Saint Valentine

by Robert Sabuda

In ancient Rome there lived a gentle and humble man named Valentine. He was a physician, but he was also a Christian priest whose life and freedom were in constant danger in a city of people who believed in so many gods, not just one. So Valentine tended to his patients in the daytime, but he prayed for them only at night. One day a jailer from the emperor's prison appeared at Valentine's door with his small child, a girl who was blind. Knowing the difficulty of curing blindness, Valentine vowed to do his best, and over the weeks of treatment and prayer the three became fast friends. But even his friendship with the jailer could not save Valentine when the Roman soldier came to imprison him. Here, accompanied by Robert Shabuda's dramatic mosaics evoking the time period in which the story takes place, is the story of a man whose goodness and faith brought about a miracle, and whose name lives on today in one of our most celebrated holidays.

Genres: Picture Books, History, Biography, Holiday, Nonfiction, Religion, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Robert Sabuda is internationally acclaimed for his stunning pop-up books, including America the Beautiful and The 12 Days of Christmas. He is also the illustrator of Chanukah Lights by Michael J. Rosen. Robert Sabuda lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a story, and simply in and of itself, I guess one could say that with his 1992 Saint Valentine Robert Sabuda has penned a both heartwarming and heartbreaking account regarding the life and martyrdom of third century Roman priest and physician Saint Valentine (how he both healed and prayed for his patients and that before his execution Valentine was able to restore the sight of a little girl who had been blind since birth). However, considering that with regard to Saint Valentine, there are in fact multiple legends (as well as at least three separate martyred Saint Valentines), after doing a bit of online research, it certainly feels as though with Saint Valentine Robert Sabuda has simply taken all three Valentines and combined them into a pretty standard tale of an early Christian martyr (and with Robert Sabuda not even really textually showing the specific reasons for Valentine’s execution, for his being martyred, such as for example how in one of the stories surrounding him, Saint Valentine was supposedly secretly marrying young couples so that the men would not have to become soldiers in the Roman armies, and which is also one of the main reasons Valentine is considered and celebrated as the patron saint of love and of lovers), not to mention that in 1969, the Catholic Church actually removed Valentine from its list of approved saints, as the three Saint Valentines of late Roman antiquity might actually never have existed.

And as such, and with Robert Sabuda’s narrative really quite lacking, I really and truly am not willing to recommend Saint Valentine either for Valentine’s Day reading or for introducing children to early Christian martyrs. Because Sabuda’s text feels pretty fantastical (and not even all that much mirroring the actual legends of the three Saint Valentines anyhow) that yes indeed, even the fact that his accompanying, that Robert Sabuda’s mosaic like artwork is visually stunning and gives a great visual sense of time and place will make me consider in any way a higher rating for Saint Valentine than two stars and to certainly not recommend this book except for academic purposes.

[Cris · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are looking to tell the complete story of ST. Valentine to your children this book will be one beautifully illustrated disappointment, unless you are looking for a low-risk version. To its credit, the mosaic-inspired illustrations are very apropos AND its NOT inaccurate. It does show the generosity and intelligence of that Roman doctor. Its just not complete. In this version, St. Valentine is not married or in love with anyone himself. So it is more correct than other books. The story just stops short of explaining that St. Valentine was executed for performing weddings of soldiers against the King's orders. I don't understand why anyone would write a book leaving out the central thing that St. Valentine was known for..... I don't know why particular book sellers praise it so much, except they haven't read it or know the story. If the adult or child is interested, it could be followed up with a history book about how St.Valentine was actually acting to counteract what he saw as the abuse of women and children from The Children's book of Saints...... In the meantime, I'm looking for a more complete book.

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like to read this book on Valentine's Day alongside Cheryl Odden's The Story of Saint Valentine. The two authors take COMPLETELY different approaches to the life of Valentinus, and I think it helps kids understand both historical fiction and the discipline of the study of history.

Odden's approach is so fact based as to be a bit wooden, Sabuda's characters are more fleshed out. Odden gives an introductionary overview of what we know for certain and what we suspect about Valentinus, Sabuda has brief notes at the end on the history that ties in with his text (but doesn't get into the mysteries created by lost historical record on Valentinus). The illustrations for Odden's book are colorful, but somehow bland. Sabuda's captivating mosaics are far more interesting, and give children a visual experience of an art form common in Valentinus' time. Each book has strengths and weaknesses, but I think discussing them together brings the brilliance out of both.

More on Valentine's Day...
The Story of Saint Valentine, Odden, 2007
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Luisa Knight · Rating 2 out of 5]

A brief story about Saint Valentine that focuses only on his friendship with the jailer's daughter.

Ages: 5 - 9

Cleanliness: nothing to note.

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[Margaret Chind · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this one aloud today. It wasn't the first time but apparently is the first time I've tracked it in Goodreads. Today is Valentine's Day of the year 2020. While I read my newborn (3m) slumbers nearby, my Kinder (5) and Toddler (2.5) snuggle up to me on the loveseat and the girls (10 and 8) sit at the counter making sibling valentine day cards. The mosaic art of this one is what I enjoy the most. In reading this, I loved how my oldest daughter was able to make the connections to Roman history and the persecution of Christians after the risen Christ. I do not find this to be an amazing book but I wouldn't hesitate to read it to them again.

We originally added this book to our shelves because of the recommendation from Memoria Press Second Grade as a read-aloud. We own a paperback copy.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked learning about Saint Valentine and Valentines Day.

