Valentine’s Day is here! While this kid-favorite holiday is typically filled with class parties, gifts, crafts and treats, you can also spark a “love of reading” with fun Valentines-themed literacy activities.

Check out this quick list of five fun Valentine’s Day literacy activities for kids, from Pre-K through elementary school.​

Tap into your child's creative side while practicing essential letter recognition and phonemic awareness skills. The best part? This  Valentine's letter wreath requires only a few simple supplies you can find around the house!

Supplies:

• Heart stickers
• Paper plate
• Permanent Marker
• Scissors
  

Instructions:
For instructions on this activity, visit FunLearningForKids.com

Practice spelling, trick words, and phonics in this treat of a Valentine's word search!

Create themed vocabulary cards based on Valentine’s Day words with your child and practice spelling and defining them. Select vocab words with multiple meanings that help students develop comprehension skills.

Turn your child or student into a super sleuth with these fun and engaging Valentine's Word Scrambles!

Learning the alphabet goes well beyond just reciting a song - learning the lowercase and capital formation of letters PLUS the sounds they make gives Pre-K and Kindergarten students a leg up on learning to read! Check out this fun colorful game for matching uppercase and lowercase letter hearts.

Supplies: 

• Free printable game boards - download HERE
  
• Letter manipulatives (letter tiles, letter magnets, etc.)
  
  

Instructions:

• Students use physical manipulatives, such as letter tiles, alphabet magnets, etc. to match to each letter on the game boards
  

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Celebrate the Love of Reading, Black History Month, and Black Children's Book Week This February
11 Children's Books About Love Featuring Black Characters

February is a triple treat of a month as we celebrate our *love* of reading, Black History Month, and Black Children's Book Week.

Don't miss these four fun ideas for exploring reading and learning with your children in February.

1. Participate in Black Children's Book Week, Feb. 26 - Mar 4, 2023. Celebrate Black children's literature during this dedicated week presented by BlackBabyBooks.com. Dive into fabulous culturally-responsive books featuring Black characters and cultures, attend virtual and in-person family reading events, participate in a Black children's talent showcase and more.

Asheville native and local author Jorge Redmond (possibly joined by his co-author Ali Kamanda!) will join local students in Asheville, NC during BCBW week for special live readings of "Black Boy, Black Boy."

Kicking off Black Children's Book Week at the Chosen PODS After-School at the Arthur R. Edington Center, Redmond and Kamanda will join more than 60 K-4th grade students Monday 2/27 at 3p, followed by visits later in the week to Christine Avery Learning Center and Lonnie D. Burton Child Development Center to read with rising Kindergartners. Finally, Redmond will visit with elementary students at Youthful HAND After-School in the Hillcrest Apartments Community on Friday, 3/3 at 3p!

2. Read, buy and share children's books by Black authors.
Visit your local library and look online for books by Black authors like Ruth Forman, Derrick Barnes, Sharee Miller, Matthew A. Cherry, Grace Byers, Kelly Lyons, Roda Ahmed, Tami Charles, Angela Shanté, Kelly Rowland, Jacqueline Woodson, and more!

Check out Asheville natives and local Black children's book authors too!

• Jorge Redmond - co-author of "Black Boy, Black Boy"
• JP Miller - author of Leaders Like Us and Black Stories Matter series
• Rev. Brent La Prince Edwards - author of "You Can't Bully Me Anymore"
  
  

Live in Buncombe County? Explore Black Legacy Month book recommendations, events and activities from Buncombe County Libraries here.

Also see: 11 Children's Books About Love Featuring Black Characters

3. Support local Black-owned bookstores. Are you in Asheville? Buy culturally-responsive children's books from boutique and gallery Noir Collective AVL at 39 South Market Street, Suite C. And discover more than 100 Black-owned bookstores nationwide in this comprehensive list broken down by state on Oprah Daily.

4. Learn about local Black history. Visit the historic YMI Cultural Center, go on a tour of Black Asheville with Hood Huggers International, or follow the  self-guided Historic James Vester Miller Trail through town. Check out a list of local racial equity training and education programs here.