Geronimo's Valentine

A book review for parents

This humorous mystery/adventure is the 36th book in the "Geronimo Stilton" series by Elisabetta Dami (but under the pen name of the main character) and is published by Scholastic, Inc.

Geronimo's Valentine is written for kids ages 7 to 10. The age range reflects readability and not necessarily content appropriateness.

Plot Summary

Geronimo Stilton, editor of the Rodent Gazette, learns about a famous painting that is missing, along with the artist who was restoring it. When he helps his detective friend, Hercule Poirat, solve the case — from an open window and dropped business card that point to a rich factory owner — Geronimo misses his Valentine's Day date with Petunia Pretty Paws. In the end, Petunia forgives Geronimo, and they celebrate his birthday.

Christian Beliefs

None

Authority Roles

A restaurant manager enforces his restaurant's dress code. Hercule ignores road signs as he drives. A factory owner is verbally abusive to an employee. Thieves and kidnappers are arrested.

Other Belief Systems

None

Profanity/Graphic Violence

Mouse-oriented euphemisms are used throughout the book. Geronimo endures several slapstick injuries. He and Hercule attack the criminals they are after by tripping them.

Kissing/Sex/Homosexuality

In an illustration, Geronimo kisses the hand of a lady mouse.

Awards

This series won the first Children's e-Book Award at the 2001 Bologna fair.

Discussion Topics

If your children have read this book or someone has read it to them, consider these discussion topics:

• What did Geronimo do to cover how he was late for his date?
  What would have been a better way for Geronimo to handle the situation?
• How did Hercule ask Geronimo for help with his case?
  What would have been a better way for Hercule to ask Geronimo for help?
• What did Geronimo and Hercule do at the cheesecake factory?
  Is it ever OK to break into other people's buildings?
  How could Geronimo and Hercule have done what was right and still investigate the factory?
• Geronimo was really busy in this book. At what point does a rodent, or a person, become too busy to do anything well?
  Have you tried to do two things at the same time when you should have only done one?
  What advice would you give Geronimo to help him with his schedule?
• What is one thing Geronimo did for friendship?
  What is one thing Geronimo did for love?
  What could Geronimo have done differently?

Book reviews cover the content, themes and worldviews of fiction books, not their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children. A book's inclusion does not constitute an endorsement by Focus on the Family.