Saint Valentine [Paperback]

Robert Sabuda (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: January 1, 1999 | Age Range: 4 and up

How did Valentine's Day, one of our most popular holidays, begin?

It started in ancient Rome when a kind physician named Valentine took an interest in a young blind girl. With his healing skill and his deep faith he restored her sight. What we now call Valentine's Day began when he sent the little girl a secret message, which she received after the Christian martyr was executed. For this tale rich in sentiment, master illustrator Robert Sabuda has created exquisite paper mosaics to suggest early Christian art that resonates with both subtlety and power.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Stunning mosaics of marbleized and hand-painted paper depict this legend of Valentine," said PW in a starred review. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

In ancient Rome there lived a gentle and humble man named Valentine. He was a physician, but he was also a Christian priest whose life and freedom were in constant danger in a city of people who believed in so many gods, not just one. So Valentine tended to his patients in the daytime, but he prayed for them only at night.

One day a jailer from the emperor's prison appeared at Valentine's door with his small child, a girl who was blind. Knowing the difficulty of curing blindness, Valentine vowed to do his best, and over the weeks of treatment and prayer the three became fast friends. But even his friendship with the jailer could not save Valentine when the Roman soldier came to imprison him.

Here, accompanied by Robert Shabuda's dramatic mosaics evoking the time period in which the story takes place, is the story of a man whose goodness and faith brought about a miracle, and whose name lives on today in one of our most celebrated holidays. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin; First Aladdin Paperbacks edition January 1999 edition (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689824297
• ISBN-13: 978-0689824296
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #210,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #74 in Books > Children's Books > Biographies > Religious

More About the Author

ROBERT SABUDA is the co-creator of the first book in this series, ENCYCLOPEDIA PREHISTORICA: DINOSAURS. And he is the force behind many stunning best-selling pop-up books, including America the Beautiful, Alice in Wonderland, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and Winter's Tale: An Original Pop-up Journey. MATTHEW REINHART is the co-creator of ENCYCLOPEDIA PREHISTORICA: DINOSAURS. And he has created many other award-winning pop-up books, including the Young Naturalist's series, The Ark, Animal Opposites, and Cinderella: A Pop-Up Fairy Tale.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Attractive Story of St. Valentine for Elementary Kids! February 14, 2001

By Volkert Volkersz

Format:Hardcover

I was just handed this attractive story about Saint Valentine by a 3rd & 4th grade teacher who is using it in her classroom as part of her Valentine's Day activities. I'm the librarian at a public elementary school, so I read through it quickly with great delight. Since we don't have it in our collection, it is one I hope we can acquire before Valentine's Day next year!

While this story is about a saint of the Christian faith, the religious aspect of the story is toned down and not preachy. While Valentine's faith, and his role as a priest, are woven into the story, the text emphasizes his role as a physician and his relationship with the blind daughter of a Roman jailer who seeks healing. The "Notes on the text" at the end of the book explain Valentine's connection with the celebration of love.

The warm colored mosaics, with their icon-like appearance, are a fitting complement to the text. This book is visually appealing, and both the size of text and word choice make it appropriate for primary and middle grade readers.

It's my opinion that "Saint Valentine" would be a welcome addition to both school and church libraries, as well as in the collections of families who want to see historical, and saintly, figures like this come to life.

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Account of St. Valentine's Life (Legend) February 26, 2000

By E. Webster

Format:Hardcover

While we cannot be sure that the story of St. Valentine given here is true, due to the lack of historical data, Robert Sabuda gives a wonderful rendition of the St. Valentine legend as most Catholics know it. Kids love the story, the miracle, and the sacrifice that St. Valentine makes for his love of God. I've read it to first through fourth graders on several occasions. We then discuss faith legend, martyrdom and miracle at their age level. The illustrations are fabulous mosaics. I highly recommend this book to parents and teachers!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfectly retold for children April 23, 2007

By M. A. Ramos VINE™ VOICE

Format:School & Library Binding

This is the perfect book to read your child. In it you read a story about Saint Valentine. It explains how he was a physician that lived in ancient Rome about two hundred years after Christ. That he was a very kind and giving man. He was a physician and a Christian priest at a time when they were persecuted.

His faith and dedication is told as he treats his patients during the day and prays for them all night. The incident the author tells of Saint Valentine ministering to the small blind child is what is purported in this book to be the beginning of the giving of flowers on his feast day.

This is a wonderfully told story.