17 Best Valentine’s Day Picture Books

Last Updated on February 21, 2025 by Laura

Valentine’s Day is a great time to add books about love, kindness, and friendship to your library collection. If you’re looking for Valentine’s Day picture books that will engage your students, this list features 17 titles that are perfect for storytime or independent reading. These books offer a mix of humor, heart, and diverse perspectives, making them great additions to any elementary school library.

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Valentine’s Day Laughs

It’s always fun to read a silly book during library classes. Try some of these for extra fun with a sweet message hidden inside!

A Crankenstein Valentine by Samantha Berger A hilarious take on Valentine’s Day, this book follows Crankenstein, a grumpy kid who despises the holiday… Until he finds an unexpected friend who understands exactly how he feels.

Love, Splat by Rob Scotton Splat the Cat has a crush on Kitten, but he’s worried that she doesn’t like him back. A sweet and funny story about expressing feelings and friendship.

Click, Clack, Moo I Love You! by Doreen Cronin The farm animals are throwing a Valentine’s Day party, and Duck wants to make sure everyone, even a surprising new guest, feels included in the fun.

Valensteins by Ethan Long The quirky Fright Club members are baffled when Fran the Frankenstein monster starts cutting out hearts—leading to a funny, spooky take on love and friendship.

Bad Kitty Does NOT Like Valentine’s Day by Nick Bruel Grumpy and opinionated as ever, Bad Kitty rejects the idea of Valentine’s Day but eventually discovers that showing love can come in unexpected ways.

Turkey’s Valentine Surprise by Wendi Silvano Turkey and his barnyard friends come up with creative (and often silly) ways to surprise someone special on Valentine’s Day, making for a lighthearted holiday adventure.

How to Catch a Loveasaurus by Alice Walstead A playful addition to the How to Catch series, this book follows a group of kids as they try to capture a Loveasaurus who spreads kindness and joy.

Picture Books About Kindness

Inspire those kind, loving actions among your students this Valentine’s Day with these sweet, inspiring stories.

Love, Z by Jessie Sima When little robot Z finds a mysterious note that says “Love, Beatrice,” he embarks on a journey to discover what love means, meeting new friends along the way in this heartwarming adventure.

Hug Machine by Scott Campbell A cheerful and charming story about a little boy who sees it as his mission to give out hugs to everyone and everything, spreading warmth and happiness wherever he goes.

This Is NOT a Valentine by Carter Higgins A boy gives his friend a series of heartfelt but unconventional gifts, proving that love and friendship don’t have to fit inside a greeting card.

Love Monster and the Last Chocolate by Rachel Bright Love Monster faces a dilemma when he finds a box of delicious chocolates—should he share with his friends or keep them all to himself? A sweet tale of generosity and friendship.

Valentine’s Day Poems, Rhymes, and Songs

There’s nothing like a catchy tune or silly rhyme to liven up your February library lessons!

I Haiku You by Betsy E. Snyder – This delightful collection of haikus captures the sweetness of love and friendship in simple yet poetic language, making it perfect for young readers to explore the beauty of poetry.

Valentine Gross-Out by Suzanne Lange – A funny, slightly gross take on Valentine’s Day, this Grumpy Monkey book features humorous rhymes that will entertain kids while also celebrating the quirky side of the holiday.

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rose by Lucille Colandro – A fun and silly twist on the classic “There Was an Old Lady” song, this version finds the old lady swallowing Valentine’s Day-themed items, leading to a playful and enjoyable read-aloud/sing-along!

Perfect for Valentine’s Day Research

Your elementary students will love learning about the history of Valentine’s Day (and maybe even make a treat or two!)!

Valentine’s Day by Rebecca Pettiford – A nonfiction book that introduces young readers to the history, traditions, and symbols of Valentine’s Day with engaging text and vibrant photos.

Valentine’s Day by Rachel Grack – A nonfiction introduction to Valentine’s Day, featuring facts about its origins, how it’s celebrated around the world, and fun activities associated with the holiday.

Valentine’s Day Treats to Make and Bake by Ruth Owen – Learn about the history of Valentine’s Day and get some recipes for unique treats to help you celebrate! Full color photos and easy-to-follow instructions make this a popular choice.

Valentine Storytime is a Hit!

I hope this list of Valentine’s Day picture books helps inspire you as you add some love to your library collection. Whether you’re helping students share a laugh, understand friendship, or just feel the warmth of the season, these books are sure to delight.

For help bringing a special Valentine Storytime to life in your Kindergarten, first grade and second grade classes, grab this popular unit!

❤️ These fun Valentine’s Day Activities for Kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd grade include:

• 10-page Teacher’s Guide with standards
• Prop cards for a fun song (link included)
• List of recommended read aloud books
• Book review activity for 2 recommended books
• Blank book review page to use with your favorite Valentine books
• Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt activity
• Fun BINGO game
• Memory Game 
• Fun worksheets – Valentine word search, ABCs of Valentine’s Day

Let’s continue to spread kindness and love through stories… Because we know that a good book can be the best Valentine of all! Happy reading, and may your shelves be full of love!

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Be the light! ~