HEARTS with Heart!

February brings us Valentine’s Day, a perfect time to let our hearts shine. Let’s look at two picture books with loving themes that move us in different ways.
 
LOVE WILL TURN YOU AROUND features shapes in primary and secondary colors. Young children will enjoy recognizing these basic concepts, as well as imitating the characters’ movements as Circle rolls, Square stacks, and Triangle tiptoes and twirls. However, Heart is feeling “all wrong” today. Children will knowingly point out that, indeed, Heart looks all wrong, because he’s upside down!

Emotions and friendship skills weave through the story as the various shapes do their best to include Heart in their fun. Heart continues to struggle until he looks inside himself and realizes love is what makes him feel right. Soon Heart’s frown – indeed, his whole body – flips, and we recognize the familiar shape of a smiling Valentine. Now Heart is empowered to help a new shape, a Rhombus who is looking to find their spark.
 
Using free resources from the publisher, teachers can use this book to highlight concepts of “foundational math shapes and properties, primary and secondary colors, social-emotional skills and development, teamwork and friendship.”

The picture book LOVING KINDNESS immerses readers in an uplifting, loving, lyrical look at what it means to be alive on our precious planet, in our wondrous universe.

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​Identical affirmations are repeated throughout this book: to a baby, a child, horses, birds, and ultimately, everyone – humans and animals. Gentle, comforting and empowering text assures us we all are blessings, we all are blessed, we all are learning, dreaming, and connected. The cadence and repetition make sweet reading for anytime, including bedtime. The positive, all-embracing ethos of this book plants a seed that ultimately will gift the reader with sweet fruit.
 
Open these books – and books like these – and open your hearts!