Saint Valentine

Aladddin Paperbacks, 1992

"When the jailer returned home that day, he was greeted by his daughter. He slid the scrap of papyrus out of his waist belt, unrolled it, and handed it to the child.

"What does it say, Father,?" asked the child as a yellow crocus fell from the small scroll into her hand.

"From your Valentine," her father read.

Slowly the child held up the blossom before her face and for the first time watched its color dazzle like the rays of the afternoon sun."

---

Robert Sabuda

Sabuda (1965 - ) studied at the Pratt Institute of Art accompanied by an internship at Dial Books for Young Readers.  He has illustrated nearly fifty books with more than half of those designed and created as pop-up books. Sabuda's received world-wide recognition for the incredible innovative nature of his pop-up paper engineering. He has also used other unconventional techniques such as faux stained glass, batik and mosaic murals -- as in Saint Valentine -- to illustrate children's books.

---

Book Synopsis

Learning Options

Sabuda has adapted one of the legends of the three Saints named Valentine recognized by the Catholic Church. In this story, a kind doctor uses his healing skill and faithful prayer to restore sight to a Roman jailer's young daughter. Just before his death, Valentine asked the jailer to give his daughter a message which was signed "From Your Valentine." Sabuda's story focuses on sacrificial love rather than romantic love.

---

Picture book, middle chapter book readers, 28 pages. Paper mosaic illustrations suggesting early Christian art aid in telling the Saint Valentine's Day origin story.

---

Messages on social media, as well as in entertainment sources, about romantic love are constant. Purposefully teaching about friendship, familial love and altruistic love provides a balance for a healthy understanding of the concept.

Family Read Aloud Time
The illustrations in Saint Valentine should be spread out as flat as possible for child viewing - this is a let's sit on the floor-read-aloud-book!  The two-page spreads are ideal for a leisurely perusal by parents and children alike.

Classroom Resource
Saint Valentine is an excellent resource for two different units: mosaic art and the history of holidays. It's a lovely classroom read aloud, best used with upper elementary students.

Learning at Home
If you celebrate holidays in your home school, then this title is great for learning about the possible origins  and traditions of St. Valentine's Day while creating your own mosaic art. Here are a few resources to draw from your toolbox when you are ready to create lessons for your children:

• Britannica' Valentines Day
• Scholastic's Activity Plan: Mosaic Art
• Artrageous Art Studio Paper Mosaic

---