Books on Love for Babies & Toddlers
by Devon A. Corneal
On January 20, 2021, our country’s first National Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman, urged us to remember that “If we merge mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy and change our children’s birthright.” With that inspiration, we’ve collected some of our favorite books about love for the babies and toddlers in your life. You can save them for Valentine’s Day, but we encourage you to start reading them right away because we can always use a little more love.
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Bunny Roo, I Love You
Available from:The most important way we can show babies we love them is to make them feel secure, and this book’s beautiful illustrations show how mothers from all across the animal kingdom care for their young — reminding us, once again, that love knows no boundaries.
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Dr. Seuss’s Lovey Things
Available from:Join Thing One and Thing Two as they show us all the things they love. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, these two mischief makers put aside their pranks to talk about what brings them joy and happiness.
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Love Counts
Available from:There are a million ways to express love, and in Love Counts, Jo Parker helps kids think about ten simple ways they can demonstrate their appreciation and affection for the people in their lives.
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Love Makes a Family
Available from:Every family is unique – from the people in it, to the foods they eat, to the traditions they follow. Sometimes, those things can divide us. But every family has one thing in common – they are created in love; and if we remember that, we’ll find we’re much more similar than we realize.
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Corduroy’s Valentine’s Day
Available from:Get ready to celebrate Valentine’s Day with Corduroy and this teddy bear shaped board book that fits in your baby’s perfect hands.
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I Love You, Spot
Available from:Telling people we love them is the best part of Valentine’s Day (although chocolate comes in as a close second). So, come read along with Spot as he shows his mother how much she means to him.
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I Love You All Year Through
Available from:Love isn’t celebrated just on Valentine’s Day – it’s shared every day of the year, from the coldest days of winter to the steamiest summer afternoons. Throw this padded book in the stroller as you get outside and enjoy all the seasons together with your little one.
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Love You, Hug You, Read To You!
Available from:The animal parents in this book promise that they will always love, hug, and read to their children – just like human parents. But more than just a comforting story, this book includes simple prompts to help increase children’s reading comprehension and engagement.
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Duck & Goose, Goose Needs a Hug
Available from:Goose is feeling sad, and like many of us, he doesn’t quite know what will make him feel better. That is, until his friend Duck figures out that what Goose really needs is a hug.
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A Valentine for Uni the Unicorn
Available from:Filled with enchanting illustrations and a sweet story about a unicorn who dreams of becoming friends with a real live girl, this board book is a perfect Valentine’s gift for anyone who believes in magic.
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Welcome Baby: Love You, Mama
This book, as well as its companion, Welcome Baby: Love You, Baby, combines a simple story about love with child-friendly cutouts that allow curious children to explore shapes and colors.
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Bee Mine
Available from:Calling all entomologists! This wonderful, textured book is waiting for the child who loves catching fireflies or staring at spider webs. Whether it’s bees, ladybugs, or butterflies, there is a flying, crawling, or buzzing insect for everyone to love.
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Owl Always Love You
Available from:Cuddling is one of the best ways to show someone you love them, and the animals in this story want you to join them as they get ready to snuggle up before bed.
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That’s Me Loving You
Available from:Amy Krouse Rosenthal may no longer be with us, but her sensitive and timeless writing continues to bring comfort to children and adults. In That’s Me Loving You, Rosenthal provides children with the knowledge that no matter where they go, the adults in their life are there loving them, supporting them, and offering them a safe place to land, no matter what life has in store.
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Llama Llama I Love You
Available from:This Valentine’s Day, just like the kids in your life, Llama Llama is showing everyone in his life how much he loves them with lots of hugs and special cards.
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I Love You to the Moon and Back
Available from:Sometimes it’s hard to tell someone how much you love them because your love feels too big to describe. That doesn’t stop this mama bear and her cub though! They show each other how much they love each other by spending the day together doing things they both enjoy.
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My Love is All Around
When baby bear asks his mother where love is, his very wise mama explains that the world is filled with love, and if you pay attention, you’ll find it all around you.
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Otter and Odder
Available from:This picture book is technically aimed at slightly older kids, so don’t let your babies get their hands on its delicate pages! But this warm and inclusive love story is one of my very favorites, and I recommend reading it to children of any age. The pictures are delightful and the poetry of its text is mesmerizing.
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