Sweet Valentine's Day Books for Children

Share some special time with your little sweetheart this Valentine's Day by reading these humorous, playful and touching stories of love.

The rhyming prose of Sweet Hearts depicts a little panda bear who makes and hides various Valentine's Day crafts and gifts for those he loves, including the family dog. Jan Carr's book also is creatively illustrated, with the scenes and characters composed of colorful paper cut outs. The last page shows how to draw and cut your own paper hearts. This is a nice book for all ages, especially for very young children who will enjoy this simple introduction to the holiday's customs.

Woof a Love Story, by Sarah Weeks, is an adorable tale of a dog who is infatuated with a cat but she can't understand his barking expressions of love. But when he plays music for her, she finally understands. Older toddlers up to early elementary children will like this animal love story with a cute and happy ending.

Some of the most enjoyable books for Valentine's Day don't really mention the holiday but express its key theme in entertaining and creative ways for parents and children.

Mommy Loves Me is the perfect book to snuggle up and read to your infants or young toddler this Valentine's Day. The illustrations are cute and colorful and the message is simple. Infants will enjoy the narrative's rhyming rhythm and toddlers will love being reminded of the ways Mommy cares.

Hugless Douglas is an endearing and amusing story of a young "hugless" bear who keeps trying to find someone or something to hug. He starts out by trying to hug a rock but it just doesn't feel right. After a series of misadventures, he finally finds the perfect hug - from his mommy. The illustrations are cute and comical and the end of the book features the characters demonstrating different hugs from the goodnight hug to an upside-down hug.

Jane Yolen's rhyming narrative inHow Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You demonstrates how parents - human and dinosaur - love their children no matter what. The silly illustrations add a light-hearted touch to the theme and for dino lovers, their scientific names are hidden in the pictures.

Guess How Much I Love You, written by Sam McBratney, could become a classic in your household. It's a timeless tale about two hares comparing and one-upping each other on how much they love each other. "I love you as high as I can reach," Little Nut Brown Hare says and then Big Nut Brown Hare replies, "I love you as high as I can reach." Parents and children will enjoy the playful, competitive exchanges highlighting how we can express our love for each other.