This list of 14 Valentine's Day read alouds and activities are perfect for celebrating friendship and kindness in your classroom this February, or at any time of the year!
Roses are red
Violets are blue
We love to read
How about you?
Here at Lucky Little Learners, we love a good classroom read-aloud. February is a month for celebrating friendship and kindness. Explore these themes and more with our list of Valentine's Day read alouds and activities for the classroom.
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1. Rhyme Time Valentine
written and illustrated by Nancy Poydar
Ruby is so proud of the Valentine cards she made for her classmates. When her cards suddenly disappear, Ruby must come up with a creative way to show her friends she cares.
Book Activity
Create a rhyming word chain of hearts. On strips of paper, write rhyming words. Then, staple your strips together into this heart paper chain. See who can make the longest heart chain! Hang in the classroom as a fun Valentine's Day decoration.
2. Love Grows Everywhere
By Barry Timms, illustrated by Tisha Lee
A heartwarming book that shows how we care for others around us can help love grow anywhere!
Book Activity
Grow an indoor class garden. Have students decorate pots or planters with paint. Then, choose a seed to grow in the pot (wildflowers, spring vegetables, herbs, are all good choices!). Students will care for and nurture their plants as they grow.
3. Plant a Kiss
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Little Miss planted a kiss! What will she grow? Discover the unexpected in this book by beloved creators Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Peter H. Reynolds
Book Activity
Complete a creative writing prompt. I planted… It grew into a… Have fun coming up with silly and sweet ideas! Illustrate the final writing prompt and share it with the class.
4. Groundhug Day
by Anne Marie Pace, illustrated by Christopher Denise
Groundhog's friends are sad that he can never celebrate Valentine's Day with them, since he often goes back to sleep after Groundhog Day. The friends come up with a way to share a special day with Groundhog he will never forget.
Book Activity
Celebrate Groundhog Day with our nonfiction text skills Groundhog Day Writing Activities, Math Puzzles or Brag Tags.
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5. This is NOT a Valentine
By Carter Higgins, illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins
We can show our friends that we care in more ways than just a paper card with hearts. Find out how one student shares a Valentine with his friend.
Book Activity
Identify school helpers – it could be the nurse, support staff, office staff, food service workers, bus drivers, custodians, etc. Have the students write a friendly letter thanking them for all they do for the school. Hand-deliver the letters to show your appreciation! Check out these resources on how to write a friendly letter.
Bonus Idea: Thank You Card and Letter Template. Click below to download these easy-to-use thank you card or letter templates for your class.
6. Love is My Favorite Thing
Written and Illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark
A cute story of a rambunctious pooch who loves nothing more than being with his family.
Book Activity
Make these adorable Heart Animal Valentines with your students! Bonus – these are perfect for a discussion on symmetry. In fact, why not design a whole lesson with some of our favorite symmetry activities!
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7. Love is…
By Diana Adams, illustrated by Claire Keane
A sweet story about a young girl and her duckling and what they learn about love and letting go.
Book Activity
Make a heart map. A heart map is an example for students to write about the people, things, and experiences that matter most to them. Have students write about all the things they love. On a piece of blank paper, have students draw a large heart shape. Inside the heart, draw or write about the things and people they hold dear. Share these heart maps with the class. Or, color along as you listen to this story with the Color by Number math resources on All Access.
Get Color by Number Sheets here
8. Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch
By Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Paul Yalowitz
Mr. Hatch is a lonely man, until one day he begins to receive letters from a secret admirer. Who could it be? Find out in the Valentine's Day classic.
Book Activity
Solve a Valentine mystery of your own with the Valentine Money Messages activity. Students will try to crack the code and solve the secret Valentine message, all while improving their money counting skills.
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9. Love
By Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
Discover how love can be found in everyday moments in this delightful book.
Book Activity
Cut out paper hearts, and have each student write a way they can show love. For example: Love is baking cookies with grandma! Love is taking my dog for a walk. Love is helping my brother with his homework. Hang the hearts around the classroom or on a bulletin board.
10. The Day It Rained Hearts
Written and illustrated by Felicia Bond
Something unexpected arrives from the sky in this classic Valentine's Day book.
Book Activity
Create wall art based on The Day it Rained Hearts. Use the spring/summer art suggestions in Hallway Art Ideas for Every Season for a fun Valentine twist!
11. In My Heart
Written and illustrated by Jo Witek
“My heart is full of feelings. Big feelings and small feelings. Loud feelings and quiet feelings. Quick feelings and slow feelings. My heart is like a house, with all these feelings living inside,” begins this book about feelings. This book gives students a concrete way to understand complex feelings. Social Emotional Learning is more important than ever. This book makes a great connection to our Social Emotional Learning Curriculum.
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Book Activity
Just like the book suggests, each heart is like a house. Have students draw a picture of a house, and write or draw examples of all the emotions that they have inside.
12. Words and Your Heart
Written and illustrated by Kate Jane Neal
Words have power. This book discusses all the ways we can use our words to do good and show love.
Book Activity
Make a “heart words” chart for your class. On a large piece of poster board or chart paper, draw a heart. Throughout the day or week, every time you hear a student using kind words, write what they say inside the heart word chart. Or, have students write a kind or supportive phrase inside the heart during morning meeting check-in.
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Bonus Idea: Make these adorable crayon hearts and give to students as Valentines.
13. Don't Hug Doug (He Doesn't Like It)
by Carrie Finison, illustrated by Daniel Wiseman
It's important to remember that everyone has different ways they are comfortable with showing and receiving affection. This book helps students understand bodily autonomy and know that it's ok to say “no” when something is uncomfortable. Rissy No Kissies by Katey Howes shares a similar message for students.
Book Activity
Brainstorm a list of ways that friends can show affection without being physical.
14. The Biggest Valentine Ever
By Steven Kroll, illustrated by Jeni Bassett
Best friends Clayton and Desmond team up to make their teacher the biggest Valentine ever. But when things don’t go as planned, the two friends must find a way to work together to save their project. A sweet story about friendship, flexible thinking, and creativity.
Book Activity
Have students work together in groups to create their own oversized Valentines to decorate the classroom. Spread out the art supplies and let their imaginations run wild! Or, have students work together in groups while they complete our fabulous February Math Centers.
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We hope this list of Valentine's Day read-alouds and activities are perfect for celebrating friendship, and kindness in your classroom this February, or any time of the year!
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