
Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch
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We are ardent, insatiable, voracious readers in this house!
I buy my kiddos books as gifts for practically every holiday: Christmas, birthdays, Easter, Independence Day. My kids and I built a large library in our (previously unfinished) basement a couple of years ago, with floor to ceiling bookcases on all four walls. We quickly outgrew it!
We’ve since built bookcases into almost every room in our house.
If you choose them carefully, books are such a fabulous way to teach your children truth, important life lessons, and Christlike attributes!
This is one of those special, inspiring books. It will help you see the world a little differently and stick with you long after you read the last page. Mr. Hatch will make you want to be a better person!
Keep reading for a couple of fun literature activities and a snack to enjoy along with your story.
Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli
Mr. Hatch is a drab, predicatable gentleman who leads a painfully ordered and predictable, uninteresting life. His dreary, lackluster life consists of the same routine, day after day. Until one wintry day, the postman delivers a mysterious package with a big pink bow and a note that reads, “Somebody loves you.”
“Somebody loves me!” Mr. Hatch sings as he dusts his living room. “Somebody loves me!” Mr. Hatch whistles as he does his errands in town.
Just the thought of someone taking an interest in him completely changes the way Mr. Hatch interacts with his neighbors and co-workers. This sweet, simple, heartwarming tale about loving our neighbors will help your children to empathize with loneliness, and understand what a difference love and tender regard can bestow. It’s one of my all-time favorite Valentine’s Day books.
And now it’s time for our accompanying literature activities and snacks!
Literature Activity: Candy Heart Tic-Tac-Toe
I just squeezed frosting onto graham crackers to make the vertical and horizontal lines. My kiddos used candy conversation hearts to play tic-tac-toe.
Literature Snack:
After playing tic-tac-toe for awhile, we enjoyed eating our cute playing boards and game pieces! Can you tell which ones my frosting-loving son made? We all laughed as he relished his creations.
Literature Activity: Love Your Neighbors
We were inspired by the changes that Mr. Hatch underwent once he believed he was loved. So we decided to make cookies and deliver them with a ‘You are loved’ note to a neighbor of ours who we thought might be a little lonely.
We left the cookies on her porch, anonymously, but we’re pretty sure they made her feel special and loved. As we walked home, we speculated about her singing while she dusts and dancing while she vacuums. And we felt happy to have made someone else happy!
If you enjoyed this fun ‘Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch’ story time, check out my other Story Time selections!
Here are a few more of our very favorite Valentine’s Day books!
>>>Are you looking for a super cute, EASY (free printable) Valentine? Check out these scratch-off, owl-riddle Valentine’s, or these bookmark, minion Valentine’s.
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Pin these fun activity, craft and snack ideas for later!
Valentine’s Day Link Party
Every year I spend hours searching for fun (yet simple and easy) Valentine’s Day activities and crafts for my kids. I figure I’m not the only mom who does this, so I thought I’d save you some time and share a few of my favorites. I hope you like them as much as we do!
Encourage and inspire your kiddos to write with these fun Gnome Writing Prompts from In All You Do. The included tips (and free printable) will help you make creative writing more exciting and enjoyable.
Are you looking for a fun, fast, easy Valentine’s Day snack for your kiddos? Here are 15 favorites from Thrive at Home 15 Fast and Fun Valentine’s Day Snacks for Kids.
Chocolate Secrets from Julie Naturally is a fun way to learn more about this delicious and nutritious food. Chocolate? Nutritious? Click through that link for some fun ways to learn more about the all-time top Valentine’s candy.
Your kids will LOVE this Valentine’s Day Unit Study from The WOLFe Pack because it’s filled with fun ways to enjoy this special day together! Moms, you’ll love it too, because it’s chock-full of educational opportunities!
Learn the history behind Valentine’s Day with The History of Valentine’s Traditions from Homeschool on the Range.
Another fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day is by listening to a few of the greatest-ever Love songs from Musicals during this quick, 15-minute lesson from Music in Our Homeschool.
How cute are these DIY Felt Fortune Cookies Valentine’s Day Craft + free Valentine printable from Making Room 4 One More? The best part is that it is so simple your kids can help make a batch.
Vocabulary games and grammar fun (with free printables — toddlers through high school) are a fabulous way to incorporate Valentine’s Day into your homeschool! Valentine’s Day Language Arts Resources for Homeschooling Families from Whole Child Homeschool
Make Some Easy Sweetheart Popcorn For Valentine’s Day from Our Crazy Adventures in Autismland while learning about the history of Valentine’s Day!
Whisk in some Faith lessons with your Valentine’s day goodies! These 5 low-prep, easy snacks teach kids how to love God and others (and they’re so simple, your kids can make them on their own next week!) 5 Valentine’s Day Snacks that Teach About God’s Love from Stand Up, Reach Out
As a homeschool mom, do you every feel bad that your children are missing out on the fun parts of public school, like the annual Halloween parade and the class Valentine’s Day party? Never fear, Everyday Graces Homeschool has some ideas for you about How to Have a Valentine’s Day Homeschool Party.
Valentine’s Chocolate Pudding Cream Cheese Frosting from Homegrown Motherhood is so quick and easy your kiddos can whip it up all by themselves!
27 Valentine’s Day Books for Kids from Heart and Soul Homeschooling are a fun way to fill your book basket this month!
This fun art project is perfect for tweens up to enjoy and so cute you’ll be thrilled to hang on your wall! DIY Valentine’s Day Craft Ideas – Beautiful Heart-Shaped Upcycled Book Decorations from Geez, Gwen!
Hands-on STEM activities are the perfect way to get your kiddos buzzed about science and technology. If you’re wondering how Valentine’s Day and STEM go together, check out these 10+ Awesome Valentine’s Day STEM Activities for Kids from Hess Un-Academy.
I’m not familiar with this book, but it definitely sounds excellent for character teaching on the topic of thoughtfulness. I’m with your son all the way on the frosting… the more the better!!! 🙂 And what a cute idea for a snack with conversation hearts! Those are a weakness of mine!
Ah, me, too! I especially love the white conservation hearts!
STOP! What a fun simple darling game of Tic Tac Toe…seriously. That is stinkin cute and such a fun family idea…sorry I got side tracked on doing this and sharing the idea with my friends. They will love it!
Thanks, Rebecca. It was a lot of fun, and I think your friends will absolutely love ‘Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch’!
This post takes me right back to my childhood. My mom used to read me stories and then we would make a snack afterward. This book seems so sweet!
Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch is very sweet! My kiddos loved it!
This sounds like such a sweet book. I love that you made some treats for a neighbor – I’m sure they loved it!! And those tic tac toe boards are too fun.
-Lauren
Yes, we had fun with the yummy Valentine’s tic tac toe boards. Thanks, Lauren!
This sounds like just the kind of book I’d like to read with my little girl. It has all the feels and I love that it reminds children to love their neighbor! I like the delicious activity to do afterward too!!! The fact that you shared the love with your neighbor just seals the deal! Raising kids right, I say!
Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch truly does have all the feels. That’s the perfect way to put it!