Valentine's Day is less than a month away. One of the things I love about Valentine's Day is the love! It is a day about love of different types. Last week we shared a roundup of books about family love. Today we have books about different kinds of love and Valentines. Our first book is Llama Llama Loves His Teacher by Ana Dewdney and illustrated by JT Morrow. It is recommended for ages 3 to 6.
About the Book:
Learn about all the things that make teachers awesome with Llama Llama Loves His Teacher! A colorful mini-hardcover that is the perfect thank-you gift for teachers everywhere!Go through the school day with Llama Llama as he recalls all the things he learns, but more importantly, all the things he loves about his teacher!
With lush art and heartfelt words, Llama Llama Loves His Teacher is a valuable addition to any elementary school teacher’s classroom library. A charming giftable keepsake that is perfect for National Teacher Day, Teacher Appreciation Week, Back to School, or any time of year!
From Me:
Young children often feel love for their teachers. In this book, Llama Llama shares how there is love between him and his teacher and how the teacher helps build a school family. They do fun activities and when they are feeling bad the teacher helps them through it. The teacher is there to encourage them and help them and provides love and care.
This book is perfect for young children as well as early elementary/preschool classrooms. It is a wonderful reminder that classes are their own type of family, and the teacher is the head of the family. There is love and growing in each family including the classroom. What a great gift for a preschool or kindergarten teacher as well as a young child going off to school or perhaps having trouble adjusting to school.
Our next book is another Llama Llama book. It is Love from Llama Llama by Anna Dewdney. It is recommended for ages 5 to 8.
About the Book:
Discover the different kinds of love with Llama Llama! This mini hardcover book is perfect for sharing with that special someone any day of the year.Llama Llama talks about all the reasons why love is great and how that special someone makes every day a little brighter. A must-have for fans of the New York Times bestselling series Llama Llama!
From Me:
In this book Llama Llama thinks about activities and people he loves. This book is all about taking the time to reflect on what one loves. For Llama Llama it time with his Mama, hugs and kisses from loved one and time with friends. It is his activities outside and things he enjoys and of course that special lovey. I love that this book is Llama Llama's reflection on love. It is simple and sweet and perfect for the age group.
I hope adults reading this book to a child would have the child reflect on things they love and things that make them feel loved. This book is perfect for Valentine's Day and discussing the emotion. It would make an amazing gift for a young child! Remember February 14th is also International Book Giving Day!
Our next book is a fun story from Dolly Parton. It is Dolly Parton's Billy the Kid Dances His Heart Out by Dolly Parton and Erica S. Perl and illustrated by MacKenzie Haley. It is recommended for ages 4 to 7.
About the Book:
The New York Times bestsellinng series starring everyone’s favorite French bulldog, Billy the Kid, is back! Featuring lyrics to an original song by Dolly Parton, this heartwarming story follows Billy as he ruffs it out on the dance floor…and falls for his cute dance teacher.Billy the Kid has done it all. He’s moved to Nashville, formed a band, and rocked from coast to coast. But there’s one thing Billy hasn’t done…dance on stage. Dancing makes him nervous. And dancing in front of an audience? No way.
That all changes when Billy and his band nab an exciting gig as the opening act for Dolly Parton’s Doggy Dance Pawty. Now, Billy is roping his friends into dance lessons. On the first day, he watches dogs whirl and twirl. But one dancer stands out: his dance teacher, Bella, who is as graceful as she is beautiful, with her auburn curls and a voice as sweet as pie.
Soon, Billy is trying to win Bella’s attention. But that’s difficult when he’s stumbling through dance moves and tripping over his paws. Can Billy nail the dance routine and catch Bella’s eye, all before the big dance pawty?
Uplifting and lighthearted, this loving picture book about the importance of trying new things and putting your best paw forward is one the whole family will enjoy.
From Me:
In this sweet book, Billy the Kid has done everything with his band from touring coast to coast. However, he has not danced on stage. In fact, his band members are not dancers either. When they get an invite from Billy's favorite singer, Dolly Parton, to come perform and dance at a dance pawty, the band signs up for dance lessons. Billy is amazed by the dancers and immediately notices a beautiful one, Bella, the instructor. He gets jealous of another dog who is helping Bella and begins to doubt his own abilities. Then he learns the other dog takes private lessons and has been taking dance lessons for years. This gives him the motivation to try even harder. When the big day comes his band dances while they perform and Billy gets the attention of Bella.
This book shares the message about trying your best and perseverance. Billy the Kid learns this lesson when it comes to dance and when he gives it his all he is successful and even enjoys the evening dancing with Bella. It is such a great lesson for kids, and it is a fun story to learn it. This book is fun for helping kids find their own passions and things they want to do. It also encourages them to give things their all even if they don't think they are being successful.
Our final book is a humorous Valentine's Day book. It is from The Worst series. It is Valentines Are the Worst by Alex Willan. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
About the Book:
An unsuspecting Gilbert the Goblin finds himself in the crosshairs of cupids and their heart-tipped arrows in the hilarious latest installment in The Worst! picture book series, where even the strangest of creatures can become the best of friends.Who needs valentines? Not Gilbert the goblin! There’s no time for cards and hugs and all that mushy malarky with far more important matters at hand—like, uh…eating tacos. When Gilbert bumps into a squad of cupids bent on showering him with love arrows, he runs for his life!
This is clearly proof that valentines are the worst! Can Gilbert avoid the trappings of the holiday or will love find a way?
From Me:
Gilbert the Goblin is back and this time he is letting us know about his hate of Valentine's Day. Gilbert hates the chocolates--you never know what flavor it is, and the mushy stuff and he really hates the cupids. Then he gets hit by cupid's arrow (or did he)? And he loves love. He loves his friends and all the good things in his life. He is glad when the "spell" wears off but does it really?
In full tradition of The Worst series, Gilbert the Goblin has many complaints about Valentine's Day. And of course, in the end he realizes that love is important. Now reading this book reminds me of my single days and the single friends who did not like the holiday. I love how this book shares with kids that some people don't like the holiday and they may have their reasons, but everyone should enjoy a celebration of love. This book is perfect for a read aloud and story time. Kids will love laughing at Gilbert and his fits. It is humorous and lovable. I love that he thinks the spell has worn off and then tells his pet sock slugs he loves them. After all we have something and someone we love.
