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Snowy Valentine
Step out into a snowy Valentine's Day with Jasper the bunny as he searches the forest valley for a special gift for his loved one.
In his picture-book debut, David Petersen, the Eisner Award-winning creator of Mouse Guard, tells a delightful tale that becomes the perfect way to say "I love you."
Bring this sweet story home to your Valentine today.
26 pages, Hardcover
First published December 6, 2011
About the author
David Petersen
142 books334 followersNote: There are more than one David Petersen on GR's database. For catch-all profile, see here (dissambiguated via 7 spaces).
David Petersen was born in 1977. His artistic career soon followed. A steady diet of cartoons, comics, and tree climbing fed his imagination and is what still inspires his work today. David won the 2007 Russ Manning Award for Most Promising Newcomer. In 2008, David won the Eisners for Best Publication for Kids (Mouse Guard Fall 1152 & Winter 1152) and Best Graphic Album – Reprint (Mouse Guard Fall 1152 Hardcover). He is the creator of the Mouse Guard series and is excited to be working on projects he dearly loves doing. David and his wife Julia reside in Michigan with their dog Autumn.
David Petersen was born in 1977. His artistic career soon followed. A steady diet of cartoons, comics, and tree climbing fed his imagination and is what still inspires his work today. David won the 2007 Russ Manning Award for Most Promising Newcomer. In 2008, David won the Eisners for Best Publication for Kids (Mouse Guard Fall 1152 & Winter 1152) and Best Graphic Album – Reprint (Mouse Guard Fall 1152 Hardcover). He is the creator of the Mouse Guard series and is excited to be working on projects he dearly loves doing. David and his wife Julia reside in Michigan with their dog Autumn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
February 12, 2017
3.5 stars Cute. Extra half star for the unexpected threat of death by stew, but rounded down for the unnecessary expository last sentence.
February 7, 2018
I thought this little story was cute. I love the end. As far as Valentine's stories go, this is a good one, not sappy. There is also a scary moment with the fox.
The kids enjoyed this one with the animals and the story. They were engaged. I enjoyed the artwork. It was cozy like winter.
This little story made my heart melt and lifted me up.
The kids enjoyed this one with the animals and the story. They were engaged. I enjoyed the artwork. It was cozy like winter.
This little story made my heart melt and lifted me up.
January 23, 2013
Super cute woodland critters abound as a bunny goes searching for the perfect valentine for his wife. This would have been four stars except I did not like one of the scenes and I also could have done without the didactic message tacked on to the end, the adorable gift the bunny ultimately gives his wife conveyed the point perfectly.
January 28, 2016
Sweet story and beautiful pictures. The fact that it's about a married bunny looking for a gift for his wife for Valentine's Day reminded me of Beatrix Potter or the picture books of my youth, when not every person and creature in a picture book was required to be 5 years old.
December 24, 2016
Very cute, simple read about Valentine's Day!
February 6, 2020
Jasper the bunny wants to give his wife Lilly something special for Valentine's Day, but he isn't sure what it should be. Traversing the valley, he visits the other animals, getting ideas - and in the case of Teagan the fox, getting into some hot water! - but nothing seems quite right. It is only at the end of his trip that he realizes his trek through the snow has inadvertently created a lovely gift: a massive heart shape that can be seen from his home on the hill...
Having greatly enjoyed David Peterson's Mouse Guard comics, I was curious to see what the author/illustrator would do with Snow Valentine, which was his debut picture-book. Overall, I found it a sweet little Valentine's Day confection, one which paired a heartwarming tale with cute illustrations. As a fox lover, I was amused by the little episode with Teagan - so frequently, in these anthropomorphic tales, predator and prey are friends, but not here! Recommended to anyone looking for sweet, engaging picture-books for Valentine's Day.
Having greatly enjoyed David Peterson's Mouse Guard comics, I was curious to see what the author/illustrator would do with Snow Valentine, which was his debut picture-book. Overall, I found it a sweet little Valentine's Day confection, one which paired a heartwarming tale with cute illustrations. As a fox lover, I was amused by the little episode with Teagan - so frequently, in these anthropomorphic tales, predator and prey are friends, but not here! Recommended to anyone looking for sweet, engaging picture-books for Valentine's Day.
January 6, 2012
Jasper has no idea what to give Lilly for Valentines Day. He visits his friends' home to see what they're giving to their loved ones, but none of their ideas are right for Lilly. But somehow, he manages to find something that's just perfect.
