A Valentine for Norman Noggs - Hardcover

Gregory, Valiska

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0060276568 ISBN 13: 9780060276560

Publisher: HarperCollins, 1999

Synopsis

She loves him.
She loves him not.

Wilhemina is the new girl in class. As soon as Norman sees her, he knows he'd do anything for her. But Norman isn't the only one who likes Wilhemina. And he's not even the biggest or the toughest guy around. Norman decides the only way Wilhemina will notice him is if he makes her a valentine. Then the other boys learn his plan and try to stop Norman. Will Norman ever get Wilhemina to be his valentina?Norman Noggs is in love. But the course of true love never did run smooth, and our hamster hero faces many trials in his quest to win the fair Wilhelmina. He lifts weights, becomes a frustrated Valentine-maker, and even runs up against the class bullies, who also have a crush on the object of his affection. It looks like Normans in deep trouble...at least until a karate-chopping stranger who looks a lot like Wilhelmina comes to his rescue. Sprinkled with poems, candy hearts, and Marsha Winborns lacy collage art, Valiska Gregory wraps warm prose around a tender message at the heart of Valentines Day: that the heart of the valentine maker is far more important than the valentine.

About this title

About the Author:

Valiska Gregory is the author of A Valentine For Norman Noggs, illustrated by Marsha Winborn. The idea for Shirley's Wonderful Baby came from one of her favorite bookstore owners. When she asked Shirley Mullin of Kids Ink Children's Bookstore about her new grandchild, Shirley would always reply, "He's wonderful!" The author thought that an older sibling might have a slightly different point of view.

Ms. Gregory lives with her husband in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she is Writer-in-Residence at Butler University.

Marsha Winborn, illustrator of A Valentine for Norman Noggs, has also illustrated Grandma's Cat and the Digby and Kate series. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Marsha Winborn es ilustradora de varios libros para lectores jóvenes, incluyendo A Valentine for Norman Noggs, por Valiska Gregory, Pepper's Journal y Probably Pistachio por Stuart J. Murphy, y Eggnapped!, por Marisa Montes.

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 2-This story has a number of successful elements-a first crush, two bullies, a strong female character, and a male protagonist who wins the girl through thoughtfulness rather than brawn or bravado. Dressed in a blue checkerboard sweater, hamster Norman Noggs sits behind the new girl in Mrs. Furr's classroom. Wilhemina has eyelashes that flutter "like butterflies" and cheeks as "pink as peppermint drops." She makes Norman feel wobbly inside. But tough Richard and big Arthur like her, too, and Norman is sure he can't possibly measure up. At home, he tries doing push-ups and eating broccoli to make himself bigger and stronger. He doesn't see Wilhemina's shy smile when he shows her where to put her cafeteria tray or helps her find her lost mitten. He spends hours writing and rewriting valentines, only to have them destroyed on the way to school by Richard and Arthur. Wilhemina saves the day with karate, and she and Norman end up holding hands. This amusing story will be enjoyed as a read-alone or read-aloud. The watercolor-and-gouache illustrations, depicting a school environment filled with bright-eyed and demonstrative hamsters, will elicit many chuckles. A cartoon heart comments on the action, and other characters contribute in dialogue balloons. Overall, a winning mix of plot, emotion, and humor.
Jackie Hechtkopf, Talent House School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0060276568
• ISBN 13: 9780060276560
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Winborn Marsha