The House of Love

November 8, 2021
Though money is tight, a large Italian family finds a way to make February 14th festive in this tenderhearted tale set in the Appalachian Mountains. At the center of the sincere, densely worded book is the aptly named Mia Valentina Amore; with most of the family away for the day, it’s up to pale-skinned Mia and her mother to bedazzle their old house for a Valentine’s Day party. First they clean, wiping around the buttons that cover the windows’ holes and pulling down the parlor’s dingy wallpaper to reveal another layer with images of blooming roses. Next they decorate, framing custom valentines. When the family comes together for pasta dinner, it’s a joyous affair for all but Mia, who fears her own valentine has been forgotten; luckily, bedtime presents the child with a satisfying surprise. Trigiani’s sentimental prose is matched by Bates’s nostalgic, rose-hued watercolor, gouache, and pencil illustrations; the pairing makes for a heartfelt and sensitive holiday homage. Ages 3–7.

December 15, 2021
In a big, old house on a snowy hill, the Amore family of nine celebrates Valentine's Day. Mia Valentina, the youngest family member, and Mama clean the house and decorate for the Amores' favorite holiday. Then Mia's mother helps her make thoughtful but funny valentines for her 6 siblings. When Papa and the rest of the clan return home from a basketball game, Mia's siblings get a kick out of their valentines, and Papa presents Mama with chocolate cherry cordials, but no one gives Mia a gift. While the family has dinner and plays games, Mia's sadness seemingly goes unnoticed. It's not until bedtime that she makes a discovery that chases away her gloom. The pages of this book are text-heavy, making it a good springboard for young readers making the transition to chapter books. The light pink pages, cheerful illustrations, and homespun authenticity of the text will appeal to children. The cozy Appalachian mountain setting shines through. Crafty types will glean inspiration to create a gumdrop tree, custom valentines, or themed cupcakes. Mentions of an antique washing machine and patched-up windows establish the Amores as a working-class family. The old house and large family could be read as standard storybook fare or, by more critical readers, as a romanticized image of rural life, and the didactic ending feels old-fashioned. The Amores are White. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A sweet story highlighting nonromantic love during the Valentine season. (Illustrated text. 4-7)

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January 1, 2022

K-Gr 3-It's February 14th, Mia Valentina's favorite day. She and her mama spend it getting ready for a Valentine's Day dinner with their large family. Mia wants everything to be just right. As she lovingly works to bring beauty to one specific room, Mia rips down the faded brown wallpaper to discover that "A pretty wallpaper with hundreds of roses blooming inside a white trellis had been hidden under that dull brown wallpaper all along. It's an inside garden!" The joyous holiday spirit of Mia Valentina and her mother is present on each page as they decorate the house. "Top to bottom they went, up the stairs, through the rooms, and down the banister. Every room was bedazzled! Every corner had a Cupid! Every door, a garland." Careful attention to the details and rituals of holiday decorating is captured in vintage red and pink hues traditionally associated with Valentine's Day. The palette lacks a brilliance often seen in contemporary picture books, but the illustrations are textured and thoughtfully float the story along. VERDICT A sweet read for anyone who appreciates simple expressions of joy and the tenderness of a child's holiday cheer.-Maegen Rose

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