Little Blue Truck's Valentine
Little Blue Truck Series
What’s inside...
Spread the love with Little Blue Truck—a perfect Valentine's Day read-aloud in this best-selling series! 'Beep!' said Blue. 'Happy Valentine's Day!' Join Little Blue Truck as he delivers Valentine's Day cards to all his farm animal friends. But as Blue beeps along, he starts to wonder: will he get any cards of his own? With brightly colored foil accents throughout and a large gatefold at the end, this book is the perfect Valentine's Day gift.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
1-3
Length
20 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Little Blue Truck
Toad
Discussion points
How do you think Little Blue Truck felt when delivering the valentines?
What does friendship mean to you, and how do friends show they care about each other?
Why do you think it's important to let friends know that they are special?
How would you help a friend who feels sad or left out?
Can you think of a time when someone did something special for you? How did it make you feel?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive voices for different characters to make the storytelling more engaging and to help differentiate the characters for your child.
After reading, relate the story to your child’s personal experiences with friendship and caring for others.
Encourage your child to talk about their feelings and friendships, mirroring the emotional journeys of the characters in the book.
Discuss the illustrations and ask your child to describe the colors, settings, and moods they perceive as the story progresses.
Suggest to your child to draw a Valentine or write a note to someone they care about, connecting the act in the book to real-life actions.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of friendship
Explanation: In 'Little Blue Truck's Valentine,' the protagonist, Little Blue Truck, goes out of his way to deliver valentines to his friends, emphasizing the joy of giving and maintaining relationships.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to value their friendships and express kindness and appreciation towards their friends, helping them cultivate positive relationships from a young age.
Example Lesson: Showing appreciation
Explanation: The story showcases Little Blue Truck delivering handmade valentines to each of his friends, demonstrating acts of appreciation and kindness.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to show appreciation for others through small gestures, which can be as simple as sharing a toy or saying thank you. This helps in building empathy and social skills.
Example Lesson: Overcoming loneliness
Explanation: The Little Blue Truck feels a bit lonely seeing all his friends paired up, but he finds happiness in making his friends happy.
Real-World Application: This can teach children that feeling lonely is natural, but one can overcome these feelings by engaging positively with those around them and finding joy in others' happiness.
Example Lesson: Creativity in gift-giving
Explanation: The story emphasizes creativity with the different, personalized valentines the truck gives to each friend, tailored to their characteristics and preferences.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to think creatively about how to make others feel special, understanding that gifts can be thoughtful and personalized, rather than just store-bought items.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: Throughout the book, Little Blue Truck shows determination to deliver all the valentines despite the challenges on the road.
Real-World Application: This can instill a sense of perseverance in children when faced with tasks or challenges, teaching them the value of persistence and effort in achieving their goals.