* Poems of Love by Allison Chambers Coxsey *

.The Bookshelf

* Click on the titles to learn more about these books

Valentine School Parties : What Do I Do?  by Wilhelminia Ripple - This gifted and talented author has provided her readers with a plethora of fun and innovative games, crafts, and treats to give any valentine sweet memories to treasure. If you want to win the children's heart this Valentine's Day, get this book. It has everything you need to plan a very impressive party for the classroom or a great program at the public library..

175 Easy-To-Do-Valentine Crafts  by Sharon Dunn Umnik - All of the projects include a list of readily available materials, clearly written directions, and a color photograph of the finished product.

Valentine Treats: Recipes and Crafts for the Whole Family  by Sara Perry - Nothing says "I love you" like gifts made from the heart, and anyone struck with Cupid's arrow will find plenty of inspiration in Valentine Treats. So say it like you mean it with nostalgic Antique Valentines and a Sweetheart Candy Box. If that's not enough to sway the fickle, then let them hear the sweet Pitter Patter of your Pancakes, and dive into your Chocolate Cookie Truffles. Even the littlest cherubs will join in the fun with simple nosegays, no-fuss Peanut Butter with Love Sandwiches, and Pixie Postcards. Cupid's arrow will hit the bull's eye this holiday with the enchanting ideas in Valentine Treats.

The Story of Valentine's Day  by Clyde Robert Bulla - Valentine's Day wasn't always a time for pink cupcakes and mushy greeting cards. Most scholars say this love-focused day leapt gleefully from the Roman holiday Lupercalia, a festival celebrated more than 2,000 years ago to mark the beginning of spring. After Christianity came to Rome, the Church decided to use this day to honor a priest instead. They renamed the holiday St. Valentine's Day, and scooted the date back to February 14. The Story of Valentine's Day, artfully illustrated by Susan Estelle Kwas, paints the history of this age-old occasion in a style and presentation that's as straight as a Cupid's arrow. Kids will learn about the mysterious character Valentine, how the tradition of the day spread to other countries, and when the very first valentine was written. If inspired, they can make their own old-fashioned valentines and sugar cookies with the instructions in the back! (Ages 8 and older)

Hearts, Cupids, and Red Roses: The Story of the Valentine Symbols  by Ursula Arndt - Why do we celebrate Valentine's Day? And what do cupids and lace have to do with anything? February 14 is a lighthearted occasion with ancient origins. No one is really sure who St. Valentine, patron of lovers, really was. According to one legend, he was a Roman priest who agreed to secretly marry young couples when Emperor Claudius II decreed that no one could be married because he needed men to fight wars instead. February 14, when Valentine supposedly died, was the eve of an important Roman festival--Lupercalia. On this evening, Roman youths drew the names of girls who would be their partners during the festival. In this lively and informative book, readers will read the first known valentine ever written (by Margery Brews in 1477), discover the golden age of English valentines, learn the difference between "rebus" and "puzzle purse" valentines, and more. "Enter Cupid" is a chapter tracing the symbolism and origins of the strange, heart-piercing, winged babies, and explanations of valentine symbols like flowers and hearts follow. Helpful supplemental material--a list of stories and poems for Valentine's Day, a bibliography, and index--will help young researchers as well.

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