Helpful Score: 1
A preschool teacher instructs her students to each make a valentine for another classmate. Thomas draws Gretchen's name and while she is his favorite girl in the class, the feeling is not mutual. In fact, Thomas and Gretchen do not share many interests, it seems, until his mother arranges for a Saturday play date at his house. While incredibly predictable, the story offers positive ways that young children can resolve differences. The gentle text, combined with Hoban's charming illustrations, is a surefire winner for the picture-book set, not just for Valentine's Day, but as a model for forging friendships at any age.
