How do you introduce Valentine’s Day to young children? Every February, teachers and librarians of the earliest grades are challenged to get their students thinking beyond cards and chocolate hearts. Read aloud Valentine’s Day books are an excellent resource for educators to show that there are many different types of love.
Picture books about community—that celebrate the way we care for and help our neighbors—are incredibly meaningful and even timely. The list below includes a mix of informative, funny, and tender titles, but all of them value looking beyond the self and finding creative ways to show one another kindness.
Valentine's Day In the Village
This beautiful story centers on the power of community, belonging, and kindness. A girl notices that not everyone is looking forward to Valentine's Day. Her grandfather explains that some people are new to the community, some are lonely, others are missing loved ones. Together, they come up with a brilliant idea! The girl organizes a town square hunt for valentine cards that people can exchange for a cookie from her grandfather's bakery. Soon everyone wants to help, and a new town festival is born. Food trucks, bingo, and live music bring it all together for a fabulous Valentine's Day in the village. Backmatter includes craft and recipe ideas for celebrating Valentine's Day with your own community.
Age range: 4-8 years
Carrot Cake and Pufftail see themselves as community protectors, determined to defend the woodland creatures in their forest home. When troublemaking Renard Fox moves to the forest, Carrot Cake and Pufftail see him as the enemy and attack... in their own way. They use words as weapons and battle with baked goods! But when their initial impression of Renard turns out to be wrong, how will they make things right? An offbeat tale that challenges ideas of who needs protecting and who is worthy of love.
Age range: 4–8 years
Rosie is so excited to see her abuela and tell her everything that's been going on—but Abuela doesn't speak English, and Rosie doesn't speak Spanish. They quickly learn over lunch, though, that hunger has no language—and neither does love! Based on the author's own experience, this story speaks to the power to communicate outside of spoken language.
Age range: 4-8 years
Nila and her mom love shopping at the thrift store. But when Nila finds the most perfect, shiny, puffy coat, Mom says no: Nila's winter coat still fits her just fine. With a lot of determination and some birthday money from Dad, Nila sets out to prove the coat really is perfect—but along the way, learns maybe it's perfect for someone else. Someone who needs both a coat and a friend. An engaging and accessible story about having enough and helping others in need.
Age range: 4–8 years
While helping her mama collect empty cans, old newspapers, and other recyclable treasure to sell, Lina discovers a wall of graffiti with the words ÚNICO COMO TÚ, UNIQUE LIKE YOU. This discovery sends her on a quest through Bogotá, Colombia, where she asks a man sitting on a blanket, a baker, a street performer, and two women walking arm and arm what makes them unique. With Spanish vocabulary woven throughout the story, Unique Like You encourages readers to look at the world with curious eyes.
Age range: 3–8 years
Maybe I Can Love My Neighbor Too
In this follow-up to the award-winning Maybe God Is Like That Too, a young girl wonders how to be a good neighbor to the dozens of people in her apartment building, the people on the street, and the other kids at the park. With help from her mama, the girl discovers that all it takes is a little kindness and creativity to show love to neighbors near and far.
Age range: 5-8 years
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