Baby & Toddler
Pre-K
Growing Reader
Valentine’s Day Book Gifts for
Little Readers
by Janssen Bradshaw
I think Valentine’s Day is such a little February blessing.
The big holidays are long since over, the glow of the new year is starting to fade, and winter still seems like it has a long time to go, with lots of time cooped up inside.
And then comes Valentine’s Day, with lots of celebrating, hearts, and happiness. It’s just about the best thing that could happen right smack in the middle of those long winter months.
My girls love Valentine’s Day and I’ve loved making it a festive occasion in our home the past few years.
I especially love adding to our Valentine’s Day book collection every year and gifting them each a book that they’ll enjoy reading over and over again, probably snuggled up with some hot chocolate.
If you’re looking for some fun Valentine’s Day book gifts for your little bookworms, here are some of my favorites by age group.
-
Ages 0 - 2
-
Ladybug Girl Loves…
My daughters are all obsessed with Ladybug Girl, and I’ll admit that I love her too — I so admire her self-confident spirit and enthusiasm for life. In this board book version, the reader gets a tour of all the many things, big and small, that Ladybug Girl loves.
-
Baby Touch and Feel: I Love You
If you have a little one at home, you likely know the Baby Touch & Feel books. With their padded covers, simple images, and touchable textures, they're baby favorites. In this sweet edition, babies can engage with all things love-filled: soft teddy bears, smoochy bunnies, sparkly hearts, and more.
-
I Love You, Spot
I’ve never met a child who didn’t love Spot, and this one is a perfect addition to any Spot collection. Plus, it’s made extra fun by the fact that the board book is heart-shaped. (The reissued version of the 1982 Puppy Love is also a fantastic pick.)
-
Plant a Kiss
It might be too early to be planting a regular garden in February, but what happens when you plant a kiss? Something magical, is what. The board book version is perfect for little hands or get the regular hardcover for your slightly older ones!
-
Llama Llama I Love You
The full-length Llama Llama books can be a little long for the two and under set, so the board book versions are the perfect introduction to this bestselling series. In this one, Llama Llama celebrates whole-heartedly with lots of cards and hugs for the people, er, animals he loves best.
-
My Fuzzy Valentine
Anyone who has had a toddler knows that they want to touch EVERYTHING so a book designed to let them do just that is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift. In this one, featuring beloved Elmo, he’s received a valentine but no one's signed their name to it. Can he figure out who sent it?
-
Ages 3 - 5
-
Love from The Very Hungry Caterpillar
For any child who has spent the first years of their life obsessed with that caterpillar, this book is perfect for Valentine’s Day, with all the collage images and colors that have made Eric Carle so famous. Bonus idea: Pack it with some tissue paper and let your child make their own Valentine’s Day collages.
-
The Secret Life of Squirrels: A Love Story
Have you seen these squirrel books? They seriously blow my mind with the photographs of real squirrels and all the details that go into each shot. In this one, Mr. Squirrel meets the squirrel of his dreams and they do all the romantic things you see in the movies, from dates to candlelight dinners. Prepare to look at this one a thousand times.
-
Thomas in Town: Valentine's Day in Vicarstown
Attention, train lovers! All of the children in Thomas’s town are ready to throw a big Valentine’s Day party for the beloved engines. But then, as often happens in February, a big snowstorm blows in. Is there any way to save the party? (As you can imagine, there’s a happy resolution.)
-
The Wonderful Things You Will Be
I always appreciate a book that has lots of fun things to look at in the illustrations so that every subsequent read feels fresh and new, and this book does just that. At this age, the most important love in a child’s life is their parents, and this book celebrates the strength and length of that special relationship.
-
Love Is My Favorite Thing
My daughter told me that ALL she wanted for Christmas was a dog. Considering we’re adding a new baby in a few weeks, our interest in a dog was non-existent this year. For now, we’ll keep her content with plenty of puppy books, including this one about enthusiastic Plum who loves everything but most of all the love of her family.
-
Ages 6 - 8
-
Here Comes Valentine Cat
Our family loves all the Cat books by Deborah Underwood, and at this point we basically don’t celebrate a holiday without one. This one features Cat VERY unhappy with his new neighbor, Dog, who doesn’t seem to understand personal space or have any ability to keep his old bones on his side of the fence. But just as Cat is about to send a not-so-nice valentine, Dog does something that just might be an overture of friendship.
-
Valentine's Day Secret
I love a holiday-related read-aloud — it’s a fun way to stretch the excitement over a week or two before the holiday and spend some time snuggling on the couch with my girls. Of course, a mystery always makes for a good read as you try to see what happens, and this Nancy Drew mystery for elementary school kids is perfect!
-
Ten Things I Love About You
For your Elephant and Piggie fans, Rabbit and Pig are an equally delightful duo. Rabbit is busy making a list of all the things he loves most about Pig, but Pig is not interested in helping Rabbit make that list. Their hilarious back-and-forth is perfectly balanced by the sweet ending.
-
Oh, Valentine, We've Lost Our Minds!
If your child likes goofy more than mushy, this hilarious series is perfect — each book covers a different holiday and this one, focused on Valentine’s Day, introduces a foreign exchange student from France. The thumb war that erupts between two of the characters is sure to have you all in giggles.
