20 Best Valentine's Day Books for Kids
Valentine's Day is a special occasion filled with love and joy, and what better way to celebrate than by sharing heartwarming picture books with the little ones in your life? Whether you're a parent, teacher, or caregiver, these Valentine's Day picture books for kids are sure to capture the hearts of young readers and create lasting memories. From adorable characters to sweet tales of friendship, these sweet story options are perfect for spreading love and positivity on this special day.
20 Best Valentine's Day Books for Kids
There are so many fun Valentine's ideas on this blog to start your creative journey! Since all three kids are in school this year, I am getting my bake on and creating lots of fun Valentine’s Day treats to spoil their teachers and classmates. Making a Valentine’s Day bark recipe is an easy go to for me because you can make a large serving quickly with minimal ingredients!
I adore these Valentine’s Day Homemade Suckers as a perfect Valentine’s Day dessert and treat or gifts at a kids Valentine's Day party.
Free placemat printables are so much fun and easy when you are planning classroom parties at school. These fun Valentine's Day dice game printables great to use while setting up activities, while having a valentine’s themed snack, or during quiet time during the school day. If you are a room parent at your child’s school, send the FREE printable I spy game to the teacher so they can use others throughout the month or send home in an email for parents to use as well. Color by number Valentine's Day sheets are a great way to work on number recognition.
There are so many favorite Valentine's day books available by favorite authors and favorite characters available. If your house is full of hilarious expressions of love in non traditional ways this round up of the best Valentine’s Day books for little boys (or a little girl who loves farts, trucks, and dinos too). Bring some laughter and love to your Valentine’s Day book shelf.
Sweet rhyming board book or picture books make great gifts no matter the age of the recipient. I like to give a sweet board book to family members of all ages to commemorate holidays, milestones, and special occasions. Valentine’s Day is a great gift giving opportunity where Valentines books are an amazing choice for young children. These adorable board book choices are great fabulous Valentine's Day book.
You could have a new Valentine’s Day book every day in February to introduce if you want! We like to choose themed books for bedtime stories and these are great inspiration to start curating my bedtime Valentine’s Day book list.
20 Valentine's Day Books for Kids
Are you putting together a Valentine’s Day basket for your children and need a non candy gift? Looking for books to add to your home collection or to look for at your local library? I rounded up our Valentine’s Day books for kids that we love and hope you enjoy them as well. If you need to pick up a copy for your home, click the title and can order easily!
Using Valentine's Day Picture Books at Home:
Create a Cozy Reading Corner:
Set up a comfortable reading nook with soft pillows and blankets. Make it an inviting space where your child can snuggle up with a Valentine's Day picture book.
Family Reading Time:
Dedicate a specific time each day leading up to Valentine's Day for family reading. Encourage each family member to take turns choosing a Valentine's Day book to read aloud.
Craft Activities:
After reading a book, engage in related craft activities. Create Valentine's Day cards, heart-shaped crafts, or even act out scenes from the story using art supplies.
Discuss Themes:
Take time to discuss the themes of the books with your child. Talk about love, friendship, kindness, and the importance of expressing feelings. Encourage your child to share their thoughts and feelings about the stories.
Cooking Together:
Choose a book with a baking or cooking theme and try out a related recipe together. It could be heart-shaped cookies, cupcakes, or any treat that ties into the book.
Extend Learning:
If the book introduces new concepts or vocabulary, incorporate those into daily conversations. This not only reinforces learning but also connects the book to real-life experiences.
Family Movie Night:
Some picture books may have animated adaptations. Consider having a family movie night where you watch the animated version of a book you've read.
Using Valentine's Day Picture Books at School:
Interactive Read-Alouds:
Conduct interactive read-aloud sessions in the classroom. Encourage students to ask questions, make predictions, and share their thoughts about the story.
Themed Classroom Decorations:
Decorate the classroom with Valentine's Day-themed items related to the books. This could include student-made crafts, heart-shaped decorations, and illustrations inspired by the stories.
Book-Related Projects:
Plan projects or activities that extend the learning from the books. This could involve creating class valentines, writing their own Valentine's Day stories, or even putting on a small play based on one of the books. Older children can create a little book of love to highlight the people they love in their own way.
Valentine's Day Book Exchange:
Organize a Valentine's Day book exchange where students bring in their favorite Valentine's Day picture book to swap with a classmate. This encourages sharing and introduces children to new sweet stories.
Thematic Centers:
Set up thematic learning centers based on the books. For example, have a crafting station for making valentines, a reading corner with the featured books, and a writing center for students to create their own stories with different colors and supplies.
Guest Readers:
Invite parents, staff members, or even older students to be guest readers. This adds variety and excitement to the reading experience.
Class Discussions:
Hold class discussions about the lessons learned from the books. Encourage students to express their feelings, share their favorite parts, and discuss how they can apply the themes of the stories in their own lives.
