Powered By Blogger

Monday, August 4, 2025

Exceptional Picture Book: Heartfelt

 


Heartfelt

by Elaine Vickers

Illustrations by Samantha Cotterill

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division 

2025

56 pages

ISBN: 9781665929769


If you can judge a book by its cover, Heartfelt will be the one you'll fall in love with. Sheer joy on a child's face as they dance, arms overhead through a shower of red and pink hearts capture the true spirit of this lovely picture book based on the author's own experience of teaching children to do "Secret Service." A bag of paper hearts was given to each child to give one to each person they'd like to "gift." It could be a neighbor, teacher, parent, friend, or anyone the child thought deserved to be recognized. They would leave a heart, sometimes secretly, and share their experiences in the group the next week. The children involved were excited to share the care and love and once back in the group, excited the share the discussion. 

The child in the book leaves hearts for the neighbors with a bag of warm cookies. A bag with a heart is left for the mail carrier and the child makes a picture with a heart for her friend. As they continue the heartfelt giveaway, the child thinks about love and even though they have passed out all their hearts, they realize love and care is all around them right in their own neighborhood. 

Elaine Vickers shares this example of a HUGE idea that will impact children and those around them. If every child could experience this heartfelt fun, the world would be a different place. 

Highly, highly recommended for preK to grade 4. 


No comments:

Post a Comment