Littles Learning Link Up: Valentine's Day Literature and Craft Round Up

Welcome to Littles Learning Link Up. Each month you will find:

• A seasonal round-up (usually toward the beginning of the month)
• A guest post featuring crafts, activities, tips, snack ideas or other early childhood topics. (usually toward the end of the month)
• Posts where I share what I have been up to with my preschoolers and/or early elementary children (including occasional highlight posts where I share how we used ideas that have been linked up here on Littles Learning Link Up).

Each week, I will host a link up, where you can share either what you have been up to recently, or old posts that may go with the theme.  Feel free to link up more than one post.

Each week I will continue to feature a couple of posts from those that have been linked up. 

I hope you will continue to share your wonderful posts, and I hope you will find something new to try with your child.

It would be great for everyone to stop by and visit the other linked-up posts as well. Check them out, leave some comments, pin those that interest you. Let's make this a real party and socialize with each other.

It's time for this month's Round Up

Recently I have been trying something different for my round up posts. I share a selection of books that focus on a specific topic (like Celebrating the Birth of Christ or Snowmen) and then I share a round up of "Favorite Book List" posts that other bloggers have compiled, plus craft/activity posts that went with those books. I have decided I am going to continue this through the year. I hope these posts have helped you find some new books to share with your children. I know they have helped me find books I have never heard of before, and reminded me of books we have read in the past but I had forgotten about.

This month I decided to compile Valentine's books, as Valentine's Day is just around the corner.

As I did last month, after I share my book selections, I will share a list of posts that also compile Valentine's Day books, then there will be some fun craft/activity posts that focus on books.  I hope you find some new books to share with your children this Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day Literature and Craft Round Up

14 Books for Valentine's Day

4 Sweet Books About Creating That Special Valentine

Valentine Surprise by Corinne Demas

The little girl in this story is trying to make a special Valentine for her mom. She tries every day, but there is always something "wrong" with the heart she is making. She ends up taping them all together and mom has a valentine for every day of the week.

Valentine's Day by Anne Rockwell

In this story, the children in the class are all making valentine's for a friend who is missed, though at first we don't know why she isn't there. They each make their valentines as they remember special memories of this friend. They then deliver it to the post office and we discover she is with her grandparent's in Japan. She also has sent them valentines,special origami valentines.

Mouse's First Valentine by Lauren Thompson

A sweet book about two mice. One who is gathering special materials while the other smaller mouse follows along wondering and trying to figure out what all the things are and what is being made. We discover the mouse named Minka has made a special valentine for Little Mouse.

The Runaway Valentine by Tina Casey

This story is actually about a valentine named Victor, who thinks he is the best valentine card ever. He is puffed up and prideful, and tries to get people to notice him so he can be purchased first. Unfortunately he ends up on the floor under the shelf. He ends up cartwheeling away and figures someone will pick him up and want him, even though he is now dirty. Several people do find him, and need him, but not in the way he wants. They all need just bits and pieces of him, until one little girl finds what is left over and creates a special valentine out of that piece.

4 Fun Books About Delivering Valentines

Sweet Hearts by Jan Carr

In this story the little panda goes around the house hiding valentines in special places for all the members of the family.

1 - 2 - 3 Valentine's Day: A Counting Book by Jeanne Modesitt

The mouse in this story goes around to the different animals giving Valentine's Day gifts. He always gives two knocks on the door, but there are increasingly more animals in each house, from 1 frog, to 2 pigs, all the way to the 10 little mice of his own house.

Rhyme Time Valentine by Nancy Poydar

The young girl named Ruby in this story is very excited about Valentine's Day and being able to create and deliver Valentines. Unfortunately on the way to school her valentines are whipped away by the wind. She tries to make more, but there is no red paper left. She ends up giving out her Sweet Hearts candy with its special sayings, and then a special surprise greets the children, as her valentines are blown around outside the window and people on the street pick them up and read them.

Valentine Mice! by Bethany Roberts

The mice in this story are traveling through the woods with their sled, delivering valentines to all the woodland creatures. They suddenly realize one of them has gone missing, though the reader knows that mouse has slipped and slid on the ice and ended up buried in some snow. The story ends with a special valentine's hug.

2 Informative Books About Valentine's Day

Let's Celebrate Valentine's Day by Peter and Connie Roop

This book shares facts about Valentine's Day, starting with who Valentine was and why Valentine's day is on February 14th. Traditions and symbols are looked at. And instructions for making a pop up valentine and Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies are given.

Valentine's Day is... by Gail Gibbons

A book that shares different aspects of the holiday.

4 Random Valentine's Day Books

Let's Get Ready for Valentine's Day by Lloyd G. Douglas

This is a beginning reader type book about a little girl describing how she celebrates Valentine's Day.

Valentine by Carol Carrick

Heather is a little girl who is disappointed that her mommy has to go to work on Valentine's Day. She spends time with her grandmother making cookies and then going out to tend to the sheep. It is discovered that the sheep gave birth to 3 little lambs, one of which is near death. Heather helps her grandma nurse it back to health. She names the lamb Valentine.

If You'll Be My Valentine by Cynthia Rylant

A cute rhyming book about a little boy who shares valentines with his family and stuffed friends, and pets. He shares his affection, and tells how he will spend special time with each one.