Writing Centers: Create writing opportunities for students to share important messages, share kind words, or creating gentle rhyme / poems.
By incorporating Valentine's Day picture books into both home and school settings, you can foster a love for reading, encourage creativity, and promote meaningful discussions about important values in these sweet picture book options.
20 Must Read Valentine's Day Books for Kids
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There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Rose Our favorite lady is back and hungry for Valentine's Day treats!That lovely old lady has returned just in time for Valentine's Day. Now she's swallowing items to make a very special gift for her valentine! With rhyming text and hilarious illustrations, this wacky Valentine’s Day kid book version of the classic song will appeal to any young reader as they follow the Old Lady on a wild Valentine's Day adventure.
How do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? Everybody's favorite bestselling dinosaurs are back to say, "I love you", now in a hard cover book perfect for babies and toddlers in a book perfect for Valentine’s Day! Parents and children can never have enough ways to say "I love you"--and America's favorite dinosaurs are giving families a funny book, perfect for bedtime, story time, anytime. Even when little dinosaurs are naughty, it's important to remind them that no matter what they do, they are always loved.
Roses are Pink, Your feet Really Stink This Valentine's Day favorite read-aloud will prompt lots of giggles, as well as discussions on kindness and forgiveness. This Valentine’s Day book is perfect for early elementary school aged kids and my boys think it is so funny! Gilbert is all set to write fifteen friendly valentine cards to his classmates. But how can he write a nice poem for the boy who tweaked his nose, or the girl who made fun of his glasses? Instead, Gilbert writes two not-so-nice valentines...and signs the wrong name on both! But with the help of a friend and an honest apology, there's always time for a change of heart on Valentine's Day.
Fancy Nancy Heart to Heart An extra-fancy Valentine's story that comes with a sheet of stickers to keep kids engaged and entertained! Almost everything about Valentine's Day is fancy . . . especially with Fancy Nancy! Mystery is in the air when Nancy receives a valentine from a secret someone. Join Nancy as she follows the clues to find out who it is—all in her trademark fabulous style, of course.
Pinkalicious Pink of Hearts Pinkalicious loves Valentine’s Day! This sweet storybook comes with 8 valentine cards, a fold-out poster, and stickers! Everyone in her class is assigned to make an extra-special Valentine’s Day card for one person in the class. Pinkalicious creates a magnificently pinkerrific card. Will the valentine that she gets in return measure up?
The Berenstain Bears Valentine Blessings A new Berenstain Bears Living Lights book perfect for Valentine’s Day! In The Berenstain Bears’ Valentine Blessings, young readers and Sister Bear find out that Brother Bear has a secret admirer! Sweetie Bear has sent him a valentine card, complete with pink hearts and flowers. What will tough, hockey-playing Brother do about this and his teasing sister? But Papa Bear steps in to save the day, telling the cubs a story about another set of young cubs and a secret admirer … Papa and Mama Bear! And he reminds the cubs that all love comes from God, who is love. If you are looking for a Christian based Valentine’s Day book this is the one for you!
Amelia Bedelia’s First Valentine The second book in the nationally bestselling series about the childhood of America's favorite literal-minded housekeeper. School is always exciting for Amelia Bedelia, and getting her first Valentine's Day card may be the most exciting surprise of all. But what will she do when she forgets her valentines for her classmates on the bus? Luckily, Amelia Bedelia is resourceful, and she doesn't break any hearts.
I love you and Cheese Pizza Celebrate the many different forms of love this Valentine's Day! What are they?Love is choosing to be kind. Love is standing up for the weak. Love is showing gratitude. I Love You and Cheese Pizza is a sweet and heartwarming popular picture book from the Pig in Jeans series. It explains the different forms of love in simple terms that kids can understand!
Pete the Cat Valentines Day is Cool by James Dean: New York Times bestselling author and artist James Dean takes us on an awesome trip with Pete the Cat as he discovers just how special Valentine's Day can be! At first, Pete thinks Valentine's Day isn't cool...until he realizes all the special cats there are in his life. Pete the Cat: Valentine’s Day Is Cool comes complete with a poster, stickers, and twelve punch-out Valentine’s Day cards.
Happy Valentines Day MouseThis beautiful and fun Valentine’s book with sturdy pages is perfect for children, who will enjoy the simple introduction to the fun of Valentine's Day. Budding artists and crafters will love this book, perfect for pairing with Valentine's Day activities. A surprise at the end adds to the read-aloud fun!
Love Monster by Rachel Bright: Follow Love Monster, a unique and slightly hairy creature, as he searches for someone to love him just the way he is.Rachel Bright's bestselling Valentine’s Day picture sweet book is about a monster looking for love in all the cutest of places.