I'm always looking for new Valentines Day books to read to the kids at school. Good ones are kind of hard to come by. I liked this one quite a bit. The ending surprised me and it wasn't too silly or sappy. Plus, this is the cutest bunny in all of children's literature. His ears are so stinkin' long--longer than his body--and his tiny little black-bead eyes are adorable. He is just the cutest. The. Cutest. I also loved all the animals' homes; they were beautifully drawn.
On a side note: am I the only one in the whole wide world who read the names Jasper and Lilly and immediately thought of M.T. Anderson's Whales on Stilts???
Probably.
I'm always looking for new Valentines Day books to read to the kids at school. Good ones are kind of hard to come by. I liked this one quite a bit. The ending surprised me and it wasn't too silly or sappy. Plus, this is the cutest bunny in all of children's literature. His ears are so stinkin' long--longer than his body--and his tiny little black-bead eyes are adorable. He is just the cutest. The. Cutest. I also loved all the animals' homes; they were beautifully drawn.
On a side note: am I the only one in the whole wide world who read the names Jasper and Lilly and immediately thought of M.T. Anderson's Whales on Stilts???
Probably.
January 20, 2012
It's cute. A bit cheesy at the end--but the younger kids probably won't get that. And I don't mind some good cheese now and then! :-) The fox part was a little creepy (and sad!). But I liked the end. What I loved most were the pictures. Beautiful with some great details to admire.
May 8, 2013
Super corto, pero lindo. Es una historia romantica sobre un conejo que no sabia que regalarle a su esposa el dia de san valentin. Afortunadamente todo sale bien y se gana un besito. <3
Quisiera que David Petersen me ilustrara alguna historia. Algún dia tendre para pagarle :P
Quisiera que David Petersen me ilustrara alguna historia. Algún dia tendre para pagarle :P
February 23, 2014
The frightening fox who tries to eat the protagonist (a rabbit searching for the perfect gift for his bunny valentine) ruins an otherwise okay story. My four-year-old didn't care for it, and I thought it was bizarre. Hands down the worst children's Valentine's book we've read.
February 10, 2022
3 stars for the ending.
Upon flipping the first page I saw the hobbit-looking house in the hill for with round windows.
The porcupine kids were so cute, their quills sticking out of their little overalls and onesies.
Frogs’ house looked like Hagrid’s hut. The spider design in the window panes was cool though. Nice touch.
Miriam the Frog was giving her husband chocolate colored flies. The frogs weren’t too cute…
I didn’t like that the animals all had human names. Jasper the bunny, his wife Lily. Frogs Miriam and Landon. Teagan the fox.
The fox lived in a medieval looking house. The white with the wood frames. I liked all the historical houses.
Teagan looked creepy from the get-go. A fox standing upright wearing clothes. And his creepy yellow eyes. I can’t believe the turn the story took.
I thought the word vixen was a little weird to put in a kid’s book.
Teagan is also having trouble gifting his wife something and thinks rabbit stew will be perfect & puts Jasper in the pot!
He looked so sad with his ears down.
When Teagan steps away Jasper springs from the pot. He looked even sadder plodding home wet and dripping, his ears flopping over.
The cardinal home was so cute, a house made of sticks in the tree!
It was odd for cardinals to wear necklaces though…
It looked like he went all over but from the view of the burrow you could see every house he had been to and the big looping path he made. It was cute seeing everyone’s houses all tiny.
It confused me when it said Lily saw the heard he made. It took me a couple minutes. I flipped back to the page and saw it meant the footsteps in the snow made a heart!! How cute! Completely accidental.
Cardinal must have seen the heart shape in the snow and said it looked like he’d given her a wonderful gift already.
‘Jasper’s journey showed the greatest gift he could give: his love for her.’
It is cute the author wrote this, his first picture book, for his wife.
The book was odd and random with the fox but the ending was cute, and had a nice little lesson. It’s not about the gift you give. Sometimes you don’t even need a gift at all. Do something sweet and meaningful and show your loved one how much you care for them. That’s what it’s really about.
Upon flipping the first page I saw the hobbit-looking house in the hill for with round windows.
The porcupine kids were so cute, their quills sticking out of their little overalls and onesies.
Frogs’ house looked like Hagrid’s hut. The spider design in the window panes was cool though. Nice touch.
