Review Detail

VALENTINE'S GUEST HOUSE is a cute picture book about acceptance and inclusion. Elsie loves working at her family's guest house and helping the guests get what they need. When she finds a tiger who needs a place to stay, Elsie comes up with a great solution to help make a room to suit. However, all the human guests do not like that and they leave. Valentine fears they won't have guests anymore, but the tiger has a plan and invites others. As animals arrive, they make changes to the guest house, which makes it more welcoming for all their new guests.

What I loved: This is a whimsical and sweet story about inclusion. Elsie is a lovely character who really loves to go the extra mile to make guests feel welcome, no matter who they are. She and Valentine work to make each room to suit their new animal guests, improving the house along the way. While there may be some stumbles in making sure everyone is welcome and included such as when they lose their human guests, it really behooves them all in the end. This lesson is present throughout.

The illustrations are vivid and capture the story really well. Elsie and the tiger really come to life in the images. The font is large and clear throughout, making this easy to read. The length is great for young readers, and it will work well for toddlers and preschoolers.

Final verdict: VALENTINE'S GUEST HOUSE is a lovely picture book about inclusion and welcoming.