Valensteins

Pops of pink brighten the dark colors, mostly black and white with some green and brown. Hysterically plays on kids’ stereotyped notions of love, hopefully putting some to rest.

K-Gr 2—This delightful follow-up to Long's Fright Club gives readers a glimpse into the heart of Fran (Frankenstein). When his friends catch him making a valentine, at first they can't figure out what he is doing. Vlad and the others' interpretations of what the pink heart represents are quite funny. Vlad thinks that the heart is a pair of fangs, the witch thinks it's a bat, the mummy thinks it's a nose, and the ghost thinks it's a paper butt. Bunny is the only one who recognizes the heart for what it is, and when she announces it to the others, shock and horror ensue. A hilarious discussion of what exactly love is and how it is expressed occurs. Bunny explains that a kiss on the lips is the ultimate expression of love. Vlad and the others, except Fran, decry the yuckiness of it all. Fran leaves once he can no longer take the ridiculous behavior of his friends and meets up with the source of all the fuss. Then he remembers what love really is. With perfect insight into a child's view of romance, this humorous book will undoubtedly resonate with young and old. VERDICT A brilliant combination of scary Halloween creatures and Valentine's Day sweetness. A first purchase that does double holiday storytime duty.—Heidi Grange, Summit Elementary School, Smithfield, UT

The monsters and animals from 2015's Fright Club are back, and one of them, Fran K. Stein, has love on his mind. "Hmm. Pink paper... Scissors... Glue... Are you making a mask?" guesses vampire Vladimir, turning two pink hearts into oversize fangs. "It looks like a paper butt!" the resident ghost chimes in. A lesson in what love means follows, leaving the creatures thoroughly disgusted--mushy feelings and the possibility of "kissing someone on the lips" terrify this crowd. There are lots of laughs to be found in Long's twilit cartoons and the banter among the characters, including the response of the recipient of Fran's valentine ("Tee-hee! It looks like a paper butt"). Long strikes a neat balance, recognizing how awkward Valentine's Day can be for kids and how exciting those same feelings can be. Ages 3-6. Agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen Literary Management. (Dec.)