These Valentine’s Day books will help you teach February math and literacy concepts and are perfect for your Valentine’s Day celebration. Use the books on Valentine’s Day in your kindergarten, first grade, or second grade classroom or at home.
Incredible Valentine’s Day Books Kids Will Love!
Valentine’s Day is a fun holiday to celebrate in the classroom or at home! Nothing quite like the excitement of pink and red decorations, heartfelt notes of kindness, and festive Valentine’s Day activities that create a joyful atmosphere to celebrate love, friendship, and the happiness of being together.
This holiday is a perfect opportunity to teach kids about kindness, empathy, and connection. These critical life skills help them build stronger relationships and foster a more caring and inclusive classroom community.
Reading books on Valentine’s Day provides an excellent way to build social-emotional skills. Stories about kindness and friendship inspire meaningful conversations and help kids understand the value of treating others with love and respect. These read-alouds also excite kids for February’s fun and festive activities.
Below, we’ll explore a list of enjoyable Valentine’s Day books for the classroom and a fun-filled resource to simplify your planning. This is sure to be a February to remember!
Table of contents
- Incredible Valentine’s Day Books Kids Will Love!
- Top Valentine’s Day Books for the Classroom or Homeschool
- Activities to Pair with Valentine’s Day Books
- Resources to Help You Teach on Valentine’s Day
- Valentine’s Day Fun Pack
- Free Valentine’s Day Heart Game
- More Valentine’s Day Ideas for the Classroom
Top Valentine’s Day Books for the Classroom or Homeschool
Kids will love reading these books throughout February. Add them to your classroom bookshelf, Valentine’s celebrations, or read throughout the week to discuss love, kindness, friendship, and the holiday.
Book 1: Pete the Cat: Valentine’s Day is Cool by James Dean
Pete the Cat isn’t initially excited about Valentine’s Day but soon realizes how special it is to show others you care. With the help of his friend Callie, Pete makes Valentine’s Day cards for his friends and learns the joy of spreading kindness.
This book is perfect for sparking conversations about appreciating friends and showing kindness. It encourages children to think of ways to make others feel special on Valentine’s Day.
Book 2: Love From the Crayons by Drew Daywalt
The crayons explore love through a colorful journey, showcasing its warm, calm, and slightly unexpected shades. The book emphasizes how love comes in all forms and is a beautiful mix of emotions.
This book is a great way to discuss the diversity of love and kindness. It can spark creative conversations about how students can express love and gratitude uniquely.
Book 3: Tiny T.Rex and the Perfect Valentine by Jonathan Stutzman
Tiny T. Rex is trying to create the perfect Valentine for his friend Pointy. Despite his small arms and significant challenges, Tiny learns love is about effort and thoughtfulness.
This heartwarming story can encourage discussions about perseverance and the idea that meaningful gestures come from the heart, not perfection.
Book 4: How to Catch a Loveosaurus by Alice Walstead
A group of kids embarks on an adventure to catch a Loveosaurus, a mythical creature that spreads love wherever it goes. They discover that love can be found in simple acts of kindness.
This book introduces the concept of spreading kindness in a fun and adventurous way, making it perfect for a Valentine’s Day activity about random acts of kindness.
Book 5: Here Comes Valentine Cat by Deborah Underwood
Cat isn’t a fan of Valentine’s Day but decides to make a card for Dog. Through humorous misadventures, Cat learns friendship is worth celebrating, even with unlikely friends.
This story encourages children to explore the value of friendship and how differences can be celebrated on Valentine’s Day.
Book 6: The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
This touching book introduces the idea of an invisible string that connects us to loved ones, no matter where they are. It reassures children that love keeps us connected, even across distances.
This book is a great conversation starter about love, connection, and relationships. It is perfect for discussing the emotional ties we share with those we care about.
Book 7: Love is My Favorite Thing by Emma Chichester Clark
Plum is a playful pup who shares everything she loves, with love being her favorite. The book explores unconditional love, even when we make mistakes.
This book can inspire discussions about how love means accepting each other’s imperfections and embracing moments of joy.
Book 8: I am Love by Susan Verde
This book explores how love is an action, emphasizing compassion, kindness, and caring for others. It empowers children to embody love in their daily lives.
It is a beautiful way to discuss how love can be expressed and how children can practice kindness and empathy daily.
Book 9: Happy Valentine’s Day Mouse by Laura Numeroff
Mouse is busy making Valentine’s Day cards for all his friends, reflecting on what makes each of them unique. See the cute ideas Mouse comes up with and use those ideas to help your students get creative!
This book is an excellent opportunity to discuss gratitude and personalizing kind gestures, such as making thoughtful Valentine’s cards.
Book 10: Grumpy Monkey Valentine Gross Out by Suzanne Lang
Grumpy Monkey doesn’t like Valentine’s Day and its mushy traditions, but he learns that friendship can make any day special. Show kids how important it is to try new things and embrace traditions that others enjoy.
This book can help children talk about emotions and how to find joy in celebrating with friends, even if Valentine’s Day isn’t their favorite.
Book 11: The Biggest Valentine Ever by Steven Kroll
Clayton and Desmond, two mice, team up to create the biggest and best Valentine’s card for their teacher. As they work together, they face challenges but eventually learn the value of teamwork and friendship.
This book is ideal for discussing cooperation and creativity. It can inspire students to work together on their projects while highlighting the importance of perseverance and kindness.
