Wednesday 14 February 2018
If books be the food of love, read on! Happy International Book Giving Day and Valentine's Day, we have some lovey-dovey suggestions for loved up pressies!
International Book Giving Day and Valentine's Day coincide annually and we reckon that books make the most romantic presents to give to your loved ones.
There are, of course, as many children's books about love as there are songs about the moon (and if you get that reference, you can be in my gang) so let's have a look at a few beauties from recent years that we truly genuinely love to bits ourselves.
First is "I Love You Stick Insect" by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros. It's the adorable tale of a stick insect who seems doomed to be alone, until he meets the object of his desires.
His friends are a little embarrased though and don't want to point out the obvious - that his new lady love is, in fact, a stick.
The story hinges on the perfect awkwardness of seeing someone so blissfully happy in their ignorance that their friends don't know if it's the right thing to do - to break the spell, to tell the poor lovesick individual the truth. You know what it's like when you're the friend of someone who is so recklessly intent on their love that they do not see disaster ahead.
"I Love You Stick Insect" by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros is out now, published by Bloomsbury.
Next, a book we loved to absolute bits when we first encountered it.
They have their differences - in fact Grandad Lolo loves nothing better than scoffing Sardines (bleugh!)
Grandma Lola isn't quite as easily won over by these (extremely good for you but nevertheless gross) culinary delights. But when Lola decides to stock up on her hubby's favourite food on a fateful fishing trip, she goes missing.
Trapped in an Octopus's tummy, Lola soon realises that she'll starve unless she eats the one plentiful supply of food to hand. Yep, you've guessed it, sardines!
There are so many deft and wonderful little touches in this book, and it's utterly and completely romantic too.
"Sardines of Love" by Zurine Aguirre is out now, published by Child's Play
Ah, unrequited love. Is there any greater pain to be in as a hopelessly romantic soul? (I speak from experience - NO!)
Elephant is in love but sadly the object of his affection doesn't even know he exists, so he spends a lot of time staring at the clouds in the sky, writing terrible poetry, making sure he's clean and tidy and dressed to the nines (that all sounds horribly familiar).
But if his lady elephant love doesn't know who he is, what on earth will he do?
Love goes hand in hand with hope, and there's a lovely surprise at the end of the book for our poor lovelorn chap. We do love a happy romantic ending and this gorgeously presented book is a delight (hint: If you get the hardback version of this, look under the wraparound cover!)
"When an Elephant Falls in Love" by Davide Cali and Alice Lotti is out now, published by Chronicle.
Feeling warm and fuzzy yet? Suitably loved up? No, well let us tempt you with more storytelling morsels...
Digging back into the archives now for something of an overlooked classic...
It's a bit awkward when someone spends all their time chasing you around, giving you the gooey eyes and cooing at you every opportunity they get. So the poor nameless boy in this story squirms, blushes, wriggles and is rather embarrased - until Jennifer Jones moves away and he realises he actually rather misses her kissy-kissy faces and invasions of personal space.
Honestly, the rhymes in this just trip off the tongue, Neal Layton is as brilliant as ever with some crackingly great illustrations for this - and we really urge you to hunt down a copy - just like Jennifer Jones hunts down the object of her affections. Awwww! We loved it enough to make it book of the week back in the day, and we're pretty sure you'll love it too.
"Jennifer Jones Won't Leave Me Alone" by Frieda Wishinsky and Neal Layton is out now, published by DoubleDay.
I think we've got time for one more, there's always time for love, right?
This one was a bit of a slide under our radar but ended up being one of the contributing graphic novels to C's current obsession with all things comic.
A true love story, a child friendly one at that - and there's cake! I mean what more can you say of a story that pays subtle homage to all the classic vampire stories, and cooks up such a cool premise. A mysterious baker with a heart of gold, set to win over the King's daughter with his elegance and charm.
It's well worth finding and it's such a beautifully touching story that it deserves a place in our rather offbeat Valentine's Day lineup (and of course would make the PERFECT giveaway on Book Giving Day, just like all the other titles here!)
"Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula" by Andi Watson is out now, published by First Second.
Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Book Giving Day xxxxx
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