Looking for an adorable, whimsical, wintry picture book that celebrates the wonder and sweetness of Valentine’s Day? We have fallen in love with Snowy Valentine by David Peterson. The beautiful snow-covered illustrations that also show the coziness of an animal community trying to help a friend in the forest will make you fall in love with this delightful story. Jasper, a rabbit is trying to find a Valentine for his wife, Lilly. Through his visits and interactions with his friends in the forest, they attempt to help him find the perfect gift. Jasper encounters a problem or two, but in the end, he learns that the true meaning of love and the best gifts come from the heart.
Grab your copy of this book today!
As Valentine’s Day approaches, it’s a magical time to delve into these sweet stories and utilize them in the classroom. We have created 7 engaging activities you can complete with Snowy Valentine.
1. Story Setting Activities
Snowy Valentine is one of those picture books that have quintessential cozy winter animal homes throughout the illustrations. These winter books have always been a personal favorite of mine. I have spent my life trying to mimic those cozy winter scenes. This book is perfect for exploring settings.
Students can explore how each animal’s burrow or home matches that animal. Students can dive into what elements of each setting create warmth. What did the author/illustrator specifically include to create a warm setting that matched the animal’s characteristics? Students can even pretend they’re animals and create their cozy winter burrows. What would they include in their homes?
#2 Valentine’s Gift
The main problem of the story is that Jasper doesn’t know what to get his wife Lilly for Valentine’s Day. His friends offer various ideas that they are getting their significant others, but it’s just not right for Lilly. Have students brainstorm what they would get Lilly if they were Jasper.
Students can create a Valentine’s message and gift from Jasper to Lilly. Perhaps, students can choose another idea that isn’t mentioned in the book to spark creativity. Furthermore, students can write their explanations as to why they chose that particular gift.
#3 Theme & Author’s Purpose
This book has many wonderful themes from friendship to generosity, from kindness and helping others to perseverance. Jasper’s friends try to generously help him solve a problem and Jasper does not give up.
Students can choose a theme from the book and explain it, all while exploring the author’s purpose. Teach students the differing author’s purposes while students decide why David Peterson perhaps wrote this wintry story. What was his purpose and how does it match the theme?
#4 Cause & Effect / Story Elements/ Summarizing & Sequencing
Snowy Valentine shows many cause-and-effect relationships that students can explore. Utilize a graphic organizer to record the various examples. Students can dive into recording the various elements of a story on a web or map.
There are problems, solutions, characters, and settings that can be investigated. This story is sweet and simple which makes it the perfect example to practice summarizing and sequencing as well.
#5 Compare & Contrast
In the story, we meet the antagonist, a sly fox named Teagan. Students can compare and contrast Teagan’s sneaky behavior to Jasper’s innocence and trust.
Using a Venn Diagram, students can see how the two characters are vastly different, yet they do have some things in common in the end.
#6 Science Activities
Dive into the science side of Snowy Valentine by completing a winter nature investigation. If you live in a climate that experiences winter, go outside for a winter scavenger hunt. Students can explore nature in the wintertime and look for animal homes such as birds’ nests or little burrows in the ground.
Furthermore, students can complete a winter animal investigation. They would choose an animal featured in the picture book and through the use of the library and the internet, students can write a mini report all about that animal in the wintertime. Does it have a burrow? Does it hibernate? How does it get food in the snow? How does it survive the winter?
#7 Resource
Snowy Valentine’s engaging book companion includes a range of activities designed to captivate young minds and enhance their learning. From a Jasper & Teagan Venn Diagram to a Winter Animal Setting Creation & Writing Assignment, each component is thoughtfully crafted to encourage critical thinking and creativity.
Teachers can explore themes, analyze cause and effect, and guide students in crafting their own Valentine’s messages. With a comprehensive set of resources, including story maps, organizers, crafts, and writing assignments, this book companion offers an immersive and educational experience, making it an ideal addition to your classroom activities.
This resource contains the following:
- Jasper & Teagan Venn Diagram
- Story Map
- Summary and Sequence Map with Theme Exploration
- Author’s Purpose Organizer
- Cause and Effect Organizer
- Setting Exploration
- Winter Animal Setting Creation & Writing Assignment
- Jasper Craft and Valentine’s Message
- Valentine Explanation Writing
- Bulletin Board Title & Border to Display Jasper Valentine Craft
Conclusion
Snowy Valentine is a delightful picture book that combines the magic of Valentine’s Day with the enchantment of winter. By engaging in the activities inspired by the story, students can deepen their understanding of love, friendship, literacy, and the beauty of winter. Whether it’s creating Valentine’s Day cards or exploring the nature of winter, these activities will spark creativity, imagination, and joy in the hearts of your students.