Miriam the Frog was giving her husband chocolate colored flies. The frogs weren’t too cute…
I didn’t like that the animals all had human names. Jasper the bunny, his wife Lily. Frogs Miriam and Landon. Teagan the fox.
The fox lived in a medieval looking house. The white with the wood frames. I liked all the historical houses.
Teagan looked creepy from the get-go. A fox standing upright wearing clothes. And his creepy yellow eyes. I can’t believe the turn the story took.
I thought the word vixen was a little weird to put in a kid’s book.
Teagan is also having trouble gifting his wife something and thinks rabbit stew will be perfect & puts Jasper in the pot!
He looked so sad with his ears down.
When Teagan steps away Jasper springs from the pot. He looked even sadder plodding home wet and dripping, his ears flopping over.
The cardinal home was so cute, a house made of sticks in the tree!
It was odd for cardinals to wear necklaces though…
It looked like he went all over but from the view of the burrow you could see every house he had been to and the big looping path he made. It was cute seeing everyone’s houses all tiny.
It confused me when it said Lily saw the heard he made. It took me a couple minutes. I flipped back to the page and saw it meant the footsteps in the snow made a heart!! How cute! Completely accidental.
Cardinal must have seen the heart shape in the snow and said it looked like he’d given her a wonderful gift already.
‘Jasper’s journey showed the greatest gift he could give: his love for her.’
It is cute the author wrote this, his first picture book, for his wife.
The book was odd and random with the fox but the ending was cute, and had a nice little lesson. It’s not about the gift you give. Sometimes you don’t even need a gift at all. Do something sweet and meaningful and show your loved one how much you care for them. That’s what it’s really about.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2018
This caught my eye, because I didn't realize that David Petersen had done a picture book, and I love his art in the Mouse Guard books. Here it shines in the same way: detailed natural scenery, adorable animals, and wonderful little houses where they live. The story is sweet, but the text lacks the sparkle of the illustrations.
February 19, 2022
A beautifully illustrated story that follows Jasper, the bunny, who goes off to search for the perfect Valentine's gift to give his wife. I really loved all the characters he met along the way. No spoilers. I highly recommend this book to everyone for Valentine's Day.
March 1, 2022
loved this one so much - such beautiful art and a sweet story. I read this to my cats and while they lost interest after a couple of pages (this always happens) I enjoyed it by myself.
February 3, 2018
Sweet little book with endearing illustrations of Jasper the bunny’s journey through the woods and the encounters he has with friends and foe while seeking a Valentine’s present for his wife Lilly.
February 1, 2018
Jasper is adorable, but the end of this book is definitely on the cheesy side. Luckily, preschoolers don't mind cheesy, and this will be a good read for my Valentine-themed storytime. I think the kiddos will be particularly interested in Jasper's run-in with Teagan the fox.
February 12, 2016
Jasper bunny loves his wife Lilly very, very much. Valentine's Day is approaching and he has nothing worthy to give to her to show his great love. He bundles up one winter's morning and ploughs his way to his neighbours' homes for a visit. He hopes perhaps they can inspire him and help him find that perfect gift.
First stop is Porcupine's snug dwelling. The whole family is busily knitting beautiful scarves for mama. Although the scarves are lovely poor Jasper doesn't even know how to knit so that won't help him out much. Next on his list is the Frog family. Mariam Frog displays the perfect gift to him, in her opinion anyway. She shows Jasper a lovely gift box filled with chocolate-covered flies. The ideal gift for a frog...but for a bunny? No that will not work Jasper thinks.
Everett Raccoon is peddling "beautiful blooms and fantastic flowers", but unfortunately the cold has made them all wilted and dead looking...not a love-gift that Jasper wants to give to his beloved wife. Of all the gifts that he witnesses none are appropriate or befitting to give to his darling wife.
Fox invites Jasper inside his abode and spouts off about the perfect gifts to give. During that visit Jasper almost becomes part of the Valentine's Day gift that Fox wants to give to his vixen... a tasty, yummy rabbit stew. Oh my! Jasper luckily escapes. Cold, wet, downhearted and tired he trudges home. On the way a beautiful red cardinal shows him a lovely necklace of winter berries, but Jasper hardly notices he is too heartbroken. Poor Lilly whatever shall he give to her to show his undying love?
From the cardinal's perch high in his tree he can see exactly what Jasper can give. A true gift of love that isn't manufactured but comes out of a pure heart...one that shows Lilly his true love. When she sees what Jasper has created from his caring, tender heart she is thrilled and has an exceptional, happy Valentine's Day.
