To surprise Snake on Valentine's Day, Turtle makes a card and buys Snake's favorite treats. But Snake is secretly watching his friendÆs preparations, and in the end Turtle's the one who's surprised--by Snake's Valentine's Day party. Readers can enjoy spotting Snake in the simple illustrations for this genial, accessible story, the seventh in a series. Instructions for making a Valentine are included. From HORN BOOK Spring 2004, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

After celebrating Halloween and Christmas together, Kate Spohn's buddies return for Turtle and Snake's Valentine's Day. The story follows Turtle as he runs errands in town, buying presents for his best friend, Snake; beginning readers also can look for the surreptitious Snake in each scene, as he has a Valentine's surprise of his own. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

PreS-Gr. 1. Turtle and Snake celebrate Valentine's Day and their friendship in this latest installment in the Viking Easy-to-Read series. After Turtle makes a valentine for Snake, he visits different shops, where he buys Snake's favorite cookies, candy, flowers, and toys, and where he runs into other animal friends preparing for the special day. When Turtle delivers his gifts, Snake surprises him with a Valentine's Day party, filled with all their pals. Once again Spohn's cheerful, spare artwork and simple words will engage the youngest readers, while the story of generous friends sharing Valentine's Day rituals may help children prepare for the holiday. --Gillian Engberg Copyright 2004 Booklist

PreS-Gr 1-With appealing artwork and a simple text, this lighthearted tale of friendship is just right for beginning readers. Turtle is planning a Valentine's Day surprise for his pal Snake. First he makes a card, and then he shops for Snake's favorite goodies, meeting other friends along the way. After wrapping the presents and donning a spiffy Valentine's Day outfit topped with a red beret, Turtle heads over to Snake's house, only to be surprised by Snake's gift to Turtle: a Valentine's Day party, attended by all the special buddies that he had seen earlier that day. A running visual gag has Snake "hiding" at the shops visited by Turtle. Boldly colored illustrations complement the short sentences and repetitive vocabulary. Directions for making a valentine are included. A holiday treat as sweet as a candy heart.-Mary Ann Carcich, Hampton Bays Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.