WRITING AND READING

Valentine's Day

Family Literacy Hint: Make a box of Valentine's Day books to take out every February!

How to encourage your child to write:

Choose the level of your child:
Toddler/Preschool – discuss the answer(s) out loud first and have your child draw a picture of the answer

Preschool/Kindergarten – discuss the answer(s) out loud first and write the answer down for him/her leaving one word for him/her to write out himself/herself with your help. You could also encourage him/her to draw a picture as well.

Early Grade School – have your child either write out the answer himself/herself (encourage phonetic spelling) without your help, or offer to help with spelling each word out loud one word at a time.

Grade School – have your child write a sentence or two on his/her own and then read over and discuss the response. (You decide whether to correct the spelling or not)

Older Child – have your child write a longer response (paragraph).

As A Challenge – instead of a question ask your older child to write a story or poem about Valentine's Day or someone they love.

Here are some fun and cute picture books perfect for Valentine’s Day:

1.2.3 Valentine’s Day, by Jeanne Modesitt and illustrated by Robin Spowart, Boyds Mills Press, 2002 – This rhyming and counting book has Mister Mouse delivering Valentine’s gifts to various animal friends.

10 Valentines Friends, by Janet Schulman and illustrated by Linda Davick, Alfred Knopf Books, 2011 – Ten neighbours make Valentine’s cards for their friends in this counting book.

The Ballad of Valentine, by Alison Jackson and illustrated by Tricia Tusa, Dutton Children’s Books, 2002 – Written to the rhyming rhythm of the song “Oh My Darling, Clementine” this is the tale of a fellow whose Valentine efforts never quite make it to his lady love.

Clifford’s First Valentine’s Day, by Norman Bridwell, Scholastic Inc., 1997—Emily Elizabeth and her big red dog Clifford remember when he was a tiny puppy celebrating his first Valentine’s Day.

Groggle’s Monster Valentine, by Diana Murray and illustrated by Bats Langley, Sky Pony Press, 2017 – Groggle wants to make and give his “beast friend” Snarlina a Valentine’s card but he keeps eating them!

Heart to Heart, by George Shannon and illustrated by Steven Björkman, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1995—Squirrel rushes about trying to make a valentine for his friend mole in this humorous book.

If You’ll Be My Valentine, by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Fumi Kosaka, Harper Collins Publishers, 2005 – Little rhymes represent a boy’s Valentines for special friends like his cat, dog, sister, grandmother…

Mouse’s First Valentine, by Lauren Thompson and illustrated by Buket Erdogan, Simon & Schuster Books, 2002 – A simple tale of a big sister mouse who confuses and then surprises her little brother by making his first Valentine.

Mr. Goat’s Valentine, by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Kevin Zimmer, Sleeping Bear Press, 2016 – Mr. Goat busy weeds, and rotten eggs and prepares to wish a Happy Valentine’s day to his first love: his mom!

Ruby Valentine Saves the Day, by Laruie Friedman and illustrated by Lynne Avril, Carolrhoda Books, 2010 – A rhyming tale about Ruby who plans a Valentine’s Day party that no one can attend due to a snowstorm. Check out her other story Ruby Valentine and the Sweet Surprise as well.

Valentine’s Day, written by Alice K. Flanagan and illustrated by Shelley Dieterichs, Compass Point Books, 2002 – while this is more of a non-fiction book in its content (the history of Valentine’s Day) it’s illustrations and tone might make it more approachable for children.

Will You Be My Valentine?, by Steven Kroll and illustrated by Lillian Hoban, Holiday House, 1993—This is a sweet book about a little boy who is excited to make a special valentine for a girl in his class but then worries that she doesn’t like him.

Yours ‘til the Ice Cracks: A Book of Valentines, by Laura Geringer and illustrated by Andrea Baruffi, Harper Collins Publishers, 1992—This is a fun book with great illustrations for each valentine saying (i.e. “Be my valentine. Yours ‘til the dinosaur drops.”)

JOURNALING Question Prompt:

For some Valentine’s Crafts and Recipes check out these titles:

My Very Own Valentine’s Day: A Book of Cooking and Crafts, by Robin West, photographs by Robert L. and Diane Wolfe and illustrations by Susan Slattery Burke, Carolrhoda Books, Inc, 1993.

Valentines’ Day Crafts, by Arlene and Herbert Erlbach, Enslow Publishers, Inc., 2004.

Valentine’s Day Origami, by Ruth Owen, Powerkids Press, 2013.

Valentine’s Day Sweets and Treats, by Ruth Owen, Windmill Books, 2013.

Write out one or more of the following questions in your Family Theme Day Scrapbook or on a piece of paper to glue in your scrapbook:

What is Valentine’s Day? Who are the special people in your life? How do we show others that we love them?

BOOKS

Try to find some of these non-fiction books about Valentine’s Day and St. Valentine:

Celebrate Valentine’s Day, by Carolyn Otto, National Geographic, 2008 – Part of the Holidays Around the World series, this book offers a great history of what Valentine’s Day is and is full of interesting photos.

Hearts, Cupids, and Red Roses: The Story of Valentine Symbols, by Edna Barth and drawings by Ursula Arndt, A Clarion Book, 1974 – This older book has a lot of detail about the history of Valentine’s day and would be best for an older grade-schooler.

The Story of Valentine’s Day, by Clyde Robert Bulla and illustrated by Susan Estelle Kwas, Harper Collins Publishers, 1999 – This includes interesting facts about the history of Valentine ’s Day in a succinct way and has some lovely bright illustrations too.

Valentine’s Day, by Valerie Bodden, Creative Education, 2006 – Easy to read explanation of Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day, by Kathryn A. Imler, Heinemann Library, 2008 – This is a part of the Holiday Histories series, and is an easy to read yet thorough breakdown of the history behind this holiday.

Valentine’s Day, by Reagan Miller, Crabtree Publishing Company, 2010 – Part of the Celebrations in My World series, this book has large print but a lot of information good for grade schoolers interested in the history of this holiday.

Valentine’s Day, by Rebecca Pettiford, Bullfrog Books, 2016 – Part of the Holidays series, this is a good book for learning to read as it has very few words.

Valentine’s Day, by Trudi Strain Trueit, scholastic2014 – This little book is perfect for new readers and explains what Valentine’s Day is in simple terms.

Valentine’s Day, by Trudi Strain Trueit, Scholastic 2007 – Another little book by the above author, this one focuses more on the story of St. Valentine in big easy to read text.

Valentine’s Day, by Anita Yasuda, Media Enhanced Books, 2012 – Part of the Celebrating American Holidays series, this one has history, crafts, poem creation instructions, and a recipe plus if you go online and enter the special code you can gain access to enriched and enhanced content.

Valentine’s Day: Candy, Love, and Hearts, by Elaine Landau, Enslow Publishers, Inc., 2002 – Fairly easy to read even with more detail and it includes photographs. It has an interesting section on two cities in the United States where Valentine’s day is a huge celebration, plus has a section on funny marriage ceremonies.

Valentine’s Day Is…, by Gail Gibbons, Holiday House, 2006—This is a simple book with bright illustrations that would be a good first introduction to the meaning behind Valentine’s day for children.