The artwork started with pencil drawings, then ink. Peterson used photos of fabric and other items then arranged them to get the effects that he desired. The story works well as a read aloud for a group but especially when curled up on a cold winter's eve, snuggled together under the covers and shared one-to-one. Because there is so much emphasis on the winter theme in this book it would be ideal to share all season long.
First stop is Porcupine's snug dwelling. The whole family is busily knitting beautiful scarves for mama. Although the scarves are lovely poor Jasper doesn't even know how to knit so that won't help him out much. Next on his list is the Frog family. Mariam Frog displays the perfect gift to him, in her opinion anyway. She shows Jasper a lovely gift box filled with chocolate-covered flies. The ideal gift for a frog...but for a bunny? No that will not work Jasper thinks.
Everett Raccoon is peddling "beautiful blooms and fantastic flowers", but unfortunately the cold has made them all wilted and dead looking...not a love-gift that Jasper wants to give to his beloved wife. Of all the gifts that he witnesses none are appropriate or befitting to give to his darling wife.
Fox invites Jasper inside his abode and spouts off about the perfect gifts to give. During that visit Jasper almost becomes part of the Valentine's Day gift that Fox wants to give to his vixen... a tasty, yummy rabbit stew. Oh my! Jasper luckily escapes. Cold, wet, downhearted and tired he trudges home. On the way a beautiful red cardinal shows him a lovely necklace of winter berries, but Jasper hardly notices he is too heartbroken. Poor Lilly whatever shall he give to her to show his undying love?
From the cardinal's perch high in his tree he can see exactly what Jasper can give. A true gift of love that isn't manufactured but comes out of a pure heart...one that shows Lilly his true love. When she sees what Jasper has created from his caring, tender heart she is thrilled and has an exceptional, happy Valentine's Day.
The artwork started with pencil drawings, then ink. Peterson used photos of fabric and other items then arranged them to get the effects that he desired. The story works well as a read aloud for a group but especially when curled up on a cold winter's eve, snuggled together under the covers and shared one-to-one. Because there is so much emphasis on the winter theme in this book it would be ideal to share all season long.
February 22, 2018
Jasper is hunting for the perfect Valentines gift for his bunny mate, Lily. Will he think of something, or become rabbit stew for a fox in the end? A lovely picture book about how gifts are not always physical items. Adorned by bright and beautiful illustrations that give you a feeling of a quaint bygone time!
December 19, 2016
The creator of the Mouse Guard graphic novels has written a sweet Valentine's Day story about a rabbit named Jasper Bunny who can't decide what to give his wife, Lilly for Valentine's Day. All the other animals in the woodland neighborhood where he lives have their gifts picked out. Miriam the frog will give her husband chocolate-covered flies, for example. Teagan the fox even tries to cook Jasper to give his wife the gift of rabbit stew! Ultimately, though, after walking the perimeter of the whole forest, Jasper realizes he has created the perfect gift without even trying. His tracks around the woods have formed a heart beginning and ending at his very own front door.
This is the kind of heartwarming book preschoolers and early elementary school kids can appreciate around Valentine's Day. They don't know much about romance just yet, but they know plenty about familial love and comfort, and they might even know about trying to find perfect gifts for those they care about. Jasper, though clearly a married adult, becomes child-like because he is a rabbit, and not only do kids learn about the tastes and habits of different animals, they also learn to appreciate the idea that it's the thought that counts much more than any tangible object. The illustrations are beautiful, immersing the reader in the snowy world of Jasper's forest surroundings, and accurately portraying animals while still humanizing them enough to make the story work very well.
David Petersen's talents are well-suited to the picture book genre. I hope to see more from him!
This is the kind of heartwarming book preschoolers and early elementary school kids can appreciate around Valentine's Day. They don't know much about romance just yet, but they know plenty about familial love and comfort, and they might even know about trying to find perfect gifts for those they care about. Jasper, though clearly a married adult, becomes child-like because he is a rabbit, and not only do kids learn about the tastes and habits of different animals, they also learn to appreciate the idea that it's the thought that counts much more than any tangible object. The illustrations are beautiful, immersing the reader in the snowy world of Jasper's forest surroundings, and accurately portraying animals while still humanizing them enough to make the story work very well.
David Petersen's talents are well-suited to the picture book genre. I hope to see more from him!
