ALA Booklist (Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2011)

Jasper, a long-eared rabbit, is worried about Valentine's Day. He can't seem to find the right gift for his wife. The search leads him to see if he can pick up ideas from the other residents of the valley. The porcupine family tries teaching him to knit a scarf like they're making for Mother, but Jasper is a butterfingers. Miriam is giving her husband chocolate-covered flies, but she's a frog. Teagan the fox wants to make Jasper part of a present to his wife: rabbit stew. After his escape, Jasper tells a cardinal that he fears he'll never find a present, but the bird shows him how he's already provided one. The big payoff he walked to various houses, Jasper's footsteps have outlined a heart diminished by the fact that it will be hard for young ones to actually make out the shape of the heart. That's too bad, because the rest of the story is quite sweet, and punctuated with bits of humor and suspense. Petersen, the creator of the Mouse Guard comics, makes his picture-book debut here.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Petersen, creator of the Mouse Guard comic-book series and winner of an Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids (2008), impresses with his picture-book debut about a bunny's earnest quest for the perfect Valentine's Day gift for his wife. It is Valentine's Day, and Jasper has no gift for Lilly. He sets off in the snow searching for inspiration from his neighbors. Industrious porcupine children knit scarves for their mother, but Jasper just gets tangled up. Elegant Miriam the frog's chocolate-covered flies won't do, and neither will Everett the raccoon's wilted flowers. When Teagan the fox invites Jasper in to "brainstorm by the fire," he ends up "in the soup!" After escaping, poor Jasper is droopy-eared, wet, defeated. When he encounters Spalding the wise cardinal, he blurts out his worry and frustration at remaining empty-handed. "The cardinal looked thoughtful. ‘Hmm…. From where I sit, …you have given Lilly a wonderful gift already.' " The dramatic page-turn reveals Lilly outside their burrow looking down on the valley, where Jasper's footprints from his long journey have traced a huge heart in the snow. Lush, detailed illustrations drawn in ink and then digitally colored enrich the cozy reading experience. Superbly designed and executed with love; children of any age will appreciate the story's message and celebrate Jasper's quiet success. (Picture book. 4 & up)

Horn Book (Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2012)

Jasper Bunny can't think of the right Valentine gift for his wife. He tramps through the snow to his neighbors' houses looking for ideas. Finally, he discovers he has inadvertently created the best Valentine of all: a huge heart-shaped path in the snow. Petersen uses a strong black line and rich colors in his wintry illustrations for this tale with primarily grown-up appeal.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Petersen, creator of the Mouse Guard comic book series, makes his picture book debut with the story of Jasper, a rabbit who is determined to come up with the perfect Valentine-s Day gift for his wife, Lily. It-s a familiar premise, and so is the resolution, which is unnecessarily spelled out at book-s end: -Jasper-s journey showed the greatest gift he could give: his love for her.- However, the project exudes so much charm that readers aren-t likely to mind. With dapperly attired characters like Miriam the frog (who has prepared chocolate-covered flies for her beloved) and Teagan the fox (who has rabbit stew in mind for his wife, much to Jasper-s alarm), Petersen-s storytelling and artwork offer hints of Beatrix Potter and Kenneth Grahame. It-s a world that readers will be happy to lose themselves in. Ages 3-8. (Dec.)

School Library Journal (Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2011)

Gr 3-6 This brief picture-book biography attempts to introduce Parrish to a new generation. Harris gives a cursory account of his subject's childhood in the late 1800s as the son of artist parents, his training in America and France, and his success as a book illustrator and print artist. The text is sprinkled with direct quotations from Parrish's letters to friends and family, which gives it some interest, but Harris's writing, overall, lacks sparkle. Black-and-white photographs of people and places in Parrish's life and color reproductions of some of his most famous works for children are included. The photos and illustrations are large enough to see clearly, but the unimaginative page layout and typesetting give the book a blocky feeling. Unlikely to have much appeal to children in general, this work may be of interest to report writers. It may also be a useful companion to some of Parrish's illustrated books, including The Knave of Hearts (Calla Editions, 2008). Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT

Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

Petersen, creator of the Mouse Guard comic-book series and winner of an Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids (2008), impresses with his picture-book debut about a bunny's earnest quest for the perfect Valentine's Day gift for his wife. It is Valentine's Day, and Jasper has no gift for Lilly. He sets off in the snow searching for inspiration from his neighbors. Industrious porcupine children knit scarves for their mother, but Jasper just gets tangled up. Elegant Miriam the frog's chocolate-covered flies won't do, and neither will Everett the raccoon's wilted flowers. When Teagan the fox invites Jasper in to "brainstorm by the fire," he ends up "in the soup!" After escaping, poor Jasper is droopy-eared, wet, defeated. When he encounters Spalding the wise cardinal, he blurts out his worry and frustration at remaining empty-handed. "The cardinal looked thoughtful. ‘Hmm…. From where I sit, …you have given Lilly a wonderful gift already.' " The dramatic page-turn reveals Lilly outside their burrow looking down on the valley, where Jasper's footprints from his long journey have traced a huge heart in the snow. Lush, detailed illustrations drawn in ink and then digitally colored enrich the cozy reading experience. Superbly designed and executed with love; children of any age will appreciate the story's message and celebrate Jasper's quiet success. (Picture book. 4 & up)