‘Valentines’ (Book)

Poems rank high on the list of Valentine’s Day gifts, right up there with chocolates and flowers. But a perfect Valentine’s poem — something heartfelt and tender and sweet — is far more difficult to come by than chocolates or roses. Unless, of course, it’s written by a former U.S. poet laureate.

“Valentines” ($14.95, University of Nebraska Press) is a collection of 22 poems that Ted Kooser sent to women friends each Valentine’s Day beginning in 1986. Printed on postcards, the poems were mailed (from Valentine, Neb., when possible) to a list of recipients that eventually grew to more than 2,500 women all over the United States.

Kooser, a professor at the University of Nebraska, wrote poems that cover topics such as hearts and candy, the beauty of friendship, the purity of love and the bittersweetness of longing.

‘Working on a Dream’ (Music)

For “Working On A Dream,” Bruce Springsteen whistles, sings the blues, plays the glockenspiel and drops an f-bomb, as if desperate to disguise the album’s lyrical deficiencies.

Springsteen says he wrote these songs quickly, and it shows. The rich characters who populate his best work are largely missing, and instead he rocks out to simple sentiments built on first- and second-person pronouns. “With you I have been blessed,” he sings. And, “You’re my lucky day.” And, “Let me show you what love can do.”

The strongest candidate for Springsteen’s Super Bowl playlist is “My Lucky Day,” which rides a groove carved out by Garry Tallent’s niftiest bass line ever. Even better are the encores, always a Springsteen strength. He pulls out his acoustic guitar for the final two cuts: “The Last Carnival” pays eloquent tribute to his band’s late keyboardist, Danny Federici, and “The Wrestler” is a heart-tugging ballad from the Mickey Rourke movie.

‘Bossa Nova Stories’ (Music)

Brazilian Eliane Elias shows the special insight into bossa nova that comes growing up around the music and playing with its founding fathers, like songwriter Vinicius de Moraes.

A reluctant singer early in her career, the world-class jazz pianist has become more confident in her soft-spoken, understated vocals that are beautifully suited to this music. But what distinguishes Elias as one of today’s leading bossa interpreters is her superb musicianship — the way she floats above the rhythm and meshes her vocals with her robust jazz piano accompaniment.

Elias enjoys the support of two bossa pioneers, guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves and drummer Paulo Braga, and her husband, bassist Marc Johnson, with orchestral arrangements subtly enhancing half the 14 tracks. She offers a fresh take on classic bossa songs, including three tunes that launched the new wave in 1958 — Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Chega De Saudade” and “Desafinado” and Joao Donato’s “Minha Saudade.” Elias acknowledges the influence of American music by putting a bossa spin on such standards as the Gershwins’ “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.”