Mirabel’s Missing Valentines

Shy Mirabel, a little mouse with a fondness for hats and headpieces, “trembled at the thought of giving valentines away.” “Despite her nerves,” she makes the cards and bravely sets out for school along a grassy path and past a quiet city block. Readers will see what Mirabel does not: the valentines slip out of her bag. When she realizes, Mirabel is devastated, but the individuals she has crossed paths with—a lonely bunny, a father dog, a jogging fox, all delighted by the handmade paper crafts they find—hear her cry out and return them straightaway (“Your cards have made us smile!/ Thanks for sharing them with us,/ if only for a while”). The positive interactions embolden Mirabel to deliver her valentines at the class party and delight in those she receives in return. Mueller creates a snug community of anthropomorphic animals, leafy trees, and unassuming storefronts in this kind story about overcoming anxiety through practice. Ages 3–7. [em](Dec.) [/em]