From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2--Lilly has one red-foil-wrapped chocolate heart left and she wants to find the perfect hiding place for it. However, every place the little mouse considers is either too dusty, too warm, too tight, too narrow, or just wrong. She finally decides to put the candy in her mouth: "Perfect." The straightforward text is printed on pastel-colored pages facing a picture of Lilly on a white background. This is a delightfully simple tale, but not really a concept for the under three-year-olds who would appreciate the board-book format. Slightly older children will enjoy the story but they're likely to be turned off by the packaging. Too bad.--Nancy A. Gifford, Schenectady County Public Library, NY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Book Description

Lilly loves her chocolate heart.
Will she save it?
Forever and ever?
What do you think?


About the Author
Kevin Henkes lives in Madison, Wisconsin. His novels include the Newbery Honor book Olive's Ocean, and The Birthday Room, Protecting Marie and Words of Stone. Among his picture books are Owen, a 1994 Caldecott Honor Book; Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse; and Julius, the Baby of the World. His latest picture book is Kitten's First Full Moon. In His Own Words... "I remember drawing at a very early age. I loved it. And my parents and teachers told me I was good at it -- that made me love it all the more. "I also loved books, and the ones I was lucky enough to own were reread, looked at over and over, and regarded with great respect. To me great respect' meant that I took them everywhere, and the ones I still own prove it. They're brimming with all the telltale signs of true love: dog-eared pages, fingerprints on my favorite illustrations, my name and address inscribed on both front and back covers in inch-high crayon lettering, and the faint smell of stale peanut butter on the bindings. I wondered about authors and illustrators back then -- #148; What did they look like? Where did they live? Did they have families? How old were they? -- but I never imagined that one day I would be one myself. "I became an author-illustrator when I was nineteen years old. I flew from my home in Racine, Wisconsin, to New York City with my portfolio, hoping to find a publisher. And magically enough Susan Hirschman at Greenwillow Books made my dream come true. My first picture book, All Alone, was published in 1987. Since then I've written and illustrated many picture books and written several novels. I like the variety of trying new ways to fill the pages between two covers. Experimenting with words and paint and ink keeps my job interesting. "I used to live with my parents and brothers and sister and work at a card table in my bedroom. Now I live with my wife, my son, and my daughter in our own house and work at a drawing table in my own studio. I never thought I'd be lucky enough to be a real author and illustrator. I wouldn't trade it for anything."

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
The star of Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse is back with a tasty treat in this sprightly, warmhearted board book from Kevin Henkes.

Decked in fuzzy green slippers and pink housecoat, a crown-wearing Lilly has one Valentine's Day chocolate heart and wants to keep it safe. Unfortunately, several locales aren't quite right: under the bed is dusty, inside the dresser is messy, and behind the radiator is warm. Where will she put it? Not to worry, for with a look of satisfied resolution, Lilly decides the best place is right in her tummy.

An ideal, simple read for Valentine's Day -- and any occasion that asks for a witty story with a stellar character -- Henkes's board book is sure to keep kids smiling broadly. Lilly's candy dilemma will resonate with any child who's experienced the shocking dismay of having only one piece of candy left, but they'll quickly understand that Lilly's solution has its sweet rewards. A delicious addition to Henkes's original board books, which include Wemberly's Ice-Cream Star and Julius's Candy Corn. Matt Warner

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Lilly loves her chocolate heart.
Will she save it?
Forever and ever?
What do you think?

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

A slew of board books feature characters new and old. Kevin Henkes's exuberant mouse is back in an original board book for Valentine's Day, Lilly's Chocolate Heart. As Valentine's Day draws to a close, Lilly faces the dilemma of where she should save her very last chocolate heart. Seeking the perfect place to stow her treasure, she ultimately determines that chocolate is made for eating. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature - Sharon Salluzzo

It is almost time for bed on Valentine's Day and Lilly has just one red foil wrapped heart left. She decides to save it and looks for the perfect place to keep it. Each place she checks just isn't suitable: It is too dusty under her bed, too messy inside her dresser, too warm behind the radiator, too narrow on top of the picture frame, and too tight in the bookcase. Then Lilly discovers the perfect place—and pops it into her mouth. Henkes continues his tribute to holiday sweets, and this latest creation doesn't miss a beat. Children familiar with Lilly will quickly point out certain special accessories on and about her dresser. Her facial expressions and body language are very expressive and add much humor. The brief text has just the right adjectives to describe each prospective location. The illustrations showing Lilly presenting the problem and the solution are on the left-hand pages. The scenes showing Lilly's search for the perfect place are presented on the right-hand pages. A book for Valentine's Day and for chocolate lovers to enjoy everyday. 2004, Greenwillow/HarperCollins, Ages 2 to 5.

Library Journal