Valentine’s Picture Books For Kids And Shelf Decor
Considering Valentine’s Day is just a few weeks away, it’s about time I share our favorite Valentine’s Day books for kids over here. Along with the Valentine’s book display in a certain little girl’s room.
Valentines Shelf Decor
I love curating a selection of holiday or seasonal books for our daughter’s room. The books are seasonal decor on their own, sporting hearts, pinks, and kisses.
I’ll almost always punch up the books with a fun garland or some small decor item. For Valentine’s Day, I used a simple felt heart garland from Target and resurrected my old XO craft project from way back in the day. Any OG readers remember that project?!
Holiday Shelves Coming To A Close
It’s sad thinking this may be the last (or likely one of the last) bookshelf posts from our daughter’s room. We’ve been working on a bedroom design for building bunkbeds in here so our two girls can share this space and unfortunately, it’s right where the bookshelves are.
We’ve had so much fun selecting books for the holidays and the seasons and displaying them here along with decorating the shelves. It’s made reading together as a family extra special. It’s also helped us not read the same three books about the Paw Patrol repeatedly.
So let’s dive into the list of my favorite picture books for Valentine’s Day. Scratch that, OUR favorite picture books because some of these (like the Paw Patrol best friend book or any Peppa Pig story) are not my favorites but our children LOVE them.
Valentine’s Day Board Books:
- Love Monster by Rachel Bright (Author, Illustrator)
- Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton (Author, Illustrator)
- Bunny Roo, I Love You by Melissa Marr (Author), Teagan White (Illustrator)
- Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney (Author), Anita Jeram (Illustrator)
- L is for Love by Greg Paprocki (Author, Illustrator)
- Hug Machine by Scott Campbell (Author, Illustrator)
- Llama Llama I Love You by Anna Dewdney (Author, Illustrator)
- Love from The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (Author, Illustrator)
- Best Furry Friends (Paw Patrol) by Random House Books (Author, Illustrator)
- You’re My Little Cuddle Bug by Nicola Edwards (Author), Natalie Marshall (Illustrator)
- Happy Valentine’s Day, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff (Author), Felicia Bond (Illustrator)
- Tiny T Rex and the Perfect Valentine by Jonathan Stutzman (Author), Jay Fleck (Illustrator)
Valentine’s Day Picture Books:
- I’ll Love You Till The Cows Come Home by Kathryn Cristaldi (Author), Kristyna Litten (Illustrator)
- Crocodiles Need Kisses Too by Rebecca Colby (Author), Penelope Dullaghan (Illustrator)
- In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek (Author), Christine Roussey (Illustrator)
- The World Needs Who You Were Made To Be by Joanna Gaines (Author), Julianna Swaney (Illustrator)
- The Pink Umbrella by Amelie Callot (Author), Genevieve Godbout (Illustrator)
- The Wonderful Fluffy Little Squishy by Beatrice Alemagna (Author, Illustrator)
- Gaston by Kelly Di Pucchio (Author), Christian Robinson (Illustrator)
- Mirabel’s Missing Valentines by Janet Lawler (Author), Olivia Chin Mueller (Illustrator)
- I Am Love: A Book of Compassion by Susan Verde (Author), Peter H Reynolds (Illustrator)
- A Crankenstein Valentine by Samantha Berger (Author), Dan Santat (Illustrator)
- Love Is by Diane Adams (Author), Claire Keane (Illustrator)
- Little Blue Truck’s Valentine by Alice Schertle (Author), Jill McElmurry (Illustrator)
- Lola Dutch I Love You So Much by Kenneth Wright (Author), Sarah Jane Wright (Illustrator)
Valentine’s Day Young Readers Books:
I’m a big believer that when young children learn to read, lean into their interests and the books they are attracted to. I will forever pick up any beginner reader book our daughter asks for when she’s in the learning-to-read phase. It’s been a great way for us to get her excited about reading. Below is a curated learn-to-read book list for Valentine’s Day from our daughter.
- The Berenstain Bears’ Extra Special Valentine by Mike Berenstain (Author, Illustrator)
- Llama Llama Be My Valentine by Anna Dewdney (Creator)
- I Love You, Bingo (Ladybug Girl) by Jacky Davis (Author), David Soman (Illustrator)
- Nate the Great and the Mushy Valentine by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat (Author), Marc Simont (Illustrator)
- Little Critter: Just a Little Love by Mercer Mayer (Author, Illustrator)
- Clifford’s Valentines by Norman Bridwell (Author, Illustrator)
- Happy Valentine’s Day, Charlie Brown! by Maggie Testa (Adapter), Charles M. Schulz (Author), Scott Jeralds (Illustrator)
- Curious George Makes a Valentine by H.A. Rey (Author)
- Too Many Valentines by Margaret McNamara (Author), Mike Gordon (Illustrator)
Best Valentine’s Day Books Superlatives
Because what is a list of children’s books without a superlatives list to close it out? That’s certainly how I roll around here and am carrying on the tradition with the Valentine’s books for kids list.
