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