Plenty of Love to Go Around by Emma Chichester Clark

This sweet story is a tale about a dog named Plum and a cat named Binky, based on the author's real life dog named Plum. Plum is used to be the special one, but then her friends get a new cat named Binky and Plum becomes jealous. You can read my review and enter to win your own copy here.

More Valentine's Day Crafts and Activities that Go With Books:

Tara from Homeschool Preschool shared Jesus Loves Me Valentine's Day Craft to go with the book Jesus Loves Me by Laura Logan.

Laura from Sunny Day Family shared Valentine's Day Pet Activity for Preschoolers to go with the book Here Comes Valentine Cat by Deborah Underwood.

Chelsey from Buggy and Buddy shared The Kissing Hand Pop-Up Card to go with the book The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn.

Trisha from Read Science shared Valentine Themed Discovery Basket For Baby to go with the book Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton.

Trisha from Inspiration Laboratories shared Raining Hearts Word Game to go with the book The Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond.

Trisha from Inspiration Laboratories shared Hide and Seek Valentine's Day Card to go with the book Happy Valentine's Day, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff.

Natalie from Planet Smarty Pants shared An Art and Writing Project - Map of Your Heart to go with the book My Map Book by Sara Fanelli.

Darla from The Preschool Toolbox shared Creating a Friendship Star With Kids to go with the book The Shape of My Heart by Mark Sperring.

Kristina from School Time Snippets shared Easy Yarn Wrapped Hearts Mobile for Valentine's Day to go with the book The Day It Rained Hearts  by Felicia Bond.

Deirdre from JDaniel4's Mom shared Valentine's Day Tangram Activity With Printables to go with the book Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli.

Deirdre from JDaniel4's Mom shared Valentine's Day Crafts - My Heart is Like a Zoo to go with the book My Heart is Like a Zoo by Michael Hall.

Ali from Mom Explores Southwest Florida shared Valentine Footprints to go with the book The Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond.

Maggy from Red Ted Art shared CD Rainbow Fish Craft for Valentine to go with the book The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister.

Carolyn from Simple Play Ideas shared DIY Touch and Feel Valentine's Day Hearts to go with the book My Fuzzy Valentine by Naomi Kleinberg.

Kate from Homebound But Hopeful shared Where's The Love? A Mad Lib Valentine to go with the books A Crankenstein Valentine by Samantha Berger and Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink by Diane de Groat

Tina from Lit Mama Homeschool shared Story Time: The Valentine Bears to go with the book The Valentine Bears by Eve Bunting.

Favorite Valentine's Day Books Compilation Posts

Jacquie from Edventures With Kids shared Valentine's Day Scavenger Hunt and Activities which includes a list of favorite Valentine's Day books to read to children.

Katie from Gift of Curiosity shared 9 Books About Valentine's Day For Kids.

Melissa from Fireflies and Mud Pies shared Sweet Stories For Valentine's Day.

Kate from Homebound But Hopeful shared Books & Flower Fun For Toddler Valentine Play.

Felicia from Homeschool 4 Life shared Valentines for 14 Days - Book List.

What are your favorite Valentine's Day books that you read to your children?

Don't miss my giveaway for the children's book
Plenty of Love to Go Around
(US only, Ends 2/22)

I am lining up guest posts for the new year. If you would be interested writing a guest post for Littles Learning Link Up one of these months, please leave a comment or contact me via my contact info on my About Me page. I will need to have your email address so I can contact you. I am looking for posts that have to do with young children: crafts, activities, foods/snacks, tips, or other ideas. I am open to suggestions.

Now onto:

Littles Learning Link Up Features

On my last Littles Learning Link Up post, there were 9 wonderful posts linked up. I will be picking one randomly selected post to share, plus the top clicked-on post.  

Don't forget to stop by other posts that are linked up. See what catches your eye, stop by, pin the post to a relevant board, and perhaps leave a comment to let the author of the blog know you have been by for a visit. I know I appreciate others commenting and letting me know they have read my posts, so I am sure others do too.

This week's randomly selected post is:

Every Star is Different shared Autism and Montessori Practical Life at Home.

And here are this week's top clicked on posts.

Lisa from Syncopated Mama shared Ladybug Girl Addition Bugs.

Shecki from Greatly Blessed shared Arts and Crafts in Our Homeschool.

Shecki from Greatly Blessed also shared Our Week with Cokie Science.

Join the Party!

I would love to have you join in this week! What sort of activities do you do with your young children? Do you have some favorite activities you would like to share? I invite you to link up below. I will be pinning posts on my Toddler Ideas or other relevant board, and I would love to feature some of the activities each week from what is linked up.

Please know I may share a picture from your post and link back to it, along with sharing how we used your idea in our school time, if applicable. By linking up you are giving me permission to use a picture from your post. I will ALWAYS give credit and link back. Additionally, if you choose to try out any of the ideas with your child, please make sure you give credit where credit is due.

Linky will be open through Sunday night, to give me time to check out all the posts and get the Features organized. Please take the time to visit some of the other wonderful posts linked up.

This post is a part of the:

An InLinkz Link-up