A Sweetheart for Valentine

"A Sweetheart for Valentine" is an inspired modern fairytale with a twist: the foundling baby heroine is a giantess! Lovingly raised and fed by an entire village (perhaps the moral is, 'It takes a village…') named St. Valentine, the giantess thrives and outgrows every building and article of clothing in the village. But Valentine became sad, so sad her tear threatened to drown St. Valentine. What was the cause of her grief? She needed someone to love and marry (who was big enough to carry her off). Although this seemed hopeless at first, her prayer for a lover was answered when a clumsy young giant stumbled into the village one day with a broken toe. Remaining to heal with the generous and gentle villagers, he confessed he was wandering the hills looking for a wife. At first, unfortunately, Valentine and her young giant do not exactly hit it off, despite their obviously having been destined for one another. Once again the patient, kind, and resourceful villagers hit upon a plan: they will feed and care for the young giant and allow nature to take its course, with proximity helping nature along. Sure enough the two lovers eventually discover each other and their attraction blooms into love. Once again, Valentine cries rivers of tearms, because, the villagers find, she has nothing to wear to her wedding. Easily solved, the villagers declare, and they devise a marvelous bridal dress for her twined of flowers, leaves, and vines. All ends well as the two grown up giants lovingly pledge their troths, and the date of their wedding, February 14, is declared to be celebrated as Valentine's Day from that day forward. Charming, comical illustrations of tiny villagers contrast with the two huge lovers and create an incredible beflowered fantasy world that magically rewards faith and good works with true love and joy. "A Sweetheart for Valentine" is a true re-imagining of what may have inspired Valentine's Day once upon a time.