[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tale of St. Valentine explaining why we associate love of all kinds with the Saint's day.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story isn't particularly inspiring, but the art is unusual and appropriate for the topic. I didn't know anything about Valentine, so found this interesting. I wouldn't read this to young children, but upper elementary kids who are interested in history or religion might enjoy this. I appreciated the additional information at the end of the book.

[♥♣Mary♦♠ If She So Pleases · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very nice story time read.

[Emmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple but charming book about the life of St. Valentine. I wish it would have been longer, though. The art was simply beautiful and all done in mosaic.

[Shaun Stevenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, I wanted to take a look at the various books about the holiday as well as the Saint it's named for. Saint Valentine by Robert Sabuda was one of the first books I found on the Saint specifically, and didn't expect the emotional impact this beautifully illustrated picture book would have on me.

Written as a sort of historical fiction of a snippet from the life of Saint Valentine, the book shares about the work Valentine did as a healer and a chance encounter one day with a jailer and her daughter who cannot see. While Valentine is sorry that he cannot do more for the jailer's daughter, he starts to pray for her. I won't spoil the ending here, but it definitely had the emotional punch that good storytelling will deliver.

The story is light on Valentine's religious beliefs, and has a brief more historically accurate explanatory note at the end. The story implies the death of Valentine, but does not mention it specifically.

The illustrations however are amazing. Sabuda takes a mosaic approach to each page, which create intricate details that weave together to form mesmerizing pictures that instantly draw your gaze. Kids will definitely enjoy searching the pictures for some time to see all the details and then to zoom out and see the larger illustration as a whole.

While this isn't the most comprehensive book on Saint Valentine, it certainly tells a poignant story that illustrates the life of the saint.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary. The life of St. Valentine. The fact that it is legend is not made clear.

Why I Read This: With Valentine's day approaching, I wanted to read it.

Review: I didn't love it because while it told a good story, it didn't make it clear that the story was legend and that not much is known about St. Valentine. Even in the postscript about St. Valentine, he doesn't mention that it is legend. The story and postscript are different from what I've heard about St. Valentine before, but that's ok because it's legend. He attributes the "love" aspect of St. Valentine to it's association with the Feb. 15 Roman Feast of Lupercalia and the love of St. Valentine for people.

[Kimberly Sprowl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The delicate and extraordinary Robert Sabuda known to me for his paper engineering skills has brought another visually unique approach to storytelling. It is the story of a caring and gentle physician who is also a Christan Priest, during a period of Roman rule. The short story attempts to share the history of the "first Valentine" given to a child struggling with impaired vision. Therefore I feel the beauty of Sabuda's Mosaic illustrations is a stroke of genius that brings the reader closer to the inner world of one who is literally losing focus.

[Michael Petty · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Saint Valentine" is a beautiful primer into the life of the real, historical saint. Some of the comments here note that it doesn't tell the entire story, and while that is true, it is no less profound in its approach to the small part of the Roman Christian's life. Robert Sabuda's illustrations are immaculate, and perfectly capture the time and love of this impressive saint.

[Kylie Murdison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustrations look like Roman Mosaic tiles. St. Valentine was a doctor and a priest imprisoned for being a Christian. His patient, the daughter of a Roman jailor, was miraculously healed of her blindness upon opening his note containing a yellow crocus.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful retelling of the legend of Saint Valentine, the priest and physician in ancient Rome who was jailed and executed under the orders of Claudius II.

The mosaics used to illustrate the story! WOW! These should be framed and displayed in a galley!


(read with my 5th Grade students!)

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

AR 5.4

[Susie Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the incredible mosaics. My students were fascinated. I wish we had heard more abt the history of Valentine—how he married couples in secret.

[Two Hearts Homeschool · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mosaic style illustrations just don’t hold my 5 year old’s attention and the story feels incomplete - it didn’t really convey the idea of St Valentine as a martyr.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My family enjoyed this historical look at the origin of Valentines Day

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not perfect but a simple account of the life of a St Valentine.

[Jennifer Summers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful mosaic illustrations and a good retelling of the story of Saint Valentine.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had this is my fetus teacher/catholic school days. It is very interesting and the illustrations are mosaics but it is also very long which was tough for K kids.

[Tiffany Griffith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this sweet book! Borrowed it from the library and its one Im planning on purchasing for our library.

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book for middle grades that tells the true story of St. Valentine. It is well written and led to great discussion about religious persecution. I didn't love the mosaic illustrations, but they are an interesting talking point.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the true story about a man named Valentine, who was a physician and Christian priest in ancient Rome. He was quiet about his faith because the Romans hated Christians, but Valentine prayed for his patients every night. This story is about his ministry to one of those patients in particular, a little girl who was born blind, and whose father took her to Valentine for healing.

[Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated children's book about Saint Valentine and the girl he prayed to heal.

Great book!

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first thing that struck me when this book arrived through the post were the amazing pictures. They were in a sophisticated style, taking the form of large mosaic pieces, and yet still simple enough for a child to understand. The story was simple and charming, although it finished quite abruptly and I found myself wanting it to continue. A came out of reading it was a greater understanding of the saintly origins of Valentine's Day.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a little jem! We read it with our Roman history (just prior to Constantine, when the Christians were really being persecuted). All the illustrations are mosaics--perfect for an art project. My girls really connected with this book. What a tragic story.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story about the story behind St. Valentine. I though the mosaic illustrations were pretty neat!