Valentine’s Day (for kids) at the Library!

Love is in the air at Wellington City Libraries! Roses are red, violets are blue; come on down to Wellington City Libraries; where we have amazing books for you!

Valentines Day has arrived at the library and has many books on ways and ideas to celebrate love, affection and Saint Valentine.


What is Valentine’s day:

St Valentine is known as the patron saint of lovers. Valentine’s Day is celebrated each year on 14 February by people giving presents of cards, flowers  and gifts. It is a great opportunity to remind loved ones, friends and family how much they mean to you.  Many people choose to do this by giving cards, flowers or gifts.

Did you know: Valentine’s Day got its name from a Roman priest called Valentine who helped couples secretly get married. Read more about it on National Geographic’s page about Valentine’s Day.


Where can I find information about Valentine’s day?image courtesy of syndetics

  • ManyAnswers has a page dedicated to websites, resources and ways to search for information about festivals and celebrations in New Zealand, which includes Valentine’s day.
  • Britannica has a page dedicated to Valentine’s day.
  • Crayola has a free colouring page that is Valentine’s day themed.
  • Read Valentine be mine, which presents  the history of Valentine’s Day as well as its past and present traditions.


    If you’re stuck on ideas on giving presents of cards, flowers (often red roses) and sweets or chocolates, why not come on down to your local library and check out the following books:

image courtesy of syndeticsSew with me : 60 fun & easy projects to make your own fabulous décor and accessories.

Make every day a crafting bonanza with this inspiring and helpful guidebook packed with 60 projects. These accessories, toys and decorations are as easy to create as they are fun to wear and display Grab an adult to help you get started, then you’re off sewing adorable crafts you can personalize with your favorite colors and fabrics.

image courtesy of syndetics10 minute decorative cards.

Using readily available materials, this series is packed full of fun things to make and do. The projects are explained in easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions, and are perfect for teachers looking for original ideas as well as time-poor parents. In 10 Minute Crafts: Decorative Cards, children can learn how to make a whole range of beautiful handmade cards for celebrations from Christmas and Valentine’s Day to Hanukah, Holi and birthdays. Simple, easy step-by-steps and clear instructions make this the ideal arts and crafts book on making cards for children of 5+.


Also search our catalogue for more gift ideas for Valentines day.


If you’re interested in Valentine’s day themed fiction and comics, these books might interest you:

image courtesy of syndeticsDiary of a wimpy kid: The Third wheel.

A dance at Greg’s middle school has everyone scrambling to find a partner, and Greg is determined not to be left by the wayside. So he concocts a desperate plan to find someone–anyone –to go with on the big night.But Greg’s schemes go hilariously awry, and his only option is to attend the dance with his best friend, Rowley Jefferson, and a female classmate as a “group of friends.” But the night is long, and anything can happen along the way. Who will arrive at the dance triumphantly, and who will end up being the third wheel?

image courtesy of syndeticsNancy Clancy, secret admirer.

Nancy Clancy and her best friend, Bree, have love on the brain-after all, they’re learning about the human heart in science class! But when the girls decide to play matchmaker, nothing works out as planned. So the big question is: Will love conquer all?

image courtesy of syndeticsForget me Nat.

“For the first time in her life, Natalie feels confident. Her talents are being recognized, she has supportive friends, and she’s spending a ton of time with her crush, Derek! But when Derek tells Natalie that he just wants to be friends, Natalie’s self-confidence quickly changes to self-doubt. As she tries to recover from her broken heart, Natalie casts aside her talents and even her friends. With no one to turn to, Natalie will have to pull herself out of this mess on her own” — Amazon.com

image courtesy of syndeticsUncle Scrooge : treasure above the clouds.

In “Treasure Above the Clouds,” Scrooge battles playboy plutocrat John D. Rockerduck for ownership of an awesome Incan treasure Then, it’s Valentine’s Day in Duckburg, and Scrooge faces a firestorm from two dastardly dates–Klondike goldminer Glittering Goldie and brassy business-gal Brigitta MacBridge And in “Money is the Root of Upheaval ,” a duck tale by Jerry Siegel (co-creator of Superman), Scrooge McDuck travels through time to find riches in ancient Egypt, only to wind up stranded in a dystopian future.

image courtesy of syndeticsAphrodite : goddess of love.

A latest entry in the best-selling series focuses on the goddess of love and combines accessible graphic illustrations with thoroughly researched storytelling to recount her dramatic birth from the sea foam, her role in the Trojan War and more. In volume six of Olympians, graphic novel author/artist George O’Connor turns the spotlight on Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Look for the same thoroughly researched and wonderfully accessible comics storytelling as O’Connor tackles the story of the Aphrodite from her dramatic birth (emerging from sea-foam) to her role in the Trojan War. O’Connor has outdone himself with this volume: the story is riveting and the artwork is beyond compare. Greek mythology has never been so vivid!


Search our catalogue for more children’s books about Valentine’s day!

Valentine’s Day, a celebration of love

Valentine’s Day, also known as the Feast of Saint Valentine, originated more than 1000 years ago in the Roman Empire, although the exact history is unknown.

It started off as a day to honour Saint Valentinus, a Roman priest who died in the name of his Christian religion.

Valentine’s Day didn’t become a celebration of love until 800 years later in the late 14th century, when an English poet named Geoffrey Chaucer referenced Saint Valentine in a love poem he had written about the engagement of the King and Queen.

Poetry has therefore remained popular on Valentine’s Day, and you might have heard this well-known phrase (or variations of it):

Roses are Red, Violets are blue,

Honey is sweet, and so are you.

 

Nowadays, people from countries all around the world celebrate Valentine’s Day by giving chocolates, roses and handwritten cards to the ones they love, as well as spending time together.

Although it is traditionally a romantic occasion, many people also choose to celebrate special friendships on Valentine’s Day.

Why not create your own cards and gifts to show your loved ones how much you appreciate them?

 

Visit our catalogue to find out more about Valentine’s Day and for great crafted gift ideas. Here are some to get you started: