BOBBY AND THE BIG VALENTINE

Big feelings call for a big valentine.

Bobby, a tan-skinned youngster with round spectacles, is smitten with his best friend, Eddie, a brown-skinned boy with a gap-toothed smile. Bobby and Eddie are inseparable. They ride bikes, they bake cookies, and for Halloween they even dress up together as a knight and prince. For Valentine’s Day, Bobby wants to show Eddie how much he means to him with a very special card. He has some pretty bold criteria: “The card would have to be colorful…and sparkly…and BIG! As big as Bobby’s heart felt when they were together.” Bobby creates a large heart cutout with many layers of meaning (and many layers of glue). Along the way, he has flashes of insecurity but also strong moments of resolve. “He [has] to believe that Eddie [will] always be by his side.” When the pair meet at school, Eddie has an equally large card for Bobby. In an explosion of hearts, rainbows, butterflies, and sparkles—along with the biggest, most joyful smiles on the two tots’ faces—Bobby and Eddie show the world their true feelings. Woitas expertly charts the quiet but potent dramas that Bobby experiences, while Sonda’s art—which turns delightfully childlike for images of the card—sets a gentle tone. This is a charming queer read-aloud, ideal for Valentine’s Day or at any time of year.

Demonstrates the courage of following your heart.