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Hearts and hugs?

Lessons in love for kiddies

By Kristen SchottPublished: February, 2010

Have you had a chance to check out my February book reviews yet? If you haven't – or even if you have – I want to take some time to direct you to two of the books I reviewed on the Web for this month's issue of OC Family.

They're all about love – just like the four between the front and back covers of the February issue. You know, the one with our fabulous mom blogger, Suzanne Broughton, on the cover?

But I really wanted to draw your attention to these two selections because they are about a different kind of love. These books don't just talk about hugs, kisses and Valentine's Day – or the color pink. They broach the topic of love in a completely different form – one that I think kids serve to gain a lot from.

Take "Paulie Pastrami Achieves World Peace," for example. What a book – a 7-year-old boy creates harmony in the world through some wonderfully unique acts of love.

"Paulie Pastrami started by being kind to small animals. Then bigger animals. And bigger. And bigger still."

Awesome – what a lesson to teach kiddies. They can learn to bring their love to a whole world by such small steps: being nice to the kids at school, sharing with others and hey, being nice to animals can't hurt either.

Or, check out "Getting to Know Ruben Plotnick," which follows a young boy who is a bit embarrassed about his aging

grandmother and how his new – super cool, I might add – friend might think of her.

This one is definitely a huge subject for little ones, who often don't understand what's happening to their grandparents as they age. And of course, it's a book ultimately about love. David, the narrator, must learn to accept his grandmother's quirky behavior – no matter what Ruben thinks.

Click here to read my February book reviews. I really hope – after hearing what I have to say – that these stellar selections make it to your children's bookcase, because they offer so much to young ones, in a world sometimes filled with war, unhappiness and a lack of compassion.

And if you do get a chance to read these books – or any of the other stories I selected for the February issue – I would love, love to hear what you thought about them.

E-mail me at kschott@churmmedia.com.