I’m always a little sad to see all the Christmas decorations go away. January usually seems so cold and bleak. Once we flip our calendars over to February there is all sorts of excitement again. First, we check out if the Ground hog saw his shadow, then we are on to all thing’s hearts and love! Valentine’s Day is such a fun holiday for kids. It is a great time to get them excited about writing and creating valentines for friends and family. This is also a great time for teaching about caring and thinking of others. So many good Valentine’s Day book to check out. We will be highlighting 3 Valentines books, where all our main characters go out of their way to show kindness and love to others.
There are three activities which are fun ways to extend the story, or you can put them all together to help prepare and decorate for a fabulous Valentines party or play date.
Top 3 Valentines Books
Click,Clack,Moo I Love You! By Doreen Cronin and Betsey Lewin –
This is such a Cute sweet book. My kids love the glitter accents on the Valentine decorations in the book. I love the This is such a Cute, sweet book. My kids love the glitter accents on the Valentine decorations in the book. I love the sweet way duck accepts fox. Can’t go wrong with a Click, Clack, Moo book. Most of this book is getting ready for a party which today we will be getting ready for Valentines with crafts and activities that will decorate our houses for Valentine’s day. There is even a yummy snack because no party would be complete without a snack.
A Valentine fo Frankenstein By Leslis Kimmelman –
Yay for Halloween themed books… or is this one Valentine’s Day … oh well doesn’t matter! It’s prefect for either Holiday. My boys LOVE this book and it’s their favorite Valentine’s daybook. It is about a young Frankenstein who is going to a valentine party. While he is very nice to everyone, no one is nice to him, and he is surprised to find a valentine in his pocket.
This is simply a fun book to read, and the monsters are all very creative. The book also has an important message about always being nice even when others are not. This was a great Halloween book… I mean Valentine’s Day or is it both? – Either way it is a great mash up.
Never Too Little for Love By Jeanne Willis –
This is an important story for kids. Many times, kids think they are too little do things, but the title says it all! You are never too little to love. This book is a repetitive section which is great for young readers. As they memorize the book they can start “reading” those part of the story. My kids love the part right before the stack falls. We actually wobble the book in our hands.
Runner Up Books
The Little Blue Truck Valentine By Alice Schertle
Snowy Valentine by David Petersen
Happy Valentine’s Day Charlie Brown By Charles M. Schulz
Valentine Mice By Bethany Roberts
This page does contain affiliate links. I only recommend items that I have personally vetted. I use these products, and if you buy them I’ll probably earn a small amount of money.
Materials
Craft
White paper
Scissors
Red, Pink, and/or Purple Construction paper
String
Glue
Activity
Scissors
Kids Droppers (My kids love this set)
Baking soda
Vinegar
Food Coloring
Hole puncher
String
Snack
Rice Krispies
Butter
Mini Marshmallows
Ghirardelli, Candy Making & Dipping, White Melting Wafers
Craft
- Cut hearts out of paper.
2. Place heart in Salad Spinner
3. Poor in some Tempera Paint.
4. Spin
5. Remove and let Dry. Repeat at least twice but if youre making this much of a mess you might as well make alot.
6. Trace your hearts and cut out two solid color hearts.
You should have 4 hearts the same size.
7. Fold each heart in half.
8. Add glue to the back of two hearts.
9. Press the back of two half of the hearts together. And repeat twice.
10. Once you have 3 glued together, add the sting before you glue the last heart. I used some tape for the string but if you are using liquid glue you may not need tape. I didn’t trust the stick glue to hold.
11. Glue on last heart.
12. Crease and fold to shape your Heart evenly.
13. Hang and enjoy.
Activity
- Cut out Hearts from Watercolor Paper. Fill small cups up with Vinegar then add a few drops of Gel food coloring to each cup.
2. Sprinkle heart with baking Soda.
3. Using droppers squirt the colored Vinegar on the heart and watch the fizzing. Repeat with many hearts! My kiddos could have done this all day. We made 9 for out heart Banner but it can be as long as you want.
4. Let the hearts Dry. Then use a hole puncher to punch two holes on each heart.
5. Thread string through the hearts.
6. Keep Threading all your hearts. Then hang and Enjoy! Don’t forget to make a snack for your party.
Snack
To make my Rice Krispies recipe I used Favorite Family Recipes site.
Place 1/2 cup of salted butter and 16oz of mini marshmallows in a LARGE microwave-safe bowl.
Microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir. Microwave another 30 seconds. Stir again until marshmallows and butter are completely melted together. You only want it JUST melted.
Fold in 9 cups of rice cereal until well combined.
Place mixture in a greased 9×13 dish and press down evenly (spray a little cooking spray on your hands to prevent sticking).
Let cool a little. Then use Heart Shaped cookie cutters.
Heat up the white chocolate melts according to package directions.
Drizzles white chocolate on to Rice Krispie Hearts.
Add Sprinkles before chocolate cools.
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