This Is Not a Valentine

By Carter Higgins and Lucy Ruth Cummins

In this picture book, a girl’s gift of a Valentine to a boy prompts a tale with an enduring message of friendship.

This book is not a valentine. It doesn’t have lacey edges or sugary hearts. But it is full of lucky rocks, secret hiding spots, and gumball machine treasures. This is a book about waiting in line and wishing for cinnamon buns. About recognizing that if you care so much about someone not thinking you care, maybe you really do. But wait—isn’t that exactly what love is about? Maybe this book is sort of a valentine after all. A testament to handmade, wacky, bashful, honest love—sure to win over the hearts of all readers—this offering from debut picture book author Carter Higgins and children’s book veteran Lucy Ruth Cummins is the perfect gift to celebrate every relationship, from parent to child, sibling to sibling, partner to partner, crush to crush.

Praise for This Is Not a Valentine 

“A perfect book for kids who find the whole Valentine's Day holiday icky and overrated.” —Book Riot

“A beautiful celebration of love and how different that may look to others celebrating Valentine's Day.” —ReaderTotz

“[Cummins’s] cartoon cast is a diverse one, and refreshingly, this is more about deep friendship than romantic love; her kids are definitely just that: kids. . . . A sort of anti-valentine for those who want to show the ones they love they care without being all mushy (or spending any money).” —Kirkus Reviews

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Dec 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781452169156

Carter Higgins

Carter Higgins is an elementary school librarian, book blogger, and former graphic designer. A Rambler Steals Home is her debut novel. She lives in Southern California.

Book preview

Reviews for This Is Not a Valentine

[abigailadams26 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Although the young boy-narrator of this sweet little picture-book insists that each gift and message he gives his friend is NOT a Valentine, it is clear that they indicate great fondness and attachment. They also demonstrate that the boy knows the object of his affections quite well, from her interests to her preferred colors. In the end, despite the absence of glitter and chocolate, can it really be said that these aren't Valentines...?A warmhearted look at young friendship, one that explores the distinction between substance and show in our demonstrations of love, This Is NOT a Valentine is author Carter Higgins' picture-book debut. The story is sweet, although I did finish it with the feeling that I liked the concept - style vs. substance - more than the actual execution. The artwork, done by Lucy Ruth Cummins, is quite fun, capturing the schoolroom and playground antics of the two main characters quite nicely. Recommended to anyone looking for new picture-books suitable (the title notwithstanding) for Valentine's Day.