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The Shape of My Heart is a great book to read during Valentine’s Day festivities. Also links up to a kid’s art project.

Book Review: The Shape of my Heart

The Shape of My Heart is a great book to read during Valentine’s Day festivities. Also links up to a kid’s art project.

I went to my local Indie bookstore a while back searching for a book to tie-in with my Valentine’s Day themed art lessons. I gravitated towards the sea of pink and red and searched for an appropriate book for my first and second graders.  I was disappointed with the selection but to be fair, I had a lot of requirements.

I wanted a book to tie-in with an art lesson on color, value and shape, so the book needed to offer illustrations to support my lesson plus the book couldn’t be too text heavy. I allocate between 5 and 7 minutes to read a book before diving into the art concepts. And lastly, I preferred a book that didn’t focus on parties, feelings or sentiments.

So what was I left with? Nothing, at least in the themed-book section.

But this bookstore is rich with picture books so I started my search. I found this title within 5 minutes. The Shape of My Heart promised to deliver all of my requirements and it didn’t disappoint.

I’m pleased to say that this is my current favorite picture book…

The Shape of My Heart is a great book to read during Valentine’s Day festivities. Also links up to a kid’s art project.

The text takes you on a journey of shapes that every child can relate to and finishes with the most important shape of all;  the heart. The illustrations are a dream as well. I read this book to all of my 1st and 2nd graders as a starter to my Valentine’s Day art lessons including the Mosaic Heart.

The best part of the book is that it can tie into any lesson on shape anytime of the year.

The Shape of My Heart by Mark Sperring and illustrated by Alys Paterson is published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

This post contains affiliate links.


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  • Marcia

    I just got that book too. Such a great one.

  • kiley

    I’m a homeschooling mama and I love creating literature based art projects with my kiddos! Your site is my absolute favorite art blog. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for sharing your projects with us!!!

  • Ann Marie

    I just bought this after buying your recent heart project pdf. This book and the project are perfect for my kindergarten class. Valentine connection but such great reinforcement for shapes with lots of drawing and cutting! So fun. They will love it. Thank you for all of your inspiration and for all that you share!

  • Kat

    Thanks for the great reference! I went right to my local library and found this book in the New section. It will be perfect for my Artist Trading Card lesson on symmetry, hearts and Zentangle Valentines, as well as a new class I am offering in on personal narratives and interactive journaling – with heart mapping. I don’t exclusively teach art, but every one of your posts inspires new ideas!

  • Brigid

    This book looks great! Adding it to my books to buy list! Have you seen “See a Heart, Share a Heart”? The author Eric Telchin took all the photos of hearts he found in everyday life from things like drips of ice cream. It is perfect for art class!

    • Patty Palmer

      I haven’t seen this one, but I’m searching Amazon right now. Thanks for the book tip!

  • Carleen

    Have you ever seen “My Heart is Like a Zoo” by Michael Hall? My students love making animals out of hearts like those found in this book.

    • Patty Palmer

      No, I haven’t, but it sounds like another amazing book. I’ll look it up! Thanks!

  • kiley

    My boys loved this art project! Thanks again!!!

    http://alwayscomehome.blogspot.com/2013/02/homeschool-shape-of-my-heart.html

  • Moira

    I did this lesson for Mother’s Day instead of Valentine’s Day and my students loved doing it!

  • Connie

    I love your lesson plans as they teach so much about the inner artist in each of us. Thank you.

    • Patty

      Thank you so much Connie!

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