As far as Violet was concerned,
only one person in her class raced like the wind.
Only one had a leaping laugh.
Only one made Violet's heart skip.
And so begins the sweetest picture book featuring characters dressed in shades of violet, magenta and pink. Violet has a crush on Mira and turns shy whenever Mira is around. Valentine's Day nears and Violet plans something special with crayons, scissors, glitter and glue. She signs the valentine, Love, Violet. Finally, Valentine's Day arrives and Violet is overcome with shyness and fear. She passes out valentines to everyone in the class but Mira. Instead, she keeps Mira's valentine stuffed inside her hat. After several mishaps on the playground involving snow and racing school children, Mira surprises Violet with a valentine of her own.
The creation of Love, Violet was supported by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. It is also the 2023 recipient of the Stonewall Book Awards - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children's Literature Award, given annually to English-language works of exceptional merit for children or teens relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience.
Four Stonewall Book Awards Honor Books for children's literature were also selected:
- In the Key of Us written by Mariama J. Lockington
- Kapaemahu written by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson, illustrated by Daniel Sousa
- The Real Riley Mayes written and illustrated by Rachel Elliot
- Strong written by Rob Kearney & Eric Rosswood, illustrated by Nidhi Chanani