When I taught kindergarten, one of our favorite books to read at Valentine's Day was Love Monster by Rachel Bright. It is a sweet story with a great message about how you can search high and low for love but it shows up when you least expect it. As a follow-up to this story, we would read Love Monster and the Perfect Present which we also love. Rachel Bright has also written Love Monster and the Last Chocolate and Love Monster and the Scary Something which we have not read yet!

During the month of February, as my class participated in other Valentine-themed learning centers, we always had an art center as an outlet for creativity and a place to work on fine-motor skills like cutting and pasting. The week that we read the Rachel Bright’s “Love Monster” books, this is the craft that I would set out at our art center. It allows for just the right amount of following directions while still leaving some room for creativity!

You can use the printable provided in two ways:
1. Print directly onto colored paper and cut out OR
2. Print on cardstock, cut out, and use as patterns to trace on colored paper and then cut out

In addition to the printable, the only other materials needed for this project are:
-Colored paper [you can use construction paper, colored printer paper or cardstock]
-Scissors
-Glue stick
-Heart-shaped foam stickers

Have little ones cut out the pieces (or depending on the age you are working with, cut the pieces out in advance), glue the antennae and the legs to the back of the body, glue the mouth to the front of the body and add some hearts for eyes, a nose, and anywhere else you want! Peeling the backs off of the stickers was the kiddos' favorite part and is also a great way to build fine motor skills!

Happy crafting and happy Valentine's day!

If you missed it in the text above, you can find the free Love Monster printable HERE. :)