Roses are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink


Written and Illustrated by Diane deGroat
Published in 1996

Why we chose this book:
for Valentine's Day

Mom's Review

A talking opossum sends unkind Valentine's Day cards to two classmates.

Acts of unkindness are set against the backdrop of a school Valentine's Day party. Lewis and Margaret had each treated Gilbert unkindly; he retaliates in a way that some children in similar situations may consider: he writes nasty cards to each, but doesn't sign his name. Although the act is initially satisfying, it quickly backfires. The whole class learns that he wrote the "bad Valentines" and ostracizes him until the end of recess. When asked about his motive, he explains that Lewis and Margaret had been unkind to him. All the children apologize, forgive, and celebrate together.

I had originally purchased Roses are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink to read to my first grade students, so it was a handy choice for reading to T this week. I especially like that Gilbert handles his problem poorly at first and then must deal with the consequences, seeing that talking with his friends is a better solution. As a teacher and now as a parent I find that it is an easy conversation starter for how to handle small problems with friends.

Son's Review
(age 2 years and 11 months)

Mom: What did you think of this story? What was it about?

Son: It's an animal story. Gilbert is an opossum.

Mom: Do the animals act like animals or like people?

Son: They act like people - they are Valentine animals. They only come out when it's Valentine's.
(Okay, but not exactly. The focus is on Valentine's Day, but presumably they're around all year.)

Mom: Is there a problem?

Son: That he [Gilbert] wrote a bad poem.

Mom: Why is that a problem?

Son: Because it says roses are pink, your feet really stink. That's what it says...He shouldn't have written it.

Mom: What should he have done?

Son: He should have wrote nice poems. That is what he should do.

Mom: Would you want to be friends with Gilbert?

Son: Yeah. Only if he would write good poems to me.

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