Archive for February 2009
This book was one of my favorite stories to read for Valentine’s Day when I was an elementary librarian. In deGroat’s story, a class of assorted animals are assigned to write Valentine poems for all of their classmates. One student, who had been picked on by some of his classmates, uses the Valentine card-exchange to send rude messages to the bullies. Ultimately, the classmates apologize and rewrite their poems, reminding readers of the value of kind expression.
Sent in by Amber @ Librarianism Chronicles
Sent in by Amanda@ Going Green In Gainsville
“Gossie” by Olivier Dunrea
This a wonderful story about a sweet little gossling and her favorite red boots. The images are simple and yet filled with rich detail; the text is rhythmic and engaging. You and your little one will enjoy following Gossie on her adventures as she shares with you all the ways she loves to wear her red boots until one day she can’t find them. Gossie’s experiences with her boots will help teach your toddler about the notions of backward, forward, uphill, downhill, etc. As if that isn’t enough, this little gem ends with the a terrific example of sharing and friendship when she finds them on her friend Gertie. My almost two-year old daughter loves it and I love it as well.
Sent in by Chris @ Momtonic
“I Love You This Much“ by Lynn Hodges
This story between parent and child is about how the parent loves the child through out the day. The same way God loves his children through out the day. The lullaby tells just how much the parent loves the child and makes me cry every time I read the book to my girls.
Sent in by Andi @ Memories Are The Scraps Of Life
Sent in by Karen @ Growing With The Girls
- Gather your materials. You will need a brown grocery bag, some markers, scissors, tape and valentines stickers. I am using sticker since they are toddler friendly- you can use paper shapes and glue too but my little man wanted to play before nap time so stickers it was!
- Cut the bag open so it’s long, and draw a line with hearts for the crown. Make sure to make it longer than needed , it will make the crown sturdier if there it extra.
- Invite your child to come and use markers ( paint or crayons work too) to color their crown.
- When they are done bring out the stickers, I hide them until the first step is done so that my son doesn’t sit there begging for them while he is coloring.
- Peel and stick!
- Cut out the crown.
- Measure the crown on your child’s head and tape. I prefer tape or staples because it’s instant and we play right away!
- Gather your materials. You will need some cardboard or other sturdy paper, red paint, construction paper ( red and black), googly eyes, scissors and some glue.
- Draw one large heart and 2 smaller heart on the cardboard.
- Have your child paint the small hearts – I used this as a little mini lesson about small vs. large.
- Paint the large heart. Let dry.
- While that is drying , take your red paper and fan fold it.
Cut two pieces off for the arms. - Cut a mouth out of the black paper.
- When the paint is dry Cut out the hearts.
- Add the glue for the mouth and the eyes.
- Add the eyes and mouth.
- Glue the small hearts
onto the ends of he arms for hands.
- Glue the arms to the big heart!
- Gather your materials. You will need 3 pieces of construction paper, some markers scissors and glue.
- Start by giving your child a piece of construction paper to draw on. Older children can draw flames, or a fire engine or perhaps a construction site. Little ones can just explore with markers. My son drew legs. Don’t ask- another recent obsession.
- While they color, draw a large L with the red paper. Add a some legs on either end of the L.
- Cut some rungs out of the black paper.
- Cut the L out and glue it on the drawing when your child is ready. For us that was about 30 minutes after he finished drawing since he needed a break to play with is firetrucks. This is normal, I just go with it, he always comes back sooner or later.
- Add the glue to the L for the ladder.
- Add the rungs.
- Let dry!
Song!
I’m a big red firetruck, firetruck, fire truck!
I’m a big red firetruck , I come to the rescue!
My lights flash on and off, on and off on and off!
My lights flash on and off to say I’m on the way!
My ladders stretch way up high, way up high, way up high!
My ladders stretch way up high, up to the sky!
My hoses spray the water out, water out, water out!
My hoses spray the water out , until the fire’s gone!
Books!
” Fire Engines” by Anne Rockwell is the current favorite at our house. I found it at a thrift store for twenty five cents and I am definitely getting much more than my moneys worth! It’s a cute book with easy text and cute cartoon dalmatians as fire fighters. I particularly love that there is a fire boat in the book since we often see those around here. Cute book for fire engine lovers!
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Katherine from Katherine D Photography was kind enough to share an adorable Valentine’s craft ! If you have a chance and want to see some amazing pictures check out her photo blog, I wish I was closer to her so she could take some pictures of my little man!
Take wax paper, a marker, glue, water and colored tissue paper (red, pink and white).
Mix equal parts glue and water on a paper plate.
Then tear up small pieces of tissue paper.
On the wax paper, draw a heart (or in our case, we drew hearts, this is our Valentine’s exchange project)
Dip the tissue paper into the glue/water mixture and then put it on the heart.
All the hearts done:
Once it’s done, let it dry. I had to wait overnight and I put it on top of my dryer so that it would dry faster
Cut out the heart shape, punch some holes in it and string up ribbon so it can be hung
