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Valentine’s Day means your classroom will be full of happy, excited children, homemade cards, and plenty of candy, but it should also include a few books about love and friendship. Spread the love among your students through books that also teach them the value of kindness, generosity, and compassion.
Here are some of the best Valentine’s Day books to read aloud to your class.
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Younger Kids
1. Little Miss Valentine
By Adam Hargreaves
This new Little Miss character is sure to charm your students. As she makes and delivers Valentines to all her friends, things just don’t go her way. Over time, Little Miss realizes that all you really need are your friends.
2. Love from the Very Hungry Caterpillar
By Eric Carle
Everyone’s favorite caterpillar returns in this cute little story that reminds our loved ones why we love them so much.
3. How to Catch a Loveosaurus
By Alice Walstead
The kids in this story try to catch a dinosaur that escapes from the museum to spread love and kindness. Readers will be delighted by the traps the kids set and will also learn the value of kindness.
4. Guess How Much I Love You
By Sam McBratney
This is a classic tale of how much love exists between a parent and a child. It’s bound to make your students want to hug their mom and dad after school!
5. In My Heart: A Book of Feelings
By Jo Witek
This picture book covers the range of emotions that a heart can feel and shows students that it’s OK to feel all emotions. Kids will learn to understand and respond to each of their emotions in this heartfelt book.
6. Smooch!
By Karen Kilpatrick
Told in rhyme, this cute little story highlights the everlasting nature of unconditional love. Its diverse representation of children is an added bonus.
7. Love, Z
By Jessie Sima
When Z the robot finds a jar with a love letter from someone named Beatrice inside, he and his robot buddies decide to go on an adventure to find her. Along the way, they realize that love always exists at home.
8. Love Grows Everywhere
By Barry Tims
When a new little boy moves to town, a little girl discovers the power of being a friend.
9. What is Love?
By Mac Barnett
When a grandmother can’t answer a little boy’s question about love, he decides to travel around asking other people to explain it. Everyone has a different answer, and, in the end, the boy discovers the definition of love.
10. Love Is
By Diane Adams
When a little girl brings a lost duck into her home, she learns the various ways that taking care of something shows love. When the duck is grown, she must let it go out into the world, but learns even more about love through missing a loved one.
11. I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home
By Kathryn Cristaldi
Filled with hilarious imagery, this book shows children all the ways they are loved, on Valentine’s Day and every day.
12. A Little Spot of Love
By Diane Alber
This book imagines love as a pink spot and teaches children the many ways they can show love to others.
13. Little Hugs from Little Loves
By Mark Sperring
Poetry and baby animals are sure to make this a hit among your students! It will also inspire them to share a hug with a loved one.
14. Bagel in Love
By Natasha Wing
Bagel loves to dance and really wants to enter the dancing competition. The problem is that he can’t find a dance partner. Will a cupcake by the one he is looking for?
15. How Do I Love Thee?
By Jennifer Adams
Three children learn the value of friendship as they compare love to the wonderful things about nature.
16. Groggle’s Monster Valentine
By Diana Murray
Groggle stays up making the best Valentine he can for his best friend, Snarlina. Groggle’s Valentines turn out so well that he ends up eating them. Students will read to the end to find out if he makes, but doesn’t eat, the perfect Valentine.
17. Group Hug
By Jean Reidy
Two animals hugging soon leads to lots of animals hugging as they learn the value of a well-timed hug.
18. Viking in Love
By Doug Cenko
Stig is a Viking who hates the ocean, which makes him a bit different. When he meets Ingrid, who loves the ocean, he must learn how to solve his problem.
19. This Is NOT a Valentine
By Carter Higgins
This book isn’t a traditional Valentine – it’s not lacy, sparkly, or decorative. Instead, it showcases things that aren’t usually thought of as gifts but might just be the best presents of all.
20. What the World Needs Now is Love
By Burt Bacharach
Using the lyrics from the old song, this book adds beautiful illustrations to these classic words of love.
21. When an Elephant Falls in Love
By Davide Cali
When Elephant falls in love, he does a bunch of silly things, but soon he learns the value of sharing love with others.
22. Love Monster and the Last Chocolate
By Rachel Bright
When Love Monster comes home, he finds a delicious box of chocolates waiting on his doorstep. He’s worried that if he shares them, there won’t be enough left for him. He quickly learns that sharing is a gift better than eating chocolates.
23. One Love
By Cedella Marley
With the lyrics from Bob Marley’s classic song, this book teaches children what can happen if everyone shows love to everyone else.
Older kids
24. Nancy Clancy: Secret Admirer
By Jane O’Connor
Nancy and her friend Bree decide to be matchmakers, but things don’t go as they had hoped. Along the way, they learn the value of friendship and love.
25. Valentine’s Day Disaster
By Geronimo Stilton
Geronimo Stilton is very excited for Valentine’s Day and so happy to send cards to his friends. However, when the big arrives, there is nothing in Geronimo’s mailbox. Just when things look lonely and hopeless, the day turns out to be good.
26. Nate the Great and the Mushy Valentine
By Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Nate the Great is no fan of mushy things, so he’s a bit upset to discover a red paper heart on his dog’s house. Nate will have to solve this case to find the answer.
27. A to Z Mysteries Secret Admirer
By Ron Roy
A secret admirer is the very definition of a mystery, and the kids must figure out who is sending the secret Valentines. As with other books in this series, there is a secret message hidden in the illustrations.
28. Cam Jansen and the Valentine Baby Mystery
By David A. Adler
When Cam Jansen arrives at the hospital to be with her mom who is in labor, she immediately notices something is amiss. Will she solve the mystery before her baby sibling is born?
29. The Candy Smash
By Jacqueline Davies
When the kids in classroom 4-0 discover some anonymously delivered candy hearts, Jessie takes it upon herself to figure out what is going on in her class.
30. Juliet the Valentine Fairy
By Daisy Meadows
In this special edition of the Rainbow Fairies series, Jack Frost is causing trouble again by stealing the things that help families and friends show love. Rachel and Kirsty help Juliet track down the objects and restore love and kindness on Valentine’s Day.
Just for fun
31. Would You Rather? Valentine’s Day Edition
By Riddleland
With plenty of Valentine’s Day themed “Would you rather?” questions, this book will spark some spirited debates in your classroom this February.
32. Will You Be My Valen-Slime? Joke Book
By Rather McSilly
This book contains plenty of jokes and puns that will make your students laugh uncontrollably. For more, check out this list of 100 Valentine’s Day puns and jokes for your classroom!
33. Laugh-Out-Loud Valentine’s Day Jokes for Kids
By Rob Elliott
The jokes and puns in this book will definitely make your students laugh out loud!
34. I Spy Little Hearts
By Jean Marzollo
Part of the classic “I Spy” series, this book will have your students hunting for objects among Valentine’s Day scenes.
Although your students will likely be more excited about the party, candy, and cards, a few of these books are just what you need to make the rest of your Valentine’s Day memorable and filled with love.
