Book Cover Premiere: This Is Not A Valentine

Carter Higgins and Lucy Ruth Cummins join us today for the cover reveal of their brand new picture book, This is Not a Valentine! Watch the video below, then keep reading to learn more about the inspiration behind the story.

Carter: You know how kids value treasures like rocks and grass clippings and handmade glue-y, marker-y masterpieces? Those are the truest gifts of admiration and friendship. And so the text of This is Not a Valentine is about all the things that aren’t exactly Valentines, but are honest and humble expressions of love. Lucy created the most endearing backstory for why our hero is offering his most prized possessions, and I just adore his pluckiness. Our editor has described it as Eleanor and Park for the elementary school set, which couldn’t be a more perfect pitch.

Lucy: The short answer is “almost everything,” and the long answer is brush marker, gouache, pencil, colored pencil, regular old crayons, brush & ink, and charcoal.

One of the most fun pieces I got to make for the book was a portrait of the girl, rendered in art class materials—newsprint, marker, cut construction paper, tiny pom poms, and foil star stickers. I made a collaged portrait, and then made an illustration based on it, to keep it within the visual world of the other pieces. It was a neat process!

Carter: I am so smitten by the title page because that’s where we see why the story unfolds as it does. But my favorite part shows our main characters working feverishly at an art table, and after the page turn, we see his very own handmade glue-y, marker-y masterpiece. It’s spectacular. (Also? The Undies.)

Lucy: For me, the most satisfying scene to illustrate was the one that takes place during story time at the library. I have such fond memories of circle time, listening to good books read aloud. I staged that scene to look like my library as I remember it at Randall Elementary School. I asked Carter for a photo of her at that age and I put us both in the circle. (I’m wearing my favorite red striped turtleneck!)

Carter: What’s in your pocket that seems small and unimportant? Send that. Sometimes spare buttons have magical powers. A broken shoelace might still be long enough for a bookmark. And nice, kind words are always free.

Lucy: In the spirit of our book—I think the finest not-a-Valentine one can give is a gesture that lets someone know that you pay close attention to them, and know them and care about them so much, on both frilly cards day and every other day.

Carter: P.S. The good candy goes on sale tomorrow, and chocolate-y Valentines don’t go bad if they’re a day late.

Lucy: Carter nailed it! Seconding!