Valentine’s Day is coming up quickly, and I am sure your students are so excited! With Valentine’s Day comes the importance of talking about kindness, friendship, and emotions. And, I am here to share a few of my favorite books that are perfect for sharing with your class during the season of love.
Here is a list of my favorite must-reads for Valentine’s Day.
I’m sharing all of these books on video as well! Check out the Valentine’s Day Read Aloud Books video on my Youtube channel.
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Valentine’s Day Books
Nobody Hugs a Cactus by: Carter Goodrich
Nobody Hugs a Cactus is the story of a cactus that sits alone in windowsill in the desert. He enjoys being alone and gets a little grumpy when someone comes too close. Until one day, he realizes that a hug might be nice but who would hug a cactus? It’s a charmingly goofy book that your students will enjoy on Valentine’s Day! And, hey, we all have days where we feel a bit like a cactus.
Hug Machine by: Scott Campbell
Hug Machine is the tale of a little boy who calls himself the “hug machine.” He spends the majority of his day hugging anyone and everything in sight. He loves to hug, and it’s an innocent book about how the simple act of a hug can change our day. This book is definitely great to pair with Don’t Hug Doug as a simple reminder that not everyone enjoys hugs as much as the Hug Machine. And you can pair these two books together and use the interactive read-aloud with Don’t Hug Doug to reiterate the importance of consent and respecting others’ space.
Love by: Matt de la Peña
Love is so compelling. And, it really is a reflection of what love is. Love is all around us and we all experience love differently. Love is a soothing and reassuring picture book that is great to read for a Valentine’s Day celebration. This will definitely leave your heart overflowing with happiness.
I Am Love by: Peter H. Reynolds
I Am Love is a celebration of all the different ways we can show love. It shows love in different forms and includes a beautiful message on compassion. It requires readers to look inward to truly understand the various forms of love. And, the illustrations are beautiful.
In My Heart by: Jo Witek
In My Heart explores all of the different feelings that our heart feels. Every emotion is defined and described in ways that readers can relate to and understand. This book gives concrete examples and helps students understand what these emotions truly look like.
Grab the FREEBIE and Interactive Read-Aloud
The Invisible String by: Patrice Karst
The Invisible String is a story told by a mom explaining that there is a magical and invisible string that connects us all to the ones we love. It’s a touching story that reminds children they are never alone. And, it’s an excellent message for children who feel lonely, scared, anxious, or worried. This book can be used as a tool to help children cope with everyday issues. An adorable story to read to your class.
What is Given from the Heart by: Patricia C. McKissack
What is Given from the Heart is a really powerful story about the act of giving and helping others even when you may feel a little helpless yourself. When a fire destroys a community member’s house, a little boy quickly learns that possessions don’t have as much value as what comes from the heart. The illustrations and the message are incredible. I really enjoyed this one!
Do you have a favorite Valentine’s Day book?
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