Flubby Does Not Like Valentine's Day

Flubby #5

by Jennifer E. Morris

Flubby, the cute but aloof cat, is not a fan of Valentine's Day!

Kami wants to give Flubby a gift for Valentine's Day. But cats can't read cards, and flowers make Flubby sneeze! Can Kami find the perfect present for her pal?

Genres: Picture Books, Cats, Childrens, Holiday, Animals, Friendship, Fiction

32 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 26, 2023

About the author

Jennifer is an award winning illustrator and children’s book author. She has illustrated picture books, children’s magazines, greeting cards, party ware and educational materials. She authored and illustrated four books for Scholastic. The best selling of which, "May I Please Have a Cookie?" has sold over one million copies.

Reviews

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book for kids 5-7 with charming illustrations about a cat who knows what he DOESN'T want for Valentine's Day -- no cards, no flowers to which he's allergic. His owner tries hard to find what Flubby DOES want and when he does it's heartwarming. I loved it!

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm very invested in learning more about Flubby's adventures.

[Jessica Calaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 - 7 years

[Leigh Collazo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Flubby book, and I think I'm in love!

This is an easy choice for emergent readers who love cats. It can be hard to find cute stories that are easy enough for readers who are just starting out.

This book has repetition of the main action ("I will make Flubby a ___. Happy Valentine's Day! (gift goes south for some reason) Flubby does not like ____." The repetition is both humorous and provide a predictability that will help young readers know what will come next.

Flubby's facial expressions are priceless!

[Pug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable, vacant-eyed kitty named Flubby. So cute! And of course he doesn't like Valentine's Day: he's a cat for Pete's sake. Maybe don't give your cat a card or fruit... and definitely not a hug, either...

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ My kids (4 and 6) friggin’ loved this book. Think Flubby’s faces and my impressions of what Flubby says with those faces contributed to the hilarity 🤣 Great for early readers. Will definitely be buying and reading the other Flubby books!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Flubby's long suffering owner wants to help the querulous pet celebrate Valentine's Day, so tries to make the holiday special by doing all of the traditional things. Flubby, however, is not a fan of cards, fruit, or flowers, and is not shy about sharing his displeasure. Upon reflection, the harried pal decides to give Flubby a hug, which is not only appreciated, but also reciprocated.

Told in simple language with black lined, chalk pastel style illustrations and a clean, uncluttered background, this is perfect for emerging readers who want a seasonal story revisiting a familiar grumpy character. The story moves quickly, and the narrative framework would lend itself to young fans creating their own version for other events, especially if they have read other titles like Flubby Does Not Like Snow or Flubby Will Not Take a Bath.

The expressions on Flubby's face are the best part of the book and reminded me a little bit of Cat and Kitten. I would love to see Flubby have some interactions with a dog! This is a great choice for readers who are assembling a collection of holiday themed cat books, like Here Comes Valentine Cat by
Underwood and Rueda, Splat the Cat: Funny Valentine, the Deans' Pete the Cat's Groovy Guide to Love, and of course, Bruel's Bad Kitty Does Not Like Valentine's Day.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOW ON TO THE PREPOSTEROUS FANTASY OF A STORY

This is supposed to be a shock? That Flubby is not a fan of Valentine's Day? Real cats, even fictional ones, lack the capacity to have human consciousness. Let alone to like or dislike any abstraction, like a holiday.

If Kami, the human owner, wants to give her cat Flubby a gift for Valentine's Day? I'd count that as more anthropomorphizing of animals. So common. Yet no cat understands "Valentine's Day."

Even if Kami were an animal communicator (like some I've known personally), the telepathic link between an animal and her person... does not include abstractions like "Valentine's Day."

RATING THIS BOOK

My policy is to rate a book based on the likely reaction of the intended audience. I can see how this fantasy would be appealing to lovers of cats, lovers of Valentine's Day, and lovers of sentimental stories with happy endings.

On their behalf -- and although the story strikes me as preposterous -- I'll give this book FIVE STARS.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kami really wants to show her beloved cat, Flubby, her love on Valentine's Day, but the traditional Valentine's gifts don't seem to be things Flubby appreciates. How can she show him her love?

Flubby's reaction to Kami's Valentine's gift attempts are sure to make kids laugh. It's a fun and entertaining Valentine's Day read. I also like that the font in this is larger than average and in a dyslexia-friendly font.

[Ellon · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars (I loved it)

I was hooked from the title page with Flubby curled up inside a heart shaped box!

This was so so cute and really shows the true meaning of Valentine's Day is the love you have for each other and not the gifts you give.

The card is super cute with the pun and I love that Flubby climbs into the basket that the fruit was in. Such cat behavior!

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Appealing story about a cat who is not interested in gifts or cards on Valentine's Day because . . . cats don't like those things. I have two cats, and I can confirm that the way Flubby is drawn here is very realistic.

[andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good misanthropic character, especially cats. Apparently Flubby does NOT like Valentine's Day and his owner knows this, yet tries to give him all sorts of gifts, much to his chagrin. I love this early reader series- it's very fun to read sentence after sentence with Flubby in it.

[Thomas Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay, but it was also kind of lame. The cover makes it seem like this is going to be a completely different book than it is. It's just that a kid has to learn that cats don't like the same things kids do. That's it.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words cannot describe how much my daughter loved this book. We have two cats and she is learning more about the holidays, so it is the perfect book. I love how happy she got when we were reading it. It made it all that better, and I will love to get her more Flubby books.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Valentine's Day! But what can you give a cat? A card? A basket of fruit? Some flowers? Together, Kamie and Flubby come up with the perfect gift!

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Themes: Valentines, cats, pets, friends, gifts, hugs
Ages: toddler-K
Pub year: 2023

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beginning reader.

[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flubby's owner tries to give Flubby traditional Valentine's Day presents, but Flubby isn't interested. (And why would a cat be?)

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toddler, preschool, and school-age

[Taylor Wall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Flubby with my entire heart.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a book about Flubby. Yay! He's so cute! But there weren't any interesting surprises in this book like in other books.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kami wants to give Flubby a Valentine's gift, but nothing she has tried to give fits! What can she do to give the perfect gift to show her love?

[kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

not as funny as the other ones

[Kim Esmael · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Good book for beginner readers.

[Sherry Scheline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that we can normalize that simple gestures like hugs mean as much as costly things or materialistic items. This is a super cute little book.