November 30, 2011
This is a delightful book. I first met David Petersen when Mouse Guard was just starting out. I had the wonderful opportunity to interview him for a website that I was working with at the time and I have been a fan of his work ever since. Snowy Valentine is nothing like Mouse Guard, except that it embodies the same care and attention to detail, the same since of wonder and joy in the world and in life, and the same charm that Mouse Guard personifies. I hope this is only the first of a long series of similarly charming and warm-hearted books for younger readers. My only complaint was that it was so short.
January 27, 2015
Finding a Valentine's gift is no easy task as Jasper can tell you. In this picture book by author-illustrator, David Petersen, it can be quite dangerous. I didn't feel it was necessary to add the encounter with Jasper and the fox, but it did help to break up the corniness. What Jasper discovers in the end will leave you saying, "awww....how sweet!" Some people think the narrative quote in the end is a bit didactic. That was my first reaction, but I actually love it. It made the story extra special and meaningful. This is a sweet, lovely, and charming Picture book, perfect for Valentine story time that children will adore.
March 1, 2016
I know, it’s past Valentine’s Day, but this has become a beloved book at my house, read many times. Jaspar Bunny is out in the snow visiting neighbors, looking for the perfect Valentine for his wife, Lilly. On his way, he decides that knitting scarves (like the porcupine children) will not work for him, and chocolate-covered flies (like Miriam Frog has for her husband) are just not the right thing. Jaspar has quite an adventure exploring Teagan Fox’s ideas, too, but in the end, the gift is found. With gorgeous acrylic paintings with black outlining showing the animal families and the snowy out of doors, this is a wonderful Valentine’s love story with a happy surprise ending.
March 29, 2016
What a sweet book in the true spirit of Valentine's Day. Jasper Bunny goes in search of the perfect gift for his wife Lilly, but despite visiting numerous other forest friends, can't find just the right thing. Dejected, he returns home empty-handed, to turn and discover that his footprints have traced out a huge heart in the snow below the burrow - proving that his journey for a gift showed his love more than any item could. This is David Petersen's first picture book, and while the writing has some awkward transitions, the idea and pictures are top notch.
March 4, 2017
This was a sweet Valentines story, a rabbit set out in search of the perfect gift for his wife. He walked through the snow to neighbors to see what all they were exchanging as gifts and although all those gifts were perfect for them nothing seemed 'just right' for his wife. But as she steped out the door to look for him she looked down in the valley and saw that he had walked in a heart shape in the snow 'just for her'... and the perfect gift wasn't material but what he was for her.
January 16, 2012
"Jasper Bunny spends a snowy Valentine's Day visiting his forest friends in hopes of finding the perfect gift for his beloved Lilly."
Very sweet story and I absolutely loved the artwork. The pictures with Jasper outside with the sun slowly rising were beautiful, and I sometimes forgot I was looking at a children's picture book.
Very sweet story and I absolutely loved the artwork. The pictures with Jasper outside with the sun slowly rising were beautiful, and I sometimes forgot I was looking at a children's picture book.
February 9, 2015
Jasper has no idea what to get his wife, Lilly, for Valentine's Day. He goes on a journey to see what his neighbors are doing for their loved ones to get ideas. At the end of the day, he hasn't found anything--but his path created a huge heart in the snow! Lilly loved it.
Good for preschool storytimes.
Good for preschool storytimes.
September 17, 2011
I am not a big fan of most holiday picture books. Too often they are overly sweet. However, I love David Petersen's illustrations and this book is no different. And the story is sweet but I enjoyed it and the twist at the end.
February 13, 2012
A debut picture book for the author.
Jasper, the rabbit husband of Lilly, doesn't know what to givenheer for Valentine's day. after a stroll in his snowy woods neighborhood, he has made the perfect gift for Lilly. Charming.
Jasper, the rabbit husband of Lilly, doesn't know what to givenheer for Valentine's day. after a stroll in his snowy woods neighborhood, he has made the perfect gift for Lilly. Charming.
April 11, 2012
Oh my gosh! This is such a sweet story...I'm going to suggest that my son buy it for his wife because her name is Julia, just like the wife of the mouse who is trying to find the perfect gift for Valentine's day!
January 21, 2013
Couldn't resist the bunnies in the snow on the cover, the old fashion illustrations and the story is wonderful. Maddie enjoyed it and with all these Valentine's books she'll be Valentined out by Feb. 14th.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews