The Gilbert books are in Celia's curriculum library. Reread her review for that Thanksgiving one if I like this (or am not sure about it).

A story about how to write Valentine's Day cards.

It's that time of year when everyone in class is expected to create sweet Valentine's cards for their classmates. As Gilbert finds out, it sure is easy when you like someone, but what are you supposed to do when you don't? When Gilbert decides to use his Valentine's to get back at two students who wronged him in the past, things don't go quite as he planned. Check out this heartfelt picture book of friendship and forgiveness to read with your little one before the holiday.

The Bottom Line: This sweet tale is perfect for kids in grades K - 2. Students tempted to use their Valentine's to get back at someone might think twice after reading this picture book. Children and adults alike will appreciate the engaging illustrations in watercolor. Highly recommended for school and library story times. ( )

This is a great story to read during Valentine's to teach lessons relating to being kind and treating people the way you'd like to be treated! The story has great illustrations and students are really able to connect with what is happening to Gilbert. I have used this story to teach problem and solution. Gilbert does not want to write a kind Valentine to two of his classmates and comes up with his own solution that ends up not being the best choice. Great read! ( )

Great story for many different factors; students can write letter to pen pals in class or different classroom, learn about poems and the different kinds- which rhyme, etc. ( )

its valentines day and gilbert decides it would be a good idea to make mean cards and pretend that they are from other people in the class. this mades everyone mad a gilbert because he wasn't being a good friend. so at art he decides to make new cards saying sorry.
1 book

I used this book in my high school English as a Second Language classroom. Students enjoyed the humor of the story. It gave us the opportunity to learn/use romantic, friendly and mean phrases all at once. This story's approach to Valentine's Day appealed to the students who like the "love" of the holiday and to those who despise it. ( )

I really like this book mainly because while working in a three-year-old classroom, it was one of their favorites to read during story time. I think the plot of the story is very well-written because it leaves the readers thinking about cause and effect. For example, because the main character got his feelings hurt by classmates Lewis and Maggie, he writes them mean valentines, and because of this they don't want to play with him anymore. I also enjoyed the extra-textual features such as the Valentine cards that were on the pages of the books that had valentine messages written on them. The big picture of this book was to teach children to be nice to each other, and that being mean can hurt other people's feelings.

I liked this book for many reasons. One thing that I liked about this story was the illustrations. The author used very bright colors and filled the entire page with the illustration. I thought that this really enhanced the story because I was able to picture jumping into the story and knowing what my surroundings would look like. I also like that the illustrations portray the characters emotions. For example, when Gilbert is pondering what he should do about writing nice poems to students who were mean to him, his facial expressions, particularly through his eyes and mouth, show that he is very upset and unsure of what to do. Another reason I liked this book was because of the plot. Although the characters are animals, the plot is extremely relatable. Many kids face the issue of bullying and I think that this story did a wonderful job of portraying how Gilbert dealt with the situation and what he learned. The plot was suspenseful when Gilbert wrote mean poems and signed another students name. This event kept the reader engaged and wanting to find out if he would get caught. The plot included sad events, such as the bullying, but ended happy with Gilbert resolving the issue. I like that the plot engages the reader by taking them through various emotions. I believe that the main message of this story is that people make mistakes, there are reasons for there actions, and that it is important to give second chances. ( )

I read this book to a kindergarten class the Wednesday before Valentines Day. It was a cute book that had pictures of what Valentine cards look like and different Valentine poems. The main character Gilbert write two not nice Valentines to his classmates and signs them the other person's name. He causes pandemonium between his classmates but it is never to late to change your mind and be nice on Valentines Gilbert finds out.

This is a book about an opposum named Gilbert who wrote two mean Valentines cards for two classmates who had bullied him and signed their names. None of Gilbert's classmates want to be near him when they find out what he did so Gilbert wrote new Valentine's poems and is forgiven in time for the Valentine party.

I love the full page illustrations and the story has a good lesson to treat others nicely.

This would be a good book to read around Valentines day. after reading this I would encourage students to write something nice to their classmates. ( )

This is a really great book. The pictures are bright, colorful and amazing. ( )

I would have this book in first or second grade classroom. It is a good story for children, and it shows them that being nice to eachother is very important. I would also read this around Valentine's Day.

This is a great book to teach one that saying mean things has consequences.

This book is about a little opossum named Gilbert that chooses to write mean valentines to the animals that are mean to him at school but he does not sign his name he gets caught and feels really bad so he wrote them new nice valentines before the day was over.

Things I felt bad for doing when I was little.

Talk to the Children about feelings and a good way to introduce poems maybe around valentines let them create their own valentine with rhyme.

"This Valentine's Day favorite read-aloud will prompt lots of giggles, as well as discussions on kindness and forgiveness.
Gilbert is all set to write fifteen friendly valentine cards to his classmates. But how can he write a nice poem for the boy who tweaked his nose, or the girl who made fun of his glasses? Instead, Gilbert writes two not-so-nice valentines...and signs the wrong name on both!
When his classmates read his poems, their feelings are hurt, and Gilbert's prank quickly turns into pandemonium. But with the help of a friend and an honest apology, there's always time for a change of heart on Valentine's Day." -- Annapolis Valley Regional Library