It’s Monday – What are You Reading? Valentine Favorites

It’s Monday and I’m happy to be participating in a weekly event with a community of bloggers who post reviews of books that they have read the previous week.  Check out more IMWAYR posts here: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers.

It’s the week leading up to Valentine’s Day and I will be sharing some of my favorite Valentines books with my students.

  Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch – Eileen Spinelli

Far and away my favorite Valentine book if all time!  This heart warming, tender story by Eileen Spinelli  brings tears to my eyes every year!  Mr. Hatch is a very lonely man.  One Valentine’s, the postman delivers a heart-shaped box of chocolates with a note that reads “Somebody Loves You”.  Mr. Hatch’s heart is filled with joy and he begins to pass the love he now feels to others by doing kind deeds.  But the postman returns to explain that he had accidently delivered the Valentine’s to the wrong house.  Mr. Hatch, realizing that it was a mistake, goes back to his solitary ways.  But those who had been touched by Mr. Hatch’s recent kindness, rally around their new friend and show him how much his new friendship means to them all.  This is SUCH a heartwarming book and captures the true spirit of love and kindness.  A must read for Valentine’s!

Penguin in Love – Salina Yoon

Sweet little Penguin is back – this time he is looking for love but ends up with a mitten!  The mitten leads him to the owner, another little penguin and so begins the love story between the two.  I adore this little Penguin and fell in love with him in Salina Yoon’s first book Penguin and Pinecone.  And while this book doesn’t quite live up to the first one, this book makes a wonderful book to share around Valentine’s.  I also love the connection to knitting that is woven through the story.

Lilly’s Chocolate Heart – Kevin Henkes

Lilly and the Purple Plastic Purse remains one of my all time favorite picture book.  There have been many Lily books since, and I admit I have not read them all.  But this recently published addition to the series has Lilly trying to decide where to hide her last chocolate Valentine’s heart.  It’s a delightful story and one that many chocolate savers will connect to!

Valentine’s Day – Gail Gibbons

This nonfiction book explains the history and traditions of Valentine’s Day for younger students, accompanied by classic Gail Gibbons illustrations.  A good one to share to younger students because it explains the origins of the day.

Mouse and Mole Secret Valentine – Wong Herbert Yee

Mouse and Mole have secret crushes on each other.  While they prepare and deliver Valentine’s cards for their friends, they are prepare secret Valentines for each other.  This is a very sweet (Ok – mushy!) book about friendship and secret crushes.  Adorable illustrations and bonus instructions on making Valentine’s cards at the back.  Would be a perfect read-aloud for Gr. 2 and 3.

Snowy Valentine – David Petersen

This is an ADORABLE book!  Jasper the bunny is searching for the perfect Valentine’s present for his wife.  He goes through the woods, asking others what he should get.  In the end, the best gift is one that comes from the heart.  Sweet illustrations and a heartwarming story.

Roses are Pink, Your Feet Really Sink – Diane de Groat

This is a book I love to read to my class several days prior to Valentine’s day as it serves as an important reminder of treating others with kindness.  Gilbert signs cards for everyone in the class – except for the two people he doesn’t like because they have been mean to him in the past.  So he writes a few nasty comments on their cards which results in a lot of hurt feelings and name-blaming.  I have had some excellent class discussions stemming from this book.   (Gr. 2-4)

                                                                                      

I Haiku You – Betsy Snyder

Here is a delightful, charming collection of Haiku poems about many loves in a child’s life – love for a pet, a friend, stuffed toy and family.  Adorable illustrations accompany each poem.   Valentine cuteness!

So what Valentine’s books will you be sharing with your students this week?