"'How Do You Spell Love?' asked Piglet 'You Don't Spell It, You Feel It,' said Pooh"
– 'Winnie-the-Pooh' by A.A. Milne

We hope you enjoy the following books with your kids on Valentine’s Day- or any day you want the warm feelings of love we find in these heartwarming stories!

Be sure to scroll down for our bonus non-Valentine’s love picture books.

These lists are living and active so check back for new additions as we continue reading and curating for you!

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One Zillion Valentines by Frank Modell (link is to the video version of this OOP title)- Two enterprising young friends declare "valentines aren't just for girls, they're for everyone" and went about letter blasting the whole neighborhood and making a little money on the side.

The Secret Life of Squirrels: A Love Story by Nancy Rose- Squirrels living their best life now in these unposed pictures. Loved by all 4-6 year olds we’ve shared it with.

Mouse and Mole: Secret Valentine by Wong Herbert Yee- A sweet early reader love story told in short chapters for the newly independent reader.

This is NOT a Valentine by Carter Higgins- A case of one protesteth-ing too much. A humorous option for boys who feel squirrely around the holiday.

Snowy Valentine by David Petersen- Gift giving in marriage can sometimes carry a lot of stress but in this humorous story we see that often it’s the little things that mean the most.

The Secret Admirer by Donna Guthrie- Little kids setting up adults can either end really well or dreadfully. Luckily, all’s well that ends well in this verbose picture book.

The Love Letter: A Valentine’s Book for Kids by Anika Aldamuy Denise- A letter and it’s mistaken destinations shows us that one kindness often begats another.

The Great Valentine's Day Balloon Race by Adrienne Adams- For those who already love The Easter Egg Artists, this pretty tale gives us a look into another season of their lives.

I Haiku You by Betsy E. Snyder- Sweet haikus on love and friendship.

The Valentine Box by Maud Hart Lovelace- A diverse picture book on the fears of being the only one in class to not get a valentine and the joys of making a new friend.

Mirabel’s Missing Valentines by Janet Lawler- When Mirabel’s valentine’s blow away on the way to post we see how kind words can brighten anyone’s day.

The Story of Valentine by by Wilma Pitchford Hays and Leonard Weisgard- This is a great book for kids wondering where our holiday came from.

Appolonia's Valentine by Katherine Milhous- In this story we find long distance pen pals and intricate valentines.

A Unicorn Named Sparkle and the Perfect Valentine by Amy Young- An adorable little story full of rhymes and insecurity. Hands down it’s our four year old’s favorite. We had to sneak it back to the library and buy her her own copy.

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli - Listen to this book be read aloud here. This book shows how the love we give can and will often come back to us tenfold.

Valensteins by Ethan Long- This recommendation is for families looking for a laugh. It has light potty humor (mentions that a cutout heart looks like a butt) and asserts that when people really love each other they kiss on the lips. This news is received with shock and horror and isn’t the reality of the two shy lovebirds.

Henry in Love: A Valentine's Day Book For Kids by Peter McCarty- A sweet tale of an innocent first schoolboy crush.

Bonus List Titles! Here you’ll find a small handful of our favorite love stories in picture books which would be perfect to read on Valentines Day though not traditional picks:

Love In The Library by Maggie Tokuda-Hall- An unlikely love story based on a true story and set in a Japanese Internment Camp.

A Hug is for Holding Me by Lisa Wheeler- A sweet short book on the feelings of security and safety a hug from someone you love can provide.

Cinders: A Chicken Cinderella by Jan Brett- This lushly illustrated retelling is just the chicken book you didn’t know you needed.

The Haunted Lake by P. J. Lynch- This beautifully told haunting tale is classic gothic horror and a perfect picture book for teens and adults. Ambre gives a full review in season 1 ep 17 of the Stories from the Ashes Podcast.

Lola Dutch I Love You So Much by Kenneth and Sarah Jane Wright- A delightful book on showing love to one another in a friend group.

Love by Emma Dodd- A short poem on love with beautiful shimmering illustrations. A great gift book.

When an Elephant Falls in Love by David Cali- An elephant in love is about as foolish as a human in very sweet ways. Will his love be requited?

You Make Me Happy by An Swerts & Jenny Bakker- In this gorgeously illustrated tale a girl with her first crush is given the advice (from her Grandparents) to be honest and speak her feelings to relieve the anxiety. While this method may not be right for your family it definitely gave me a lot to think about by the end of the book and I’d recommend parents read You Make Me Happy for an idea to personally interact with and to see if it’s a book you’d be comfortable sharing with your kids.

Love Made Me More by Colleen Rowan Kosinski- I absolutely fell in love with this book this year! It follows the experience of a paper crane through a boy’s life into his manhood. It’s a beautiful story of growing up, falling in love, getting married, and starting a family. I was provided with a digital arc copy from the publisher but immediately ordered a hardcover copy for our shelves. This is going on my favorite picture books shelf for year round reading.

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