Most Charming Illustrations
The most charming illustrations award goes to The World Needs Who You Were Made To Be by Joanna Gaines (Author) and Julianna Swaney (Illustrator). I love the illustrations of all the balloons in this book.
The illustrations are so adorable and I often find myself ogling the artwork and not paying attention to the words I’m reading on the page. Does anyone else do that with kids’ books? Your mouth is moving, the words are coming out, but your brain is elsewhere?!
Honorable mention goes to Gaston by Kelly Di Pucchio (Author) and Christian Robinson (Illustrator). I will forever pick up any book illustrated by Christian Robinson. Just beautiful color illustrations!
Most Adorable Board Book
The most adorable board book award goes to Bunny Roo, I Love You by Melissa Marr (Author) and Teagan White (Illustrator). I picked up this book when our youngest was a baby baby and I just can’t quit it. It’s one of our most read all year round, not just around Valentine’s Day.
It’s an adorable story about a mama comparing her sweet baby to the noises of animals. The storyline is very sweet and playful. Such a special book to add to any board book collection and read to your littles.
Most Classic Story
The most classic story award goes to the sweet board book, Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney (Author) and Anita Jeram (Illustrator). This little book of love between a parent and their child is a sweet story of how big our love for our children really is. There is no limit. It’s beyond measurement.
Full disclosure, I have always had a hard time reading this one to my children. I love it very much but for some reason, I always get choked up. The power of love, folks, it’s the big ol’ power of love taking over.
Most Fun Book
The most fun Valentine’s Day book for kids award goes to A Crankenstein Valentine by Samantha Berger (Author) and Dan Santat (Illustrator). Any book that has illustrations of candy hearts with the word “puke” on it is going to be a FABULOUS Valentine’s Day book and a great read.
This story is basically about a boy who greatly dislikes all things Valentine’s Day. It’s a great example of friendship and finding someone who gets you.
Kids’ Choice Awards
Our youngest is currently two and hands down her favorite is Hug Machine by Scott Campbell (Author and illustrator). The book follows the main character, who happens to be the hug machine, as he hugs anyone and everything in sight. It’s an adorable book and quite funny.
Our eldest daughter turns seven just a few days after Valentine’s Day. Her current favorite of the Valentine’s books for kids is Best Furry Friends (Paw Patrol) by Random House Books (Author, Illustrator). No surprise there as she is hardcore in her Paw Patrol era and has been for the last three years. Hasn’t wavered.
Another very popular read with both of them is The Wonderful Fluffy Little Squishy by Beatrice Alemagna (Author and illustrator). This book has some of our favorite characters in any children’s book. Although, for parents of highly sensitive children, might I suggest skipping the visit to the butcher’s shop.
Honorable mention goes to In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek (Author) and Christine Roussey (Illustrator). It’s a sweet story about identifying feelings and that feeling your feelings is okay. Both girls also love sticking their hands through the heart-shaped cutouts in the book.
Dad’s Choice
The Dad’s Choice award goes to…drumroll please…I’ll Love You Till The Cows Come Home by Kathryn Cristaldi (Author) and Kristyna Litten (Illustrator). I’m not surprised Colby picked this one because he’s a Vermonter hailing from the land of many cows. His favorite smell is cow poop. I kid you not. Let me pause while you meditate on that for a moment.
But seriously, this book checks all the boxes for Dad’s favorite books, beautiful illustrations, a quirky story, and no blatant mushiness. This book is very similar to Guess How Much I Love You except with cows, trips to outer space, and frogs on bikes.
Mom’s Choice
The Mom’s Choice award, one of the most coveted awards of this blog post, goes to I Am Love: A Book of Compassion by Susan Verde (Author) and Peter H. Reynolds (Illustrator). This is a very sweet book about love, compassion, and kindness. The theme of the story is just as beautiful as the illustrations.
There are two things I desire for my children. One is to be kind and loving humans. And two, to be readers. Hence, books about compassion just might be my weakness.
The other books in this series I Am Peace, I Am Human, and I Am Courage are all phenomenal as well. There are a few others too, but we haven’t read those ones yet.
Pssst…Alright, you know what time it is. Hit me with your favorite Valentine’s books for kids. Send me all your recommendations. And not just the ones are blatantly stories about Valentine’s Day but also ones with themes of love, kindness, and friendship.
