Simply Sweet for Valentine’s Day

Here are the top 10 Valentine’s Day children’s books, as selected by the Brooke Jackman Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes literacy.

Guess How Much I love You by Sam McBratney
I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti Shustak
How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? by Jane Yolen
Porcupining A Prickly Love Story by Lisa Wheeler
Love, Ruby Valentine by Laurie B Friedman
Where’s My Valentine? (Yo Gabba Gabba! Series) by Tina Gallo
A Giant Crush by Gennifer Choldenko
The Ballad of Valentine by Alison Jackson
Roses are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink by Diane deGroat
Olive You!: And Other Valentine Knock-Knock Jokes You’ll A-Door by Katy Hall and Lisa Eisenberg

Marshmallows for Valentine’s Day

Try this simple, sweet and smushy craft for your Valentine. And for the kids, here are some highly recommended books for the season of love.

Supplies:
Marshmallows
Baker’s Twine
Tapestry Needle
Shortening
Scissors
Red Cardstock
Stapler
Edible Writers (Optional)

Take a piece of baker’s twine about 8 to 10 inches long. Thread the tapestry needle. Make a double or triple knot in one end of the twine and snip off the excess.
Grease the needle with shortening (I use Crisco).
Thread the twine through a marshmallow. Pull the marshmallow until the knot hits the base of the marshmallow (don’t pull too hard or you’ll pull the knot through the marshmallow). Pull the needle off the twine. Cut out two hearts from the paper and glue, staple or tape at the end of the twine.
If desired, draw a message on the marshmallow with the edible writers. Dunk in hot cocoa (be warned, edible ink will run in funny ways when the marshmallow hits the cocoa) and discard string when marshmallow dissolves.

Source: Meaghan Mountford, author of ‘The Decorated Cookie’ blog and the new book, Sugarlicious: 50 Cute and Clever Treats for Every Occasion