Valentine's Day means chocolate and roses and pretty cards decorated with hearts, right? But that's not the whole story. The true meaning behind the holiday is love, real love - the kind of love Jesus showed on the cross. Following in the success of best-sellers The Legend of the Candy Cane and The Legend of the Easter Egg, Katherine Grace Bond takes readers into the life of 9-year-old Marcus who is living in Alabama during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. Marcus' daddy is in jail even though he didn't do anything wrong. To make matters worse, Marcus is having problems, too. Some of the children in school are mean and tease him because his skin is a different color. As Valentine's Day approaches, Marcus doesn't want to make cards for the children who are hurting him. He is faced with the difficult question of forgiving his enemies. It's then that his granny tells him about the first Valentine - not a card, but a person. This wonderful, character-building story weaves together the faith and bravery of a third-century Christian with the courage of the Civil Rights Movement and the call of Jesus to love our enemies. Children from ages 4-8 will gain a new appreciation for Valentine's Day and will learn what it means to celebrate and express true love.
