It was a lovely book with a lot of unexpected action. It was informational because it showed some things that goats like. It caught me off-guard at the end. ( )

In "Mr. Goat's Valentine" by Eve Bunting, the main character is a goat. He looks around for a cute gift for his first love. The ending of the book is not how I expected it to end. However, I think children ages five through seven would enjoy the story and the illustrations throughout the book. I think that children would find it funny and entertaining at the end to find out who he was finding gifts for. I would use a book like this in my future classroom. I could use it to entertain and allow them to make guesses about Mr.Goat's first love. It would allow them to practice comprehension and thinking through the story as they read books in the future. Animal fantasy is a book where the main characters are animals with human personalities and characteristics. This book would be a great way to introduce this genre. ( )

Mr. Goat's Valentine is a cute and colorful picture book that illustrates the love people share with one another on Valentine's Day. The book follows Mr. Goat as he travels through town collecting items for a Valentine's Day gift for his "first love". After collecting items that only a goat would enjoy, Mr. Goat presents the gift to his "first love". All readers are in for a treat and a chuckle as they watch the goat deliver his heartfelt gift!

Overall, I find this fantasy picture book to be an engaging and entertaining story for children. One of my favorite aspects of the book is Mr. Goat's giving heart. As young readers follow Mr. Goat through town as he puts his gift together, they will likely feel inspired to give from their heart as well. Another aspect of this book that I really enjoy is the colorful illustrations. The detail in the images and the bright colors grasp my attention and make me want to keep turning the page. Lastly, I love the mystery of Mr. Goat's "first love" throughout the book. This mysterious aspect keeps readers guessing until the amazing reveal at the end.

Truthfully, the only aspect of this book that leaves me a little disappointed is the conclusion of the story. I wish the author would have chosen to include more detail and extend the conclusion to show more of his "first love's" reaction. While I wish the ending would have been different, I still think the book redefines Valentine's Day for children in a successful way.

In the end, I would rate this picture book a solid four out of five stars. The plot of the story is certainly unique and entertaining. Children in preschool through first grade will love viewing the illustrations and reacting to the items that Mr. Goat collects on his journey to create his gift. This book can be a fantastic story to read during a classroom Valentine's Day party. Ultimately, I believe this picture book illustrates the sentimentality and love behind Valentine's Day, teaching children to be appreciative of the people who deeply care for them. ( )