I’ve read many, MANY books in my day…not just on my own, but as a parent and as a teacher. I’m always looking for great picture books that appeal to young children, especially those on a particular topic or holiday.
There’s a bunch of cute Valentine’s Day-themed books out there…here are some of my favorites:
- Happy Love Day, Daniel Tiger! – Adapted from the episode of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood with the same name, Daniel and his friends celebrate “Love Day” (a.k.a. Valentine’s Day) by showing their friends, teachers, and family how important they are. Daniel Tiger is one of my all-time top favorite children’s shows; I love how they teach a concept to the viewers in a tangible way, and then repeat the concept throughout the episode in both an animated and a real-life format. You can watch the episode or buy the book…your child will love both!
- The Night Before Valentine’s Day by Natasha Wing – This book incorporates rhyming within the prose, resulting in an easy-to-understand, information-filled story about the anticipation of getting ready for Valentine’s Day. This book is part of a series (The Night Before the 100th Day of School, The Night Before Summer Vacation, etc.) and was a great way to introduce a holiday or event in a child-friendly manner.
- Love Monster by Rachel Bright – An adorable story about an atypical character (a googly-eyed monster) looking for someone to love him the way he is. He finds that love (spoiler alert!) in an unexpected place. This is a great story that demonstrates how everyone needs and deserves love…even monsters!
- The Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond – The main character, Cornelia, is outside one day when hearts begin falling from the sky. She collects those hearts and gives them to her animal friends, to show them how much she loves them. A great way to teach children to always show (and tell!) their love to the people that matter most.
- I Love You, Little Pookie by Sandra Boynton – Sandra Boynton’s books were always a hit with my kids when they were babies/toddlers, and this one doesn’t disappoint. It’s all about family love, and the size of the book is perfect for little hands to hold (and turn pages) on their own.
- The Biggest Valentine Ever by Steven Kroll – Two friends want to make their teacher a valentine, but they can’t seem to get the decor just right. The friends end up in a fight, but make up in time for Valentine’s Day. A great book for teaching about working together and compromising under the guise of Valentine’s Day.
Happy Valentine’s Day from the Charlotte Moms Network!
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