Book 12: Rosie’s Glasses by Dave Whamond
This wordless picture book follows Rosie, a young girl feeling down, as she discovers a pair of magical glasses that let her see the world more positively and colorfully. The pages allow readers to interpret what they see and talk openly about the images.
This story opens up a meaningful discussion about perspective, gratitude, and the power of positivity. It’s a perfect addition to a Valentine’s Day lesson focused on self-love and optimism.
Book 13: Love Monster by Rachel Bright
Love Monster struggles to find someone who loves him. Eventually, he learns that love comes in many forms and is closer than he thinks.
This charming book is perfect for exploring themes of self-acceptance and finding love in unexpected places. It encourages conversations about embracing differences and showing kindness to others.
Book 14: Crocodiles Need Kisses Too by Rebecca Colby
This playful rhyming book shows that even crocodiles, snakes, and porcupines need love and affection. It’s A fun read for kids with its sweet illustrations and heartwarming message.
It’s A great way to discuss how everyone needs love and care, no matter how tough or different they may seem. Pair it with a discussion about showing affection to friends and family.
Book 15: Love Is by Diane Adams
This tender story follows a little girl who raises a baby duckling, learning about the joys and challenges of love and letting go. In this book, readers discover what it means to love and be loved as they follow a little girl and her rapidly growing duckling.
This book opens up conversations about the different forms of love, including caregiving and the emotional growth of loving someone. It is ideal for discussing relationships and responsibility.
Book 16: A Little Spot of Love on Valentine’s Day by Diane Alber
This book teaches kids how to show love, from small acts of kindness to big gestures, while incorporating Valentine’s Day traditions. It’s an excellent example for students brainstorming ways to show love to parents, siblings, family, and friends.
It’s an engaging way to teach students about meaningfully expressing love and appreciation. Pair it with a classroom activity focused on making kind gestures for peers or family members.
Activities to Pair with Valentine’s Day Books
To extend the stories into your lessons, add these fun activities to your classroom or homeschool plans.
Write letters to friends with colorful stationery or heart-shaped paper to write kind letters to classmates or family members. Encourage them to share specific compliments or express gratitude. Tie this activity to books like The Biggest Valentine Ever by Steven Kroll, discussing how teamwork and kindness strengthen relationships.
Create a “Kindness Jar” where students write kind notes, compliments, or actions on small slips of paper and drop them into the jar. Read a few aloud to the class and complete kindness activities at the end of the day or week. Use this to reinforce themes from Crocodiles Need Kisses Too by Rebecca Colby, emphasizing that everyone deserves love and kindness.
Make homemade Valentine’s Day cards! Have students design and create their cards using craft supplies like paper, stickers, and glitter. Have them personalize each card with a thoughtful message.
Create Love Monsters with a directed drawing activity! After readingRachel Bright’s Love Monster, complete this activity and discuss how expressing love in different forms can make others feel special.
Craft a Friendship Chain. Have students write down things they appreciate about their classmates on paper strips. Then, they can link the strips to create a “friendship chain” displayed in the classroom.
Make a collaborative Valentine’s mural. Roll out butcher paper and let students decorate it with drawings, kind messages, or heart designs. The mural can represent love and friendship in the classroom.
Add poems to the lessons. Introduce students to simple acrostic or rhyming poetry formats and encourage them to write Valentine-themed poems. They can focus on love, friendship, or their favorite part of the holiday.
Resources to Help You Teach on Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day Fun Pack
The Valentine’s Day Fun Pack is the perfect companion to the books listed above because they relate to the themes of love, kindness, and friendship. Read the books and complete the activities during February.
Inside the Fun Pack, you will find:
- Posters & Valentine’s Day bulletin board pieces
- Vocabulary cards & posters
- February Writing prompts
- Valentine’s Day cards
- Cupid, Love Monster, and Valentine’s Day page toppers & writing prompts
- Valentine’s Day poem and activities
- Literacy activities – book report & story organizer
- Reading challenge & bookmarks
- “Love Being Me” storybook
- “How to Catch a Loveosaurus” book companion activities
- 10 Valentine’s Day Math worksheets (addition, subtraction, numbers, graphing, patterning)
- Candy heart math measurement activity
- Science Experiment (Valentine Potion)
- STEM Activity (candy heart stacks)
- Valentine’sDay Hat Craft
- Love Bug Craft
- Pattern Heart Design Art
- 5 Group Games: Board Game, Charades, Bingo, Action Hearts card game, Would You Rather…
- Love Monster Directed Drawing
- 15-page Valentine’s Day Activity Book with color by pages, crossword, word search, ABC order, and more
These printables will save you planning time. No need to research Valentine’s Day activities, this pack has you covered. Print the pages out and use them for every aspect of your plans! There are plenty to keep kids engaged all month!
Grab your Valentine’s Day Fun Pack here!
Free Valentine’s Day Heart Game
Try part of the Valentine’s Day Fun Pack in your classroom with this FREE Valentine’s Day Heart Game! Students complete the actions on the cards and take turns guessing what is being acted out!
Click the image below to grab a copy.
Celebrating holidays in the classroom can feel chaotic, but having ready-to-use resources will make things a lot easier and more fun. Get excited to share a heart-filled day with students, and don’t forget to check out the Valentine’s Day Fun Pack!
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