Valentine’s Day is not my favorite holiday. The cards, candy, and dinner out at a crowded restaurant aren’t really my thing. Most Valentine’s Days in our home are spent with our kids enjoying time together.
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However, one positive of Valentine’s Day is a special opportunity to let the people I care about know how much I love them. Sometimes, sharing love is as simple as reading a book together.
Some of these picture books are focused on celebrating the Valentine holiday, and others are about sharing love. All of them feature diverse characters and stories that are full of heart.
Cuddle up with a little one you love and share a special book with them this Valentine’s Day!
14 Diverse Picture Books for Valentine’s Day
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One Love by Cedella Marley
This beautiful adaptation of the classic Bob Marley song is a great illustration of the power of love. Through love, a community comes together to make the world a better place. Vanessa Brantley-Newton’s illustrations show all kinds of children celebrating love together.
This board book is perfect for reading with babies and toddlers.
Besos for Baby by Jen Arena
This book introduces Spanish words, wrapped in a sweet story about all the people who have besos (kisses) for baby. A really fun read-aloud with little ones who can give hugs and kisses!
This board book is an excellent choice for sharing with babies and toddlers.
Love by Matt de la Peña
This gorgeous picture book shows all the ways, big and small, that love shows up in our lives. The beautiful illustrations show all types of people living in all types of places sharing love together. Kids will enjoy the simple beauty of this book, and adults will be moved by the expressions of love that this book captures.
I recommend sharing this book with children ages 3 and up.
I Am Love: A Book of Compassion by Susan Verde
This powerful volume from the powerful I Am Human series is a look at how we can show love to ourselves and others. It focuses not only on sharing kindness with the people in our lives, but also on practicing self-care, through mindfulness and gratitude. This book helps teach the important value of loving yourself so you can love others well, which is an important lesson for kids and for grown ups.
This book is a great choice for reading with kids ages 4 and up.
The I Love You Book by Todd Parr
Todd Parr’s books are always fun to read with kids, and this one is no exception. It illustrates the concept of unconditional love, and how families love each other, no matter what. No matter if you’re scared, sad, happy, or mad, there’s always someone who loves you.
I recommend reading this book with little ones ages 2 and up.
Valentine’s Day by Anne F. Rockwell
Mrs. Madoff’s class is missing their friend Michiko, who is visiting family in Japan. So, to celebrate Valentine’s Day, each member of the diverse class of students creates a Valentine to send to their friend. The book shows each Valentine, which includes what each student misses about Michiko. When the sharing is done, the class travels together to the post office to mail their cards.
This sweet and simple story is excellent for reading with kids ages 5 and up.
The Night Before Valentine’s Day by Natasha Wing
This rhyming story follows another classroom preparing for Valentine’s Day. At home the night before Valentine’s Day, children are preparing their cards for their friends, carefully decorating and adding their sentiments. When the big day arrives, they celebrate together with candy, cards, and fun.
This joyful book is great for classrooms and is perfect for sharing with kids ages 4 and up.
Love Is by Diane Adams
This beautiful story chronicles the days of a little girl and her pet duckling. The girl tenderly cares for her pet with patience and grace. This book illustrates all the ways we can show love to others, and its simple sweetness will bring tears to your eyes.
I recommend sharing this book with little ones ages 3 and up.
This Love: A Celebration of Harmony Around the World by Isabel Otter
We live in a beautiful, diverse world with different cultures, traditions, and faiths. But one thing we all share is the power of love. This book shows people all over the world spending time together, enjoying life, and sharing love. It’s a powerful reminder that we are all bound together by the things we share.
I recommend this gorgeously illustrated book for kids ages 2 and up.
Love is Powerful by Heather Dean Brewer
Sometimes love means standing up for what is right. In this book, Mari and her mother are preparing to go to a march. They make their signs together, and then show up with people all over their city and all over the world to stand up for love, kindness, and equality for all.
I really love this unique book, and I recommend sharing it with kids ages 5 and up.
Under the Love Umbrella by Davina Bell
This is one of my favorite books about the love that parents and caregivers have for their children. It follows many different childhood struggles, and shows how love from another person can help make things better. No matter who you are or what you’re struggling with, there’s room under the love umbrella, and it’s always there to comfort you.
I recommend reading this book with children ages 3 and up.
How Far Do You Love Me? by Lulu Delacre
In this gorgeous book, children ask their parents, “how far do you love me?” The answers take readers around the world and give them a glance into all different types of families. Each location and family group is different, but they are all bound together by love.
This book is the perfect bedtime read, and I recommend sharing it with kids ages 3 and up.
Love Twelve Miles Long by Glenda Armand
This story imagines a conversation between a young Frederick Douglass and his mother. Frederick’s mother lives on a different plantation, and she must journey over 12 miles to see her son. Frederick’s mother tells him about each mile of her journey, and in her story we hear just how much she loves her son.
This book illustrates both the cruelty of slavery and the unbreakable bond between a mother and child. I recommend sharing it with children ages 6 and up.
Love You Head to Toe by Ashley Baron
This adorable book shows a diverse group of babies being loved by their parents and caretakers. Each page compares the babies to a specific baby animal. The bright, cut paper illustrations leap off of the page, and the rhyming words are full of life.
I recommend sharing this book with babies and toddlers. It comes in both hardback and board book versions!
