12 Valentine’s Day Books For Your Little Cupids

What parent doesn’t love a solid Sandra Boynton Book? The Going to Bed book anyone?! This is another one by SB to add to the collection. A sweet story of a parent’s love to their little Pookie. The last page is my absolute favorite.

I LOVE this book (so it’s very aptly titled). The book goes through different types of love – and not just friendship, romantic, parental, etc. It delicately weaves the less obvious types of love. Whether that’s the smell of crashing waves (which I agree with 100%), the echo of laughter, the cuddle of your mother when you are scared, playing games with family, or music floating through the air. It even hits on love through loss or uncertain circumstances. I don’t want to give it away – but this book melts my heart with its thoughtful descriptors of love and beautiful illustrations.

This book originally caught my eye because…you know…carbs….but it’s a sweet story with adorable pictures. There are even parts of it that are textured and fun for kiddos to feel. I love Bagel – he’s a chipper dude with suspenders and a tiny top hat. Just look at that cane in the cover! Who doesn’t love food with faces and fancy outfits? Bagel is looking for a dance partner. There are all kinds of adorable puns like the Croissant says she’s ‘flaky’ and Bagel’s ‘moves are totally stale.’ Spoiler alert – there is a happy ending and you will be craving pastries after reading this.

I’m a big fan of holiday books that break the rules by including characters from other holidays. Meet Fran – the sensitive Frankenstein who is getting teased by the other Halloween kids for making a valentine. Fran let’s the other kids have their fun teasing him as they try to figure out what a cut-out heart is for (insert kid joke favorite…’it looks like a paper butt’). But the story also says that love isn’t about kissing on the lips (EW) or mushy stuff….it’s something you feel. Little Fran has my heart in this story!

Initially, I selected this book to read because I though it was a board book…and although it’s the same size as a typical board book, it is just hard cover. So babies beware 🙂 This book has cool cardboard cutouts with various punny text (almost like a puzzle) about love. For instance, ‘I’d be truly GRAPEful’ with a bunch of grapes and ‘OLIVE U, N it shows’ with a cutout olive and colorful bold letters. When I read this one out loud, David shook his head as it’s ALMOST so cutesy that it’s silly…but I still think it’s endearing. I also love the bright colors, bold shapes, and the opportunity to teach Hudson letters, shapes, fruits, and other objects in the book.

Amazon has this one in a board book for little ones too! Fun for kiddos to read but also for the parents. Hug Machine is a little boy with long arms who loves to hug! The story and watercolor illustrations go through the Hug Machine giving hugs to all kinds of people, objects, and situations. And what made me relate most to this kiddo….he eats pizza to keep his hugging energy up. AMEN TO THAT.

If you are a mother that travels often or has to be away from your kiddos for some time, this is THE perfect book. This story gave me a deep appreciation for mothers who have to leave their babies behind. We meet a penguin family with a mama who has to travel away. You see Kipling’s (the baby penguin) sadness because his mother isn’t there for dinner, playtime, or bedtime tuck-ins. But his mama sends him a little care package with a note expressing how deep and far her love goes. And he makes his own heart note for mama just in time for her to return!

They tell you don’t judge a book by its cover…but I loved this cover, which is why I picked the book out at the library. Worms, petals, and heart shape – count me in! But this book is way more than it’s cover and the message is INCLUSION!!! You have two worms that love each other and want to get married. The other animals (society) try to put their expectations on what the wedding should include (a cake, rings, bride & groom). But this book explains the key principal to children that LOVE IS LOVE. Marriage equality. Acceptance. Non-conformity. Worm loves worm.

We’ve all been there….fools in love. But how do you explain to that a young child? Through this book! It pokes fun at all the silly things we do during courting but through a sweet elephant’s perspective. I especially love when the Elephant tries to eat healthy so he can be trim for his crush….but that darn cheesecake is just too hard to pass on!! He washes behind his giant ears, hides behind trees that are too small, and writes letters he will never send to his dream elephant. Until one day…that crush is reciprocated and becomes love.

Familiar with the Gossie & Friends books? Here’s a cute (but short) Valentine’s version from the author. It comes in a board book and goes through the various Gossie characters as Ollie is searching for a valentine. I love the metallic hearts on each page…and for a baby, the last page is the cutest. Won’t spoil the ending but I’m sure can guess 🙂 Great for a younger child and the early reader.

Mr. Goat realizes that today is Valentine’s Day! Oh no. What is he going to get his first love? He goes to various gift stores that goats tend to enjoy….like a weed stall (try to quietly giggle as you read it as not to confuse your child…or maybe that’s just me that thinks it sounds hilarious) to pick up a bouquet of garden weeds in a rusted can…or that delicacy you are familiar with, rotten eggs in a red, heart-shaped box. And you may think his first love is his romantic partner….but remember, all of our first loves are our parents 🙂 Funny yet charming book.

While Groundhog’s Day has since past (not even sure if Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this year), I love that the author brought the groundhog to the Valentine’s Day table. A group of animals are planning a V-Day party and want to include all of their friends, including the Groundhog. If he sees his shadow, Groundhog will go back to sleep for 6 more weeks and miss the party on February 14th! The friends all have different ideas of how to distract the Groundhog and help him learn to love his shadow. A cute story about friendship and springtime!