There are so many books for babies, kids, and teens (young adults) about love to read for Valentine’s Day, but these are our favorites books you should read with your kids about love! Whether it’s about family, romance, or friendship, you’ll love this amazing list of clean books.
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Baby/Board Books
“How much does Little Nutbrown Hare love his daddy? And how much does Big Nutbrown Hare love him back? The cherished tale of boundless affection is ready for boundless sharing.”
A touching story about a mother’s love for her son…which grows into a son’s love for his mother.
“School is starting in the forest, but Chester Raccoon does not want to go. To help ease Chester’s fears, Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret called the Kissing Hand to give him the reassurance of her love any time his world feels a little scary. Since its first publication in 1993, this heartwarming book has become a children’s classic that has touched the lives of millions of children and their parents, especially at times of separation.”
4. I Love You to the Moon and Back
“The sun rises, and a bear and cub begin their day together. They splash in the water, climb mountains, watch the colorful lights in the shimmering sky, and play with friends. A sweet, gentle rhyme, perfect for sharing with a special little one.”
“There’s no better way to say ‘I love you’ than with a sweet and heartfelt animal pun book! I Love You Like No Otter combines a warm message of love with beautifully illustrated animals families will love to read and share together.”
“From eyes to ears and legs to toes, there’s a lot for baby to discover, and even more for a family to love. Bright, buoyant art, a catchy rhythm and rhyme, and a roly-poly little baby are sure to inspire plenty of giggling and grabbing and feet-in-the-air-ing.”
“The world can seem like a big, bewildering place for new babies—fortunately, their mamas know just how to soothe and comfort them. Through enchanting scenes portraying all kinds of mama animals looking out for their little ones, the mother in this story reassures her baby, and young children everywhere, that their caretakers will always love them and keep them safe.”
8. I Love You Through and Through
“A rhyming story of unconditional love with adorable illustrations of a toddler and a teddy bear who declare “I love you through and through!”
A rhyming story about a parent’s unlimited love for a child!
10. Chrysanthemum
“Chrysanthemum thinks her name is absolutely perfect—until her first day of school. Everyone makes fun of her beautiful name. Chrysanthemum wilts. What will it take to make her blossom again?” This is a wonderful children’s book about building self-esteem and loving yourself!
Mid-grade/Chapter Books
11. Ella Enchanted
“At her birth, Ella of Frell receives a foolish fairy’s gift—the “gift” of obedience. Ella must obey any order, whether it’s to hop on one foot for a day and a half, or to chop off her own head! But strong-willed Ella does not accept her fate…Against a bold backdrop of her best-friend Prince Char, ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, and fairy godmothers, Ella goes on a quest to break the curse forever.”
Note: SO much better than the movie!
12. Little Women
“Follow the March sisters from innocent adolescence to sage adulthood, with all the joy and sorrow of life in between, and fall in love with them and this endearing story.”
“Anne Shirley is an eleven-year-old orphan who erupts into the lives of aging brother and sister Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, a girl instead of the boy they had sent for. Anne grows from a girl to a young woman of sixteen, making her mistakes, and not always learning from them. Intelligent, hot-headed as her own red hair, unwilling to take a moral truth as read until she works it out for herself, she must also face grief and loss and learn the true meaning of love.”
“Miri lives on a mountain where, for generations, her ancestors have lived a simple life. Then word comes that the king’s priests have divined her village the home of the future princess. In a year’s time, the prince will choose his bride from among the village girls. The king’s ministers set up an academy on the mountain, and every teenage girl must attend and learn how to become a princess. Soon Miri finds herself confronted with a harsh academy mistress, bitter competition among the girls, and her own conflicting desires. Winning the contest could give her everything she ever wanted–but it would mean leaving her home and family behind.”
15. The Goose Girl
“Talianna, Crown Princess of Kildenree, spends the first years of her life listening to her aunt’s stories and learning the language of the birds, especially the swans. As she grows up, Ani develops the skills of animal speech, but she never feels quite comfortable speaking with people. So when Ani’s mother sends her away to be married in a foreign land, she finds herself at the mercy of her silver-tongued lady in waiting, who leads a mutiny that leaves her alone, destitute, and fleeing for her life. To survive, Ani works as a royal goose girl, hiding in plain sight while she develops her forbidden talents and works to discover her own true, powerful voice.”
16. Dragon Slippers
“Creel can’t believe her aunt wants to sacrifice her to the local dragon. It’s a ploy to lure a heroic knight so that he will fight the dragon, marry Creel out of chivalrous obligation, and lift the entire family out of poverty. Creel isn’t worried. After all, nobody has seen a dragon in centuries. But when the beast actually appears, Creel not only bargains with him for her life, she also ends up with a rare bit of treasure from his hoard: a pair of simple blue slippers, or so she thinks. But Creel learns that these shoes could be used to save her kingdom from the brink of war–or destroy it.”
Teens/Young Adults
*Disclaimer: Some of these novels may contain minor swear words. However, these books are not implicitly, nor explicitly, inappropriate for adults or children.
“Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is – no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it’s getting harder. At school she’s haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood… and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they’re destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.”
18. The Healer’s Apprentice: (Book One)
“Rose has been appointed as a healer’s apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, a rare opportunity for a woodcutter’s daughter like her. When Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, it is Rose who must tend to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to understand emotions she’s never felt before and wonders if he feels the same. But falling in love is forbidden, as Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As Rose’s life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny.”
This book is one of many interconnected fairy-tale retellings by a Christian author who often references the Bible as the characters go through difficult circumstances!
“One dark and stormy night, lost and alone, Alyssa finds herself knocking on the door of a castle. What she finds is two unruly young princesses and one very handsome prince. When Alyssa accepts the job of Princess Companion she knows her life will change. What she doesn’t know is that the royal family is about to be swept up in unexpected danger and intrigue, and that she just might be the only thing standing between her kingdom and destruction.”
This is the first book in a series of interconnected fairytale retellings!
20. Crown Duel (And Part 2: Court Duel)
“Young Countess Meliara swears to her dying father that she and her brother will defend their people from the growing greed of the king. That promise leads them into a war for which they are ill prepared, a war that threatens the homes and lives of the very people they are trying to protect.
Although she wants to turn her back on politics and the crown, Meliara is summoned to the royal palace. There, she soon discovers, friends and enemies look alike, and intrigue fills the dance halls and the drawing rooms. If she is to survive, Meliara must learn a whole new way of fighting–with wit and words and secret alliances. In war, at least, she knew whom she could trust. Now she can trust no one.”
“Set in 1792, The Scarlet Pimpernel follows Sir Percy as he outwits the forces of the French Revolution to save innocent lives. With a colorful cast of characters and an exciting plot, Orczy’s classic novel is an unforgettable reading experience that will leave you wanting more.”
22. Cinder: (Book One of the Lunar Chronicles)
“Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction.”
We hope you enjoyed this list of clean books about love! Tell us more of your favorites below!