Conversation Hearts

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Conversation Hearts

Such meek
Little tokens
Sugary white,
Shy green, prom
Yellow and pink.
But spiced with
Mottos: SURE
THING, OH BOY --
Each one like
A reckless wink.

~ Valerie Worth

A Hearty Helping of Valentine Books

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It's almost Valentine's Day -- time for hearts and flowers and chocolate.  And books.  (It's always time for books.)  Here are a few picture books I found at the library that are fun reads for the month of February:

Happy Valentine's Day, Dolores, written and illustrated by Barbara Samuels, 2006...  Dolores is not supposed to touch her big sister Faye's things, but when she finds a heart-shaped box with a froggy necklace inside, she can't resist!  She decides to "borrow" it for a day, and then the trouble begins....

My boys and I got a kick out of this story and the illustrations ~ especially all the amusing expressions on the cat's face! 

If You'll Be My Valentine, written by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Fumi Kosaka, 2005...  A little boy thinks up ways to show his family how much he loves them.  With short valentine poems and charming illustrations, this is a heart-warming book for little ones and their parents.

Will You Be My Valenswine?, written by Teresa Bateman and illustrated by Kristina Stephenson, 2005...  Polly the piglet searches for the perfect valenswine.  She tries asking the roses on the fence, a bird -- even the slop in her trough -- before she finally realizes that a special someone has loved her all along.

My son Ben and I giggled and giggled as we read this funny book the other night!

The Ballad of Valentine, written by Alison Jackson and illustrated by Tricia Tusa, 2002...  The narrator sends note after note to his love, Valentine, but silly, unexpected things keep happening, preventing them from being delivered.

This hilarious story is told in the rhythm of the folk song "My Darling, Clementine".  At first I tried to read it to Ben, like any other story, but I ended up singing it instead! 

My Heart is Like a Zoo, written and illustrated by Michael Hall, 2010...  Hearts can be happy or lonely, brave or peaceful.  Using simple rhymes and bright illustrations created out of hearts, this book teaches young children about various emotions.

This isn't a valentine book per se, but with all the hearts, I thought it was appropriate.  Not only is the artwork delightful to look at (kids will enjoy counting all of the hearts in each picture!), but they also could be used as blueprints for making your own "wild" valentines.  My kids have made valentines for their classmates every February, and we've occasionally used hearts to create animals -- after reading this, Ben and I have all sorts of ideas for next year's valentines!

Guess How Much I Love You?, written by Sam McBratney and illustrated by Anita Jeram, 1994...  I mentioned this book here last year, recommending it for Father's Day.  I also highly recommend it for Valentine's Day!  A sweet story about the love between a parent and a child, it makes my heart feel all warm and fuzzy every time I read it. :)

For the non-fiction fans out there:

Hearts, Cupids, and Red Roses: The Story of the Valentine Symbols, written by Edna Barth and illustrated by Ursula Arndt, 1974...  Filled with fun facts about St. Valentine, the typical symbols of the holiday, and the history of valentine cards, this book is much more interesting than I expected it to be when I first picked it up.  Even just flipping through it at the library, I learned several things about Valentine's Day that I'd never known before!

Crafts for Valentine's Day, written by Kathy Ross and illustrated by Sharon Lane Holm, 1995...  This book is filled with easy-to-make crafty ideas for homemade valentines, as well as valentine decorations for the home.

What are your favorite stories for Valentine's Day?  I'd love to hear about them!

A roof and four walls...

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“When we read a story,
we inhabit it.
The covers of the book
are like a roof and four walls.
What is to happen next
will take place within
the four walls of the story.
And this is possible because
the story's voice
makes everything its own.”

~ John Berger

Caboodle

I noticed the word caboodle [kuh-bood-l] in a book recently, and thought it would make a good "word of the week".  It's a fun word to say! 

Caboodle.  Caboodle.  Caboodle. :)  

An informal noun, caboodle means "lot, pack, group, or crowd", and it is often seen in phrases like "the whole caboodle" or "the whole kit and caboodle".

Eager to begin their road trip,
the three friends carried all of their luggage outside,
then squeezed the whole kit and caboodle --
and themselves -- into the tiny car.

What sentences can you make up, using the word caboodle?

My Robot

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My Robot

I have a robot
Do the dishes,
Phone my friends,
Bone the fishes.
Rub my back,
Scrub the floors;
Mop the kitchen,
Open doors.
Do my homework,
Make my bed;
Catch my colds,
Scratch my head.
Walk the dog,
Feed the cats;
Hit my sister,
Knit me hats.
Do my laundry,
Clean my room;
(Boy, he's handy
With a broom.)
Comb my hair,
Darn my socks;
Find my lost toys,
Wind my clocks.
Mix me milk shakes,
Fix my bike;
Buy me all
The things I like.
Grill me hot dogs,
Guard my home --
Who do you think
Wrote this poem?

~ Douglas Florian,
from Bing, Bang, Boing

 

The deep, deep snow...

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An excerpt:

But when he woke up his dream was gone.  The snow was still everywhere.  New snow was falling!

After breakfast he called to his friend from across the hall, and they went out together into the deep, deep snow.

~ from The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats

An impulse to soar...

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One can never consent to creep
when one feels an impulse to soar.

~Helen Keller

February

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February

When skies are low
and days are dark,
and frost bites
like a hungry shark,
when mufflers muffle
ears and nose,
and puffy sparrows
huddle close--
how nice to know
that February
is something purely
temporary.

~ N. M. Bodecker

Bread, sweet as honey...

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Bread of flour is good;
but there is bread,
sweet as honey,
if we would eat it,
in a good book. 

~ John Ruskin

Groundhogs for BookWyrms...

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Happy Groundhog Day! :)  Whether you're hoping for an early spring or you'd like some more wintery weather, here are a few fun picture books to read in celebration of this quirky holiday:

Gregory's Shadow, written and illustrated by Don Freeman, 2000... Gregory the groundhog wakes up on February 1st and heads outside with his friend, Shadow.  Something scares them both, so Gregory races back home and slams the door, accidentally leaving Shadow behind.  When the friends finally find each other once more, they vow to stick close together and never be separated again.

Go to Sleep, Groundhog!, written by Judy Cox and illustrated by Paul Meisel, 2004... Groundhog knows he's supposed to hibernate until February 2nd, but he just can't fall asleep!  He decides to go for a walk and soon discovers a whole world of things he's never seen before.  A note at the end of the book provides information about groundhogs and Groundhog Day.  This book, with all of its humorous scenes, makes me laugh!

Wake Up, Groundhog! (also published as Punxsutawney Phyllis), written by Susanna Leonard Hill and illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler, 2005...  Phyllis is an unusual groundhog.  She loves to be outside, no matter what the weather.  She also dreams of taking over her uncle's role as Punxsutawney Phil when she grows up, even though everyone tells her she can't because she's a girl.  When Groundhog Day comes around, Uncle Phil wants to stay in bed.  The family finally rouses him, and when he invites Phyllis to go outside with him, she demonstrates just how suited she is for the role.  This book also contains fun facts about Groundhog Day and the real Punxsutawney Phil.  I love the cute illustrations and Phyllis's determination!

Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox, written by Susan Blackaby and illustrated by Carmen Segovia, 2011... Brownie wakes up on Groundhog Day and is irritated to see her shadow, knowing she will have to wait even longer for spring to arrive.  Just then, a hungry fox spies the plump groundhog.  Brownie cleverly outwits the fox, and in the end, their encounter turns into an unlikely friendship.  I especially enjoy the endearing paintings!

Do you have any favorite books about Groundhog Day?  I'd love to hear about them!