THE BEST THING ABOUT VALENTINES

The title is sweetly misleading, since the ursine narrator enjoys everything having to do with February 14: immersing oneself in the valentine-making process ("Cutting paper and lace,/ smearing glue sticks/ and paste"), giving them to friends near and far, fashioning a class valentine for the teacher and, of course, being on the receiving end of a paw-shaped heart (made by the bear's pet dog). Melcher works in soft colors and tones, and populates her pictures with a cuddly menagerie, but she also peppers the pages with visual humor (the bear stands on his dog's head in order to reach the mail slot), and she consistently picks interesting framings. In a scene in which the teacher hands out class valentines, the illustrator shows the children at desk level, crowding together in eager anticipation. Hudson's concise rhymes make this a quick read—and an ideal prelude to preparing valentines for the class or launching into a heart-themed craft. Ages 3-5. (Jan.)