Best Valentine's Day Books for Kids
“In the coldest February, as in every other month in every other year, the best thing to hold on to in this world is each other.” - Linda Ellerbee
🫀LOVE by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Loren Long
a poetic celebration of love in raw and honest forms that tickled my tear ducts
🫀 Me & Mama by Cozbi A. Cabrera
a not-so-subtle reminder that I’m their Valentine? (from this delightful Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Honor Book)
🫀 What is Love by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Carson Ellis
My envy and admiration for Mac’s writing are as strong as ever in this book about how we each get to define love for ourselves.
🫀 The Invisible String by Patricia Karst, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
in our family, we have a secret handshake that ends with us all yelling “Team Finck!” and helps with hard goodbyes at school drop-off. We also love a “kissing hand” from time to time (iykyk). The book is another tool to add to that arsenal and helps remind us we are always connected to the people we love.
🫀 The Love Letter by Anika Aldamuy Denise, illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins
the unexpected outcomes in this book show the domino effect of love in our lives (and might convince your kids to help around the house? tbd)
🫀 A Little Spot of Love by Diane Alber
as the self-appointed president of Diane’s fan club, I’m as grateful as ever for all the ways she’s taught us how to talk about our feelings and all the tools she’s given us to regulate them. This one is complete with activities at the end for growing your “love spot.”
🫀 Plant a Kiss by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Foster told me about this one he read at school and asked me to get it. I love having something short and sweet on hand for the evenings they ask so politely with their crystal blue puppy dog eyes “can we pleeeeaaase have one more book?” A one-minute read is a win/win for us all 🙌
🫀 Love You by Heart by Peter H. Reynolds
an ode to unconditional love that captures the way we all feel about our children and will give you the words you want to say to them on Valentine’s Day (and all the other days, too).
🫀 Harvey the Heart Had Too Many Farts by Jane Bexley
Every family has their own modus operandi on potty talk. Ours is ‘get it all out in our house so you can have self control in the less appropriate settings’. And, year after year, toots continue to rank high on the funny scale. This is undeniably my kids’ favorite Valentine’s Day book and I have to admit I love the narrative of loving all parts of yourself, despite what others think.
🫀 The Bee Without Wings by Amberlea Williams
Not squarely a Valentine’s Day story/book, I just absolutely love this story about the unconditional love between a girl and a bee and how that love continued to blossom even after the bee isn’t alive anymore. My kids have enjoyed reading this one countless times over the years.
🫀 I Love You, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt, illustrated by Cyd Moore
A classic conversation between a passionately loving mother and her creatively quizzical little boy. This book encapsulates the imaginative and entertaining irrationality of conversations with your little ones.
🫀 Little Love Bug by Chronicle Books, illustrated by Emily Dove
Probably most entertaining for the three-and-under crowd, this one had dozens of reads in our house. The storyline is basic, but the finger puppet ladybug makes it fun to ad-lib and add action to.