring and Doodling Book and the global bestseller on potty training, Everyone Poops). This red-jacketed, chunky book features oodles of doodles (365 pages to be exact) of illustrations that Gomi has started, but the reader gets to finish. The book is organized into four sections each of which corresponds to a season. For example, the first section--Spring--has simple drawings of animals, flowers, birds and butterflies with helpful prompts and suggestions. One of my favorite doodles shows a polar bear and an owl with the caption "This polar bear and snowy owl are tired of being white. Quick color them!"  Another features two children, one holds an umbrella. Gomi invites us to "draw a spring rain shower." Turn the page, and you'll see the low horizon of a city scape with the suggestion to ""Draw hot air balloons floating over this town." Besides some lollipops or chocolate hearts, you might want to throw a pack of crayons in with this unusual and fun book for creative cupids. 

Barney Saltzberg, a master of funny books for cherubin with chubby fingers, offers the crazy cute storybook Kisses: A Pull, Touch, Lift, Squeak, and Smooch Book! just in time for Valentine's Day.  It's perfect for storytelling laptime, naptime or bedtime reading. The book's flaps and "touch and feel" textured areas will be irresistible to young readers. Throughout this story, a host of animals--from elephants and monkeys to otters and frogs, share kisses on heads and noses, ears and toes. A free MP3 of the "Kisses" lullaby accompanies the book.  This book is perfect for cuddly cupids.

I'm also loving the new Valentine's treatment of the contemporary classic Guess How Much I Love You (Sweetheart Edition) by author Sam McBratney and illustrator Anita Jeram. The book's designers chose to enclose this beloved story of two hares who express their immeasurable affection for one another within a bright red cloth cover. My copy got snapped up by an unnamed co-worker who insisted it was for his toddler son.  Or maybe it was for his wife?  In any case, this fine edition expresses just the right sentiment to readers of any age. This is the perfect gift for classy cupids. Oh, and did I mention that the Sweetheart Edition is printed and bound in Venice, Italy.  Now that's amore.  

--Lauren