Valentine’s Day Writing Warm-Ups for Picture Book Creators

Hey there fellow writers. Love is in the air … and the kitchen … and the fox den in these writing warm-ups for picture book creators. The warm-ups will get your writing muscles working and might also spark some fresh ideas for stories or characters.

Happy writing, love Kim xx

Listen to these prompts here:

Writing warm-up 1

Think of an object from your kitchen. Now think of an object from your yard or garden. Brainstorm 5 ways the two objects could have a “meet cute.”

Writing warm-up 2

Let’s play with the word LOVE:

  • If love were a colour, what colour would it be?
  • If love were a smell, what smell would it be?
  • If love were a sound, what sound would it be?
  • If love were a texture, what texture would it be?
  • If LOVE were an acronym, what would each letter stand for?

Writing warm-up 3

Two arctic fox brothers have lived together since they were cubs. They love playing in the snow together and tagging along with polar bear on a hunt. Then, one morning, after unwrapping his warm, fluffy tail, one arctic fox can’t find his brother anywhere. He loves his brother so much, so …

Fast draft what happens next! (Aim to write 250-500 words.)

Write Your Own Joy: 31 Poetry Prompts is out now in ebook and paperback formats. Read for free on Kindle Unlimited! For beginner or more experienced poets.

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Fun Valentine’s Day Poem, K-2

Hi fellow teachers! Here’s a fun Valentine’s Day poem for you to use in your Grades K-2 (ELL, grade 3; ESL, elementary) classrooms. I put some teaching ideas below to inspire you. Let me know if you use the poem – I’d love to hear how it goes.

Watch a video of the “Valentine’s Day” poem here:

I made a heart just for you
Painted it red, with eyes of blue

Sprinkled glitter all over the glue
Gave it a mouth, a nose, a shoe

Taped a treat and left a clue
It’s on your bed, from you know who

Ooops! The treat is gone!
Good thing I made two

(Poem by Kim T. Harrison)

Download a PDF, black & white, printable version of the poem:

KTH-PDF-ValentinePoemDownload

Download a PPT slide version of the poem:

KTH-PPT-ValentinePoemDownload

Teaching Ideas and Curriculum Tie-Ins

Inference

  • Read the plain-text version of the poem and ask students to guess: Who made the heart? Why do you think that? What kind of treat might be taped on the heart? Why is the treat gone?
  • Then show the video to see if the guesses were correct. (You can pause the video before the final screen too to see if students spotted any visual clues that it was a cat who made the heart.)

Visual Arts

  • Students make their own version of the heart inspired by the poem. They can draw or make a “treat” to tape on.
  • Variation of the above: Students make a heart or card from a different animal to another animal. A dog to a cat, for example, or a zebra to a chipmunk! Have fun generating different animal matches.

English Language Arts

  • Use the poem to explore rhyme. What other words rhyme with “you”? Students create their own rhyming couplets.
  • Use the poem to explore syllables. How many syllables are there in each line? Students create their own lines with a set number of syllables.

Download a PDF of the poem with teaching ideas:

KTH-PDF-ValentinesDay-TeacherDownload

Happy Teaching and Happy Valentine’s Day! Kim x

Winter Forest Poetry Prompts for KidLit Poets

Hey there fellow poets! Here are 3 new poetry prompts about “A Winter Forest.” Each has 3 “Ways to Play” ideas to inspire new poems or fresh perspectives on the prompt theme.

Let me know in the comments or via email if you write a poem from these prompts. I can’t wait to see what you create!

Listen to the prompts here:

Prompt 1

Write a poem about one or more animals who live in a winter forest.

Ways to Play:

  • Write the poem from the point of view of the animal. Crouch down (in your mind’s eye or in person) and see the forest from the animal’s viewpoint.
  • Bring in a narrative element – does your animal want something? What’s getting in their way and how do they overcome it? Can you tell a mini-story in poetic form?
  • Play with the form of the poem. For example, each stanza could be a different animal. Or, each stanza could focus on an element of the animal (physical appearance or personality).

Prompt 2

Write a poem about the sounds of a winter forest.

Ways to play:

  • Take a walk (in your mind’s eye or in person) through a forest and pause to listen. What do you hear? How can you capture those sounds in words?
  • Play with sound for this poem about sounds – include a tight rhyme or rhythm pattern. Repeat certain words or sounds. Don’t worry about narrative here. Make a fun poem that kids could dance or move to.
  • Create an extended metaphor poem inspired by one of the sounds you find.

Prompt 3

Write a poem about trees in a winter forest.

Ways to play:

  • Activate different senses for this poem. For example, what does a pine or spruce tree smell like? Are there other smells? What do pine needles or the bark of a birch tree look like? Spend some time really looking at them.
  • Put your science toque on and become a tree detective. How many types of trees are there in your forest? What are the common and scientific names? Are there any special characteristics? Play with the style of your poem. For example, write it in the style of an encyclopedia entry or scientist’s notebook. Or maybe your poem tells the story of a young scientist investigating trees.
  • Find the oldest tree in your winter forest. What has this tree seen and lived through? The highs and lows? How has the forest changed since they were a tiny sapling? Do they miss felled friends? Are they excited to see new growth? Tell this tree’s story in your poem.

Happy poetry writing, Kim x

Write Your Own Joy: 31 Poetry Prompts is out now in ebook and paperback formats. Read for free on Kindle Unlimited! For beginner or more experienced poets.

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Receive occasional news, poetry and writing prompts, as well as resources to use at home or in the classroom by signing up to my free newsletter.

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