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February 13, 2015

Perfect Picture Book Friday - Slugs In Love (one more time :))

Woo hoo!  It's Perfect Picture Book Friday!

And not just ANY Perfect Picture Book Friday, mind you, but the one that's the day before Valentine's Day!

This is great!, I thought gleefully to myself last week.  Surely there are a plethora - a PLETHORA, I say -  of fantabulous Valentine's books that have been waiting all year for this day - THEIR day - the one time they can rightfully be shared!  I did a small jig in anticipation.

But day after day has gone by as I've searched for a great Valentine's Day book to share, and good golly if I haven't been just flat-out underwhelemed by titles I was hoping would knock my socks off!  (I myself have written two Valentine's books: A Valentine For Phyllis, which apparently failed to knock Holiday House's socks off since they declined the opportunity to publish it, and Be Mine, which left my agent's socks drooping around her ankles because, as she said, it's so hard to sell books that are only holiday books, so my efforts have been underwhelming too!  Oh, plus I mustn't forget my dreadful entry in the Valentine's Contest of 2012 - a "story" that just proves that with a low enough word count requirement I can barely make sense! :)  But we seem to have gotten off on a tangent here... and by "we" I mean would you guys please stop asking about my Valentine stories? Sheesh! We're here for Perfect Picture Books!)

Anyway, it would be morally wrong to post a book for Perfect Picture Books that I did not consider Perfect just so I could post a Valentine's Day book.  So instead, I will repost one of my favorite love books.

I am downright tingly with excitement because it is arguably one of the best love stories ever.  Are you ready?  It involves slugs.  What's not to love? :)

Slugs In Love
Written By: Susan Pearson
Illustrated By: Kevin O'Malley
Marshall Cavendish Children's Books, November 2006, Fiction
Suitable For: ages 4-8
Themes/Topics: love, friendship, perseverance, humor, Valentines Day
Opening:  "Marylou loved everything about Herbie - how his slime trail glistened in the dark, how he could stretch himself thin to squeeze inside the cellar window, how he always found the juiciest tomato.  Though she never spoke a single word to him - she was too shy - she thought about Herbie every morning and every night and most of the hours in between.

On Monday, while she grazed in the strawberry patch, Herbie filled her mind and a love poem filled her heart.  She wrote it in slime on the watering can."

Brief Synopsis:  (From Publishers Weekly) "Herbie keeps finding Marylou's poems, etched in slug slime and full of devotion, but Marylou keeps missing the longing letters he writes in return.  While she watches his every move, he can't find anyone who knows where she is so he can meet her."  How will the "slime-crossed" lovers ever meet?

Links To Resources:  Cool Facts About SlugsDoorknob ValentineFinger Puppet Valentine - (and with a little ingenuity, the last two could incorporate slugs! :))  Kids could make up their own poems like Herbie and Marylou.

Why I Like This Book:  It's sweet and it's funny.  It's maybe not technically a Valentines Day book (as in, it's not about Valentines Day) but it is about love/friendship on a level that I think kids can relate to.  Because Marylou and Herbie can't seem to connect, there's the added fun of rooting for the heroes. And the art complements the story perfectly.  It's so wonderful - really, I think it takes a genius to make slugs look so expressive :)

For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.

PPBF bloggers please be sure to leave your post-specific link in the list below so we can all come visit you!

Happy Valentine's Weekend, everyone!  May you all revel in hearts, flowers, and chocolate - especially chocolate :)


51 comments:

  1. Oh, I was going to read Slugs in Love to my class today! A couple of the students really like slugs.


    At least you made an effort to find a Valentine's Day related book. My choice, alas, is not. But it's still an interesting and entertaining read. You'd think as a teacher I'd be more organized, but I was up late making valentines for my students.

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  2. This is a great book! And I took the same route-about "love" without the Valentine's day connection so I think it's a great idea (hee hee). Enjoy a love-erly weekend.

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  3. Well, Valentines Day totally slipped through my cracks, Maybe it's because my mind is craked but I have to get this book. It sounds perfect for Valentines Day.

    Happy Valentines Day, Susanna! Don't freeze! Right now it's either zero out or one degree. It's hard to tell on the Thermometer. And don't get any more snow, OK? I know you want some but still, save some for the rest of us. :)

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  4. Awesome selection! Love, love, love the idea of slugs in love. Wish I had thought of it. And what a great line about his slime trail. OMG! So cute! Susanna, have a wonderful, chocolate and flower-filled Valentine's Day! :)

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  5. "Etched in slug slime..." Hahaha! How gross but sweet at the same time. :D

    We never celebrate Valentine's Day but I like kids books about the holiday.

    Happy Friday to you, Susanna!

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  6. So cute! Haha! I never thought slugs could look cute, but that cover is super adorable.

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  7. Slugs in Love! How perfect! especially love letters written in slime.... oh you've set the bar high today. I'm posting my review of "Henny" - which I think Erik reviewed ages ago, but I have some cool chicken beyond-the-book activities that I would love to share.

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  8. What a sweet book about love and friendship . I think it is a perfect story to read to kids on Valentine's Day, after all isn't that what it's all about -- love.

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  9. Oh, I was hoping to redeem my Groundhog Day contest delinquency with a Valentine's Day entry. Sigh! Maybe next year! ;)

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  10. Gotta love slugs in love. ;) So cute, Susanna! Happy Valentine's Day to you...I hope you get LOTS of chocolate. I'm having chocolate overload because I got a ton of yummy stuff for my b-day...chocolate bark with almonds, chocolate chunk popcorn, chocolate caramels with sea salt, double chocolate mousse cake...are you getting the theme here? ;) All I can say is that it's a lucky thing we've had all of this snow...and are slated to get a bunch more...at least I'm getting some exercise shoveling. ;) :) ;) Happy sledding!

