Danny's Mystery Valentine

The earnest alligator from Danny's Birthday is back, trying to figure out who slipped a valentine under his door. He and his mother decide to find out. But his friends didn't do it, neither did the baker (who offers heart-shaped cookies), the stationer (who has cut a string of hearts from paper) or the pizza man (whose pizza departs from the traditional round shape in honor of the day). Back at home, the sender of the valentine is waiting for Dannyhis grandma. Danny is slightly less ingenuous in this new book, and it's not really clear why his mother takes him on the wild goose chase: she probably knows about the granny, and he's not interested in any other valentines. But Kunhardt's pictureswith a flat perspective, wavery black lines and offbeat paletteimpart a fresh appeal to a sweet mystery. Ages 3-6. (August)