VERO BEACH – Several dozen parents and children crowded onto the floor of the Vero Beach Children’s Book Center Saturday to get them in the Valentine’s Day spirit.
Settling into laps, the children listened as Miss Julie read stories of characters in search of their Valentine and the reasons why parents love their children.
“It just brings back memories,” said second grade teacher Linda Urban, of Citrus Elementary School.
She said she had heard about the Vero Beach Book Center’s Valentine’s Day celebration and was curious to see what the center would do.
As a teacher, Urban said that she has to be creative in tying Valentine’s Day into the curriculum – like math and social studies.
“It’s a challenge,” she said.
Between readings of “And I Love You” and “Will You Be My Valenswine?” children were encouraged to dance and wriggle in time to the music while their parents watched and offered them the courage to mingle amongst new friends.
“What better way to spend time with the best two beautiful girls?” asked Ron Diniz of taking a morning with his daughter, Zadie, 5, and her cousin, Bela, 7.
“This is fun,” Diniz said of getting the family on the right track for Valentine’s Day.
The girls, who became a bit shy despite Diniz’s presence, said that they enjoyed the dancing the best.
After the book readings and dancing, the children were encouraged to work on craft projects to take home.
The projects included a handmade Valentine’s Day card and a “love bird” on a Popsicle stick.
“Is there anything better than a doily heart?” Miss Julie asked the kids, drawing a chuckle from the adults in the room.
