Valentine is a must for your preschool bookshelf! Illustrator Paddy Bouma does lovely watercolors for this sweet story, and Carrick weaves a tale good for any time of year.

Heather lives on her grandmother's farm with her mother, and every day her mother has to go to work. Heather's struggle to say good-bye is the theme of this story. What little girl doesn't want their mother to stay with them?

But Grandma is there. Heather and Grandma make Valentine's Day cookies, and then they go to the barn to take care of the animals. Heather discovers a brand new lamb that needs to be nursed back to health. She promptly names him Valentine. Heather forgets to be sad as she tucks Valentine in by the fire and gives him loving care. At the end of the day, Valentine is fine. Heather is happy, and there is a heart-shaped cookie waiting for Mama when she comes home to spend the rest of the holiday with her little girl. This is a perfect tale for reassurance to your child that even though you go to work, you will be back again.

Follow-up Activities

1. Bake Valentine cookies with your little one.
   
2. Teach your child the Baa Baa Black Sheep rhyme.
   
3. Talk about how we get wool from sheep, and what products (i.e. sweaters, blankets) are made from wool.
   
4. Hug your child close and tell them that even though you go to work, the best part of your day is coming home to them.