Customer Reviews

Saint Valentine

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

I am six years old, in 2nd grade (homeschool) and I read this book today. It's about how Valentine was a doctor and how he cares about people. Children will love this book because of his kindness and how he cares about other people. The pictures look like beautiful little stones. Children will learn a lot from this book.
By Sky

I wish I had a book like this for St. Nicholas, but I will look for one on St. Patrick too. This is a really interesting book.

The most touching children's literature I have read all year! The strikingly beautiful illustrations are intricately detailed mosaics (made with "marbelized and hand-painted papers adhered to speckletone paper") which add to the sacred tone of to this tender story.

This story is based closely on history, and spans far beyond a "Catholic" or "Christian" world view. Sabuda relates the account in story form, and then provides more details of the account in his final page "Notes on the text." The beauty of kindness, human purpose, and Valentine's ability to love and care for others outside of his own beliefs is truly inspirational.

I consider this essential cultural material in any home or classroom that values teaching from a variety of worldviews.

As Sabuda retells, Valentine was a priest and physician who cared for the sick and injured in his city, ancient Rome, even if they were not part of a church. He becomes close with a Roman jailer and his blind daughter as they regularly visit him for treatment of the child's eyes. The author does a beautiful job of factually stating the conflict against "Christians" at that time in Roman history. His recounting of how Valentine is captured and jailed is age-appropriate for his elementary audience without being morose; he balances it sweetly with the highlight of the story: before Valentine is taken away, he is able to slip a note to the jailer for his daughter that reads, "From your Valentine."

Valentine's secretly-given message (also his final words), becomes not only the beginning of traditional love-note giving, but also the Roman jailer's daughter regaining her sight! (This medical miracle, as it were, is delicately put, leaving the reader to decide his or her own beliefs. However, the author later recounts in his notes that "the jailer's daughter...it was said truly did regain her sight.")

If you teach, or if you are a reading family, this book is a must!

Reading Level: 5.4

*SPOILER ALERT*

Valentine is a doctor who works for whatever his patient can afford which sometimes is nothing at all. However, he hides a dark secret: instead of following the Pope, he is a Priest of the Christian faith. One day, a jailer brings his blind daughter to him for assistance. Valentine refuses payment as he cannot guarantee that his treatment will work. His faith ultimately leads to his death when the Emperor orders that Christians be executed. The jailer comes to visit and says there is nothing he can do to help. He sends a letter home with him to his daughter that simply reads "from your Valentine" along with a Crocus. The child can see the flower for the first time and realizes she is cured. A historical note at the end of the story details the reason behind Valentine's death, his rise to Sainthood, and how the holiday came to be.

My Opinion

I am always leery of religious materials in the classroom but the religious aspect was more of a side note relating to the reason for his death rather than an emphasize of the book. The tile mosaic pictures are interesting and colorful. Due to its length, the book can be read in its entirety very quickly. 'I like lots of details and would have liked to see more in the story. I think this is a great read-aloud story for 1-3 graders; the vocabulary is too difficult for them to read on their own. When I read this with my 4&5 graders, they thought the story was merely okay. We used cut-up paint chips (free from Home Depot, etc) to create mosaic valentine pictures that came out cute as an extension to the story.

Excellent book. I agree with all the reviews written. I do, however, think it is better for older children, rather than younger ones. The book does mention some concepts that I am not ready for my four year to know, such as the concept of execution. (St. Valentine was executed.) I am going to wait a few years before I read it to her.

A lovely rendition of St. Valentine's life. Some good solid historical fact amidst a story of how it "might have been". I love kids' books that are engaging and interesting enough that I don't mind reading it over and over again, and this is one of them.

Saint Valentine is my Confirmation Saint, and when I found this book I was just so happy. I remember being in second grade, twitching in my uniform as my teacher told us the story.
I had an obsession with Saints, and this story was just beautiful. The pictures and everything are superb.
It's one of my favorite children's Saint's books.