When You Have Love Join Fox and his woodland friends as they learn all the wonderful ways to express love. When You Have Love teaches kids the importance of being kind, patient, and caring towards others. Kids will discover what a special gift it is to share each kindness with their friends and family. Follow Fox into his house of love and get ready to fill a bucket with kindness while you're there.
I Love You Like No Otter Need to find a different way to say 'I Love You' to the special people in your life? Have a little pun with it. This gift book is filled with 30 cute and charming ways to say 'I Love You' using adorable animal puns. Artist Sophie Corrigan and her unique animal illustrations provide a humorous, yet loving way to reach out to those you love!
Always More Love Always More Love is a heartwarming story and fun, interactive experience for families to read and share together, because the love for those special ones in your life only expands more and more each day. In this sweet, rhyming love book for kids, just tap, press, shake, touch, or flip the picture book and then turn the page to find out the many ways love grows!
I Love You, My Little Unicorn Never dull your sparkle and let your inner rainbow shine! Filled with sweet rhymes, enchanting illustrations, lots of unicorn sparkle, and the endless promise of love, this heartwarming and inspirational picture book is the perfect way to show your child that they're one-of-a-kind.
I Love You More Experience the bestseller that has sparked the conversation of love around the world! I love you mightier than the mightiest wind ever blew.I love you fuller than the fullest moon you ever knew.I love you brighter than the brightest star ever shown.I love you more, so much more than you've ever known. This cleverly conceived flip story, which ends in the middle and starts from either side, will show you what love looks like from both a child and a parent's perspective. With a simple, touching story, rhyme and rhythm, and vibrant childlike illustrations, this book is a timeless gift you will share again and again.
I Love You to the Moon and Back When the sun comes up, Big Bear and Little Bear think of new ways to share their love. Big Bear loves Little Bear more and more as each day passes, right up to each new moon – and back. Now this joyful celebration of the love between a parent and child can be treasured forever with this elegant cloth-textured, silver foil and peep-through cover edition – the perfect gift for a special person in your life.
Happy Valentine’s Day Little Critter Join Mercer Mayer’s classic and beloved character, Little Critter®, for his class’s Valentine’s Day celebration! This 8x8 storybook is complete with gatefold flaps for readers to pull back and discover all the fun Valentine’s Day surprises.From decorating the classroom with hearts to eating cupcakes and making Valentine’s Day mailboxes, Little Critter is having the best day ever. He’s even making an extra-special card for an extra-special valentine!
Junie B. Jones Junie B. My Valentime Fans can bring Junie. B's hilarious attitude to their own celebrations with these original Valentimes to share with classmates, friends and family! Kids will love the silly cards and 2 pages of stickers, and parents and teachers will love having their kids give book-based Valentines! Guaranteed to be a hit at any classroom celebration. Fall in love with the lovable characters in this special book and the entire series in these popular books.
The Invisible String An Invisible String made of love. Even though you can't see it with your eyes, you can feel it deep in your heart, and know that you are always connected to the ones you love. Does everybody have an Invisible String? How far does it reach? Does it ever go away? This heartwarming picture book for all ages explores questions about the intangible yet unbreakable connections between us, and opens up deeper conversations about love.
"Love from The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle: Join the beloved caterpillar as he expresses his love through colorful illustrations and charming messages.
"The Day It Rained Hearts" by Felicia Bond: A whimsical story about a girl who catches hearts falling from the sky and uses them to create unique valentines for her friends.
"Llama Llama I Love You" by Anna Dewdney:Little Llama experiences the excitement and warmth of Valentine's Day as he celebrates with his friends and family.
"The Biggest Valentine Ever" by Steven Kroll-Two mice work together to create an enormous valentine for their teacher, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and friendship.
"Love, Splat" by Rob Scotton: Join Splat the Cat as he navigates the challenges of expressing his feelings for his secret crush, Kitten.
"Hug Machine" by Scott Campbell: A delightful and heartwarming story about a little boy who goes around giving hugs to everyone, spreading love and joy.
Guess How Much I Love You" by Sam McBratney: A classic tale of expressing love with the famous line, "I love you to the moon and back," as Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare measure their love for each other.
If you are putting together a Valentine’s Day gift, heading to read to a classroom in February, or looking for a way to introduce some new stories centered around love, I highly recommend grabbing one or more of these Valentine’s Day books for kids instead of candy and sweets. The gift of reading is a gift that keeps on giving! We love our local library and also encourage friends to check them out at the library versus buying if you are looking for something more affordable!
These charming Valentine's Day picture books for kids are not only entertaining but also teach valuable lessons about love, friendship, and kindness. Share these stories with the young ones in your life to create lasting memories and inspire a love for reading. Whether it's cuddling up with a parent or enjoying story time in the classroom, these books are sure to bring smiles and warmth to the hearts of children on this special day dedicated to love.
