Love is in the air! Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to cozy up with a good book and spend quality moments with the ones we love. While the day is often adorned with sweet treats, heart-shaped decorations, and a sea of red and pink, it’s also a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the everyday lessons about love and friendship that our children are learning. These delightful books are sure to fill your hearts with warmth and your home with giggles!
The Love Letter by Anika Aldamuy Denise
A lost love letter finds its way into the hands of three different forest animals, each believing it was written for them, even though it wasn’t written for any of them. Despite the mix-up, the animals realize the power of love and friendship. This book is the perfect reminder of how much joy we can give others just by telling them we love them. It is also a great way to talk about letter writing in the early childhood classroom or at home.
Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli
Mr. Hatch is a lonely, melancholy, and routine-oriented man. One day, he receives a Valentine from a secret admirer. The thought that someone loves him brings him so much joy that his whole demeanor shifts and he begins to spread kindness and joy to others in his neighborhood. When he discovers the Valentine was actually delivered to the wrong person, he becomes sad and his neighbors notice immediately. They decide to make sure he knows he is loved by many, not just by one! This book is a great reminder about the domino effect an expression of kindness can set into motion and the importance of checking on friends and neighbors when they seem down.
I Love You Already! by Jori John and Benji Davies
Another one is this favorite series, Bear is excited to spend a quiet day relaxing alone. His neighbor Duck, is excited to spend his day doing activities with Bear. After putting up with Duck’s antics, Bear reminds Duck that he loves him, even though he doesn’t show it very often. This book is a great reminder that we all have different ways of expressing love to our favorite people!
Hug Machine by Scott Campbell
A little boy names himself the best hug machine ever! He is even willing to hug those that rarely get hugs (like a porcupine). He spends his day hugging everyone he can, spreading love and joy. When he runs out of steam at the end of the day, someone special is there to give him a hug. Afterall, hug machines need hugs too. This sweet and silly story will have your little one laughing and might even turn them into a hug machine as well.
Love Monster by Rachel Bright
This tells the story of a hairy, funny-looking monster setting out to find someone to love and accept him in a world of cute and cuddly creatures. The story is so sweet and endearing and the first one in a beloved series. This book is a reminder that everyone is loveable and that we can find love when we least expect it!
Love Is… by Diane Adams and Claire Keane
A young girl demonstrates all the ways we love others while caring for a lost duckling through all its life stages. This book shows that loving others is selfless and occasionally difficult, but that it’s worth it!
Love Is My Favorite Thing by Emma Chichester Clark
Plum is a dog that loves so many things! Sometimes, her love causes her to get too excited and cause major mischief. When she gets in trouble, her greatest fear is that her family won’t love her anymore. But no matter how troublesome she may be, her family loves her no matter what. Readers both big and small will love the reminder that love is unconditional and that even when we make mistakes, we are loveable. And if this one is a hit, check out the other two in the series.
Love, Escargot by Dashka Slater and Sydney Hanson
A sweet snail is thrilled to be invited to a Snailentines Day party. However, when he arrives and realizes it’s not what he expected, he finds love and friendship in an unexpected pal. In this charming and absolutely hilarious story, readers will be reminded to embrace the unexpected, that it’s ok to feel nervous and they will even learn a couple of French sayings!
Cupig: The Valentine’s Day Pig by Claire Tattersfield and Rob Sayegh Jr.
Cupig loves spreading love on Valentine’s Day! However, this year a storm throws her arrows astray causing the most classic of couples to break up! Will Cupig be able to save the day and make things right again? With silly puns, adorable illustrations and fun rhymes, this book will be a favorite for the whole family!
Here Comes Valentine Cat by Deborah Underwood and Claudia Rueda
Cat does not like Valentine’s Day and does not like his new neighbor Dog who keeps throwing things over the fence and hitting Cat on the head. Cat decides he’s going to send Dog a not-so-nice Valentine, when Dog sends one to Cat first, changing his mind about Dog’s actions. This is quite a silly book that reminds readers not to jump to conclusions!
Peekaboo: Love by Camilla Reid and Ingela P Arrhenius
A love themed book from one of our favorite series for our sweet little readers! Your baby or toddler will find the interactive peek-a-book pages irresistible. We love these books for promoting language and fine motor skills and they beg to be read and played with again and again.
Huggy Kissy by Leslie Patricelli
A sweet baby gives and receives affection in many different ways from all his family members and friends. This sweet board book will have your little ones feeling lovey and giggly! There are so many sweet ones by Leslie Patricelli that teach, share, and grow your little ones in a variety of ways.
Now go reserve all these books at the library or snag your favorites HERE!
By Becca Thiemann and Kathleen Koester
