We are closing in on one of the sweetest holidays of the year – Valentine’s Day! Books for toddlers need the right balance of sweetness, silliness, engaging illustrations, and likable characters. This festive Valentine’s Day Books for Toddlers list checks all of those boxes. Snuggle up with your sweeties and enjoy one of these specially selected books together.
Valentine’s Day Toddler Book Picks
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Won’t You Be My Kissaroo? by Joanne Ryder treasures all the different reasons to give or get a kiss. After reading, see how many reasons your kids can remember for giving a kiss.
Love from Sesame Street by Sesame Workshop is a sweet and simple choice for little ones. It has brightly sketched renderings of each of your child’s favorite friends that really catch the eye. The text itself talks about the many different meanings of love and how to express it.
Happy Valentine’s Day Little Critter! by Mercer Mayer is an endearing look at Little Critter’s busy and surprising Valentine’s Day. It has sturdy flaps for your toddlers to lift and practice predictability. This book emphasizes the spirit of fun and generosity of the holiday.
Guess How Much I Love You: A Pop-up Editionby Sam McBratney is a classic heartwarming book with added pop-up fun! Little Nutbrown Hare tries to guess how much Big Nutbrown Hare loves him, but love isn’t as easily measured as he thought. This book will give you and your children all the loving feels.
Love Monster by Rachel Bright dismisses any ideas of scary monsters and lets us see the sensitive side. The sweet monster in this book is looking for someone to love him. He has just about given up hope when he has a surprise encounter.
Hugs and Kisses for the Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle will encourage your toddlers to get up and move! Using his signature illustration style and familiar characters, Carle celebrates love through animal movements in his latest installment.
Hug Machine by Scott Campbell is a comical story about a little boy whose favorite hobby is hugging! He expresses great enthusiasm for his chosen mode of showing love and will also give you a chuckle when he creatively figures out how to hug even the spikiest and slippery of friends.
Love, Mamaby Jeanette Bradley is a story of a sweet little penguin who misses his Mama while she is traveling away from home. Eventually, a package arrives from his beloved Mama and brings him some calm and comfort. Her long-awaited return will bring joy and relief to your toddlers.
Click, Clack, Moo I Love You!by Doreen Cronin brings the familiar barn buddies together for a festive Valentine’s Day celebration. Join Little Duck as she feverishly prepares for a special Valentine celebration. There is even a simple message about inclusivity and generosity amidst all the fun!
Pop-up Peekaboo! I Love You by DK is a recent addition to the Pop-Up Peekaboo series. My children adore the bright and colorful illustrations as well as the fun of guessing what is behind each sturdy flap. Perfect for Valentine’s Day, Sheep has been receiving presents from a special friend your toddlers will meet at the end of the book.
Llama Llama I Love You by Anna Dewdney is the perfect introduction to Valentine’s Day. Llama Llama makes the day special for his Mama and his friends. This book is a delightful choice for toddlers with its minimal text and rhyme. It will be enjoyed again and again!
Here Comes Valentine Cat by Deborah Underwood is a hilarious tale of an unlikely friendship guaranteed to please the older toddler audience. Perfect for one-on-one sharing, this story is fast-paced, quick-witted, and a little sassy. Cat journeys through feelings of despise for both Valentine’s Day and his new neighbor, Dog, only to find out his assumptions weren’t quite right. Cat is sure to turn that frown upside down!
You Make My Heart Saur by Maggie Fischer is a dino ode to love between little one and a caregiver. “My love for you is louder than a Triceratops can roar. You give my tummy butterflies; you make my heart saur!”
Grab the Printable Book List of Valentine’s Day Books for Toddlers
Click the green button below to download and print a copy of the book list above. It’s perfect for taking to the library and checking off your favorites together.
These Valentine’s Day Books for Toddlers are perfect for the silly and sweet little ones in your life. Enjoy some cozy time celebrating love with one of our picks!
Also, check out these toddler book lists.
Board Books for Toddlers But Not the Babyish Ones
Favorite Books for 2 Year-Olds
*Thank you to Katy from for creating this book list for Growing Book by Book. Katy Klimczuk is a mother of two little ones who lives with her family in the Detroit, Michigan area. She is a former elementary school teacher and literacy specialist who now works remotely as a book curator and blogger sharing her passion for early literacy. She can be found at Reading Lady Katy and on Instagram and Facebook @readingladykaty.
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