Yes, I know, it’s Valentine’s Day. However, books about love don’t always have to be of a romantic nature. Loving each other, animals, the world, our families, and the special relationships between friends should be the focus for small children. Here are some beautiful books both old and new, traditionally published and Indy published that might brighten your world today!
- I’d Know You Anywhere, My Love by Nancy Tillman: I am a professed Nancy Tillman fan. Her books are consistently lovely, affirmative, Imaginative, and heartfelt. This book celebrates the imagination of a child wanting and pretending to be different animals and a mother who, no matter what that child decided to be, would recognize them and love them anywhere! It reaffirms that, as parents, we will be with our children wherever their dreams take them. Not to be missed – the animals in this book are absolutely beautifully represented. Most parents who read this book generally end up in tears – it’s so poignantly written. (Read our review)
- The Love Letter by Anika Aldamuy Denise: A chain reaction of kindness is what I would call this delightful book. Three friends, Hedgehog, Bunny, and Squirrel all find a love letter left on the ground. They all assume the letter was written for them and they feel cheerful, helpful, and carefree! Who was the letter actually meant for in the first place? The answer is surprising. A great book about being transformed by the power of love. The illustrations are cute as can be as well.
- Lola Dutch I Love You So Much by Kenneth Wright: Lola Dutch loves her friends and does all sorts of lovely things to make them happy, or feel better, and let them know how special they are to her. But one day she forgets the most important thing of all, Bear. When she tries to find something that Bear likes best in all the world the effort is a complete mess. What happens next? Well, all of her friends love one thing the most…..Lola Dutch! This is a lovely book about how love can be expressed in so many ways and it does so with exuberance and illustrations that are simple yet expressive.
- When I Caught You by Izzy B: Kudos go to this Indie Author! Being a great fan of Indy books here at Books Children Read, we’re always thrilled when we find one with such great content we can’t leave it without a remark! When a father and son go fishing one day they take the time to appreciate the majesty of the mountains, the twinkle of the stars, the sound of insects, the tall grass, and so much more. Though they didn’t catch a fish, what they did catch was even more wonderful! The muted tones in the illustrations catch exactly the right mood. This is a beautiful story and a reminder to appreciate those in your life that mean the most. (Read Our Interview)
- I Love You and Cheese Pizza by Brenda Li: Brian, the Pig In Jeans, notices a framed picture on the wall and asks his mother what it says! L-O-V-E love, and his mother explains what love means and asks him if he loves something that begins with the letter “M” (for mom). Brian misses the point entirely and thinks of Mike the pizza guy – he loves Mike because he brings him cheese pizza. What Brian didn’t realize is that love comes in many different forms, not just cheese pizza. It’s a great book about how to show love through actions, words, and even art!
- Crocodiles Need Kisses Too by Rebecca Colby: Simplicity is sometimes the most effective way to get a point across. This book is simple in its text, but the rhyme is in perfect meter and the repetitive line in each verse lends itself to beginning readers. The animals chosen in this book are not easy to love. None of them are cuddly, particularly the tarantula, the porcupine, and the shark. However, at the end, the child in a crocodile costume throwing the tantrum of the year is still deserving of a mothers love.The artwork is cute as can be and even those tarantulas are likable with their dinky little smiles. The unassuming moral is beautifully constructed: “Despite our looks and what we do, we all need love … and I love you!”
Enjoy these books for Valentine’s Day! If you have a favorite here we haven’t mentioned feel free to leave your comments below. We love hearing from our followers!