The Yuckiest, Stinkiest, Best Valentine Ever

Illustrated by Tedd Arnold
Look inside
A fresh, funny Valentine's Day book for cootie- and candy-lovers alike—illustrated by picture book favorite, Tedd Arnold!


Leon has a crush. A let-her-cut-in-line-at-the-water-fountain kind of crush. And he's got the perfect valentine. But this valentine has no intention of getting caught up in any romantic conspiracy. "Love is yucky, kid! Valentine's Day is all about CANDY!" the card yells at Leon, before leaping out the window and running away, leaving Leon to chase it across town, collecting kids along the way. Saying "I love you" has never been so yucky or so sweet.


"...a boisterous, just-sweet-enough comic caper."—The New York Times  
Tedd Arnold  is the author of such children's classics as  No Jumping on the Bed! and No More Water in the Tub! He has published more than 50 books as author and illustrator. He has received  The Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor for I Spy Fly Guy and has won The Edgar Award for his Young Adult Novel, Rat Life. View titles by Tedd Arnold
Praise for The Yuckiest, Stinkiest, Best Valentine Ever

"Get ready to enjoy a laugh-out-loud, fast-paced adventure involving a secret crush, a runaway valentine with an attitude and lots of candy."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"With its creative story line and upbeat writing, this picture book is a must for holiday collections."—School Library Journal

"Navigates the palm-sweating sweetness of first love with tenderness, humorously echoed by Arnold's nervy graphics."—Publishers Weekly

"...a boisterous, just-sweet-enough comic caper."—The New York Times

Accolades for Tedd Arnold

I Spy Fly Guy! - Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book
Rat Life - Edgar Award Winner and Children's Book Sense Pick
Hi! Fly Guy - Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book
Axle Annie - Smithsonian Notable Book of the Year
Parts - Parents Magazine Best Children's Books
No More Water in the Tub! - IRA-CBC Children's Choice
Green Wilma - IRA-CBC Children's Choice and Parents' Choice Spring's Finest Picture Books
No Jumping on the Bed! - IRA-CBC Children's Choice

About

A fresh, funny Valentine's Day book for cootie- and candy-lovers alike—illustrated by picture book favorite, Tedd Arnold!


Leon has a crush. A let-her-cut-in-line-at-the-water-fountain kind of crush. And he's got the perfect valentine. But this valentine has no intention of getting caught up in any romantic conspiracy. "Love is yucky, kid! Valentine's Day is all about CANDY!" the card yells at Leon, before leaping out the window and running away, leaving Leon to chase it across town, collecting kids along the way. Saying "I love you" has never been so yucky or so sweet.


"...a boisterous, just-sweet-enough comic caper."—The New York Times  

Author

Tedd Arnold  is the author of such children's classics as  No Jumping on the Bed! and No More Water in the Tub! He has published more than 50 books as author and illustrator. He has received  The Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor for I Spy Fly Guy and has won The Edgar Award for his Young Adult Novel, Rat Life. View titles by Tedd Arnold

Praise

Praise for The Yuckiest, Stinkiest, Best Valentine Ever

"Get ready to enjoy a laugh-out-loud, fast-paced adventure involving a secret crush, a runaway valentine with an attitude and lots of candy."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"With its creative story line and upbeat writing, this picture book is a must for holiday collections."—School Library Journal

"Navigates the palm-sweating sweetness of first love with tenderness, humorously echoed by Arnold's nervy graphics."—Publishers Weekly

"...a boisterous, just-sweet-enough comic caper."—The New York Times

Accolades for Tedd Arnold

I Spy Fly Guy! - Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book
Rat Life - Edgar Award Winner and Children's Book Sense Pick
Hi! Fly Guy - Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book
Axle Annie - Smithsonian Notable Book of the Year
Parts - Parents Magazine Best Children's Books
No More Water in the Tub! - IRA-CBC Children's Choice
Green Wilma - IRA-CBC Children's Choice and Parents' Choice Spring's Finest Picture Books
No Jumping on the Bed! - IRA-CBC Children's Choice

2024 Elementary School Collection

The Penguin Random House Education Elementary School Collection features outstanding fiction, nonfiction, and picture books from Penguin Young Reader’s, Random House Children’s, DK, and Grupo Editorial, as well as children’s publishers distributed by Penguin Random House. Explore online or download this valuable resource to discover great books in specific topic areas such as: Leveled Readers,

Read more

DK Learning Phonic Books Sampler Request

Thank you for your interest in DK Learning | Phonic Books. To download the DK Learning | Phonic Books sampler with four complete readers, please click here and complete the form. Once your information is successfully submitted, a link to download the sampler will be provided on the confirmation screen.   Click here to learn

Read more

PRH Education Translanguaging Collections

Translanguaging is a communicative practice of bilinguals and multilinguals, that is, it is a practice whereby bilinguals and multilinguals use their entire linguistic repertoire to communicate and make meaning (García, 2009; García, Ibarra Johnson, & Seltzer, 2017)   It is through that lens that we have partnered with teacher educators and bilingual education experts, Drs.

Read more

PRH Education Classroom Libraries

“Books are a students’ passport to entering and actively participating in a global society with the empathy, compassion, and knowledge it takes to become the problem solvers the world needs.” –Laura Robb   Research shows that reading and literacy directly impacts students’ academic success and personal growth. To help promote the importance of daily independent

Read more