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  11. Great choice, S. Any story that involves slime is OK in my book. (See what I did there?) Ditto mud, goose poop, puddle water, and things that smell bad.

    Love and licks,
    Cupcake

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  12. This sounds like a really sweet and funny book. Thanks for telling me about it.

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  13. Oh, a story of slime-crossed lovers! How can I resist their poetry in motion and Marylou's devotion? Will send my scouts to the library today so I can read it (and a few dozen other PBs) in the mountains over the long holiday weekend. Cheers!

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  14. Slug love back! Mosts definitely a perfect picture book! Keep at it - I do hope to see Phyllis in a romance book one day!!!

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  15. What a fun sounding book! How have I not heard of it? And "slime-crossed lovers" is like the best description ever. I'm so glad you shared (again)!

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  16. Star crossed lovers of the squishy kind... lol. At first I thought Yuk! But then I read your review. How cute and sad and funny. Great book choice Susanna!

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  17. This does sound super cute. Happy Valentine's Day and International Book Giving Day, Susanna! I'd imagine they'll be lots of chocolate giving to celebrate the day.

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  18. Slugs in Love sounds absolutely adorable. I love the cover and the story sounds great. I don't know of many Valentine's books. Thanks for sharing! :)

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  19. I have great intentions to read this one and apparently forget after Valentine's Day. The PPBF list has been wonderful the last two weeks. I've loved all the selections I found at the library and even ordered a few. I'm so ... burning through my book budget early this year. Have a happy Valentine's Day.

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  20. Ooh I haven't read that and it sounds adorable! I think you should try again with a Valentine's book Susanna. Let's all brainstorm and make it happen. Happy Valentine's Day!

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  21. This sounds like a great Valentine's book to me. Thanks, Susanna!

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  22. I hope you enjoy it, Joanne! You can't get much more romantic than slugs in love :)

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  23. You'll love this one, Catherine - it will appeal to your sense of humor, and it has rhymes in it! :) Thank you for your enthusiasm about a SLH Valentine's Day book :)

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  24. Book budget? You have a budget? You are so good. I just spend way too much money :) Happy Valentine's Day to you too!

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  25. There are fewer GOOD Valentine's Day books than one would expect. A lot of them are parts of series, like Fancy Nancy or Biscuit or Arthur or whatever. Slugs In Love isn't technically about Valentines, but it is about LOVE! :)

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  26. You know, one doesn't really need an excuse to give chocolate, but it does help to rationalize :) Happy Valentine's Day to you too, Cathy! :)

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  27. Oh, it's SO cute, Diane! You would love it! Herbie has a little blue baseball cap :) I promise you, I am not a slug lover in real life (I'm afraid I find them rather icky) but in this book they're adorable and sweet :)

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  28. It's fun, and sweet, and original and cute, Janet. You would like it :)

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  29. Phyllis just wants to be in another book - she doesn't really care what it's about as long as it's about HER. She feels like she has been slime-crossed!

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  30. They are pretty irresistible, Jilanne :) I hope your scouts have a successful mission so you have plenty of long weekend reading. A holiday in the mountains with a pile of books sounds idyllic! :)

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  31. It's very cute, Rosi. I hope you get a chance to read it :)

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  32. Clearly you have excellent taste, Cupcake :) I have heard that slugs don't taste very good... but I don't have personal experience with that :) Happy Valentine's Day!

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  33. I am officially drooling at your pile of chocolate, Vivian! I'm glad you were treated well for your birthday! My sledding will be in short bursts - it is so cold here that my dogs were shivering after being outside (and they have thick coats!)

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  34. You know, I ran a Valentine's Day contest that one year and it was fun, but that was before the Halloween and Holiday contests got so big. I keep wanting to run a contest for Groundhog Day or Valentines, but I worry that it comes too close after the other two and people will be burned out... Maybe we should put it to a vote!

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  35. You are so right, Pat! And it's nice to give the oft-overlooked slug a place in kidlit :)

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  36. Always love to have fabulous new activities! And I hope you get to read Slugs In Love, Sue - it's so cute :)

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  37. Oh wow! This is a new one! A slug queen? I definitely need details!

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  38. The story is adorable too - and the pictures - and the love poems :)

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  39. WHAT???!!! You don't celebrate the holiday that is ALL ABOUT CHOCOLATE? Poor Teresa. I might have to send you some so you aren't deprived!

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  40. It's so clever, isn't it, Robin? Slugs in love is really thinking outside the box! :) Thank you for the Valentine wishes - I hope yours is chocolate and flower-filled too! :)

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  41. I think you should hop on over to my house, Clar. We've got more snow than we know what to do with and it's falling right now. It's about zero and dropping, and the windchill tonight and tomorrow is supposed to be 25 to 55 below zero. Where is spring?! Have some hot chocolate! :)

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  42. Great minds think alike, Wendy! :) I'm behind at getting through the list - had to drive to Hartford yesterday - but I can't wait to see what you picked!

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  43. I hope your class likes it as much as I do :) And I look forward to seeing what you chose! (since I am behind this week and haven't gone through the PPBF list yet!)

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  44. This_Kid_Reviews_Books_ErikFebruary 14, 2015 at 8:27 PM

    Thanks for the reminder to read this book! :D

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  45. Oh, we *always* have chocolate in the house, Susanna! I think we have about 15 pounds of the edible kind and 10 of the baking kind right now (and I just ordered 5 more pounds of the baking stuff from King Arthur Flour). :D

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  46. oh. Slugs. They're kind of nice to roll around on. Who woulda thought they'd be in love?! Now I feel bad.

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  47. Just don't eat them. I've heard they're icky :)

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  48. My vote is for As Many Contests As Possible. (and I really dig the non-holiday ones, too!)


    No pressure! :)

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