If You'll Be My Valentine
What’s inside...
In 'If You'll Be My Valentine,' author Cynthia Rylant explores the joy of Valentine's Day through the eyes of a young child. The story follows the child as they prepare handmade valentines for those they care about, including family members, friends, and even pets. Each valentine is personalized and reflects the special relationship the child has with the recipient. The book's charming illustrations and sweet, simple text capture the essence of expressing love and appreciation, making it a delightful read for young children and a celebration of the spirit of giving on Valentine's Day.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-8
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think each character felt when they received their Valentine?
What are some ways you can show love and appreciation to your friends and family?
Why do you think it's important to give and receive kind messages?
How would you create a special Valentine for someone you care about?
What was your favorite part of the book and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think about the emotions displayed in the book by relating them to their own experiences of giving and receiving gifts or kind words.
Discuss the different ways the characters in the book showed their love and ask your child to come up with other ways they can express kindness and appreciation.
After reading, spend some time creating handmade Valentines together, discussing who they would like to give them to and the message they want to share.
Use the book's illustrations to talk about non-verbal expressions of love, such as smiles or hugs, and ask your child to describe how they can tell someone is happy or sad through their body language.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Value of Kindness
Explanation: The story showcases a young boy creating handmade valentine cards for family, friends, and pets, expressing his love and appreciation.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of showing kindness and appreciation, encouraging them to express their feelings and gratitude towards others in their daily interactions.
Example Lesson: Creativity
Explanation: The protagonist uses his imagination to craft personalized valentines, each suited to the receiver’s personality and interests.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to use their creativity in expressing their feelings and to think about what makes their loved ones special, promoting creative thinking in other aspects of life as well.
Example Lesson: Inclusivity
Explanation: The boy makes valentines for a wide range of people and even his dog, showing that love and kindness are universal.
Real-World Application: Teaches children to be inclusive and thoughtful of everyone around them, regardless of differences, fostering an environment of acceptance and respect.
Example Lesson: Expression of Emotions
Explanation: The story emphasizes the importance of openly expressing one's feelings through the boy’s actions.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to comfortably share their feelings and affections, improving their emotional intelligence and interpersonal relationships.
Example Lesson: Generosity
Explanation: By dedicating time to make individual cards, the boy demonstrates generosity by giving something of emotional value without expecting anything in return.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to practice generosity in their lives, understanding the joy of giving and building empathetic connections with others.