Best Children’s Books for Valentine’s Day

Okay, let’s be real for a second: Valentine’s Day in an elementary classroom is basically one giant sugar rush fueled by tiny cards and a lot of glitter. It’s high-energy, it’s a little bit loud, and—let’s be honest—it’s kind of exhausting!

My secret weapon for bringing the energy back down to earth? Really great books for a Valentine Day’s read aloud. But finding the ‘right’ book is the tricky part. You need something that isn’t so mushy your students start groaning, but still hits on sweet themes of friendship and kindness.

I’ve done the digging (and the trial-and-error) for you! Here is my shortlist of the absolute best books for Valentine’s Day that actually keep students focused from the first page to the last.

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

I adore this book and it is my number one fave of all the books for Valentine’s Day. I think many of you haven’t even heard of it. It has a beautiful message and great storyline. My second graders were really impressed by this book. Check it out here.

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rose

Lucille Colandro probably hit the jackpot when she wrote the first one of these! She has so many Old Lady Who Swallows a… books out there. This one is really funny with silly illustrations and it keeps kids engaged during read alouds. Your students will laugh and their jaws might just drop in surprise. Check it out here.

Love from the Very Hungry Caterpillar

The next one on my list of great childrens’ books for Valentine’s Day of course features our favorite very hungry caterpillar and incorporates images from other books written and illustrated by Eric Carle. It details what makes someone so special with lovely language. Give it a look here.

The Biggest Valentine Ever

This is the story of two mice who fell in love with the very same Valentine! The saga unfolds on the following pages and it has a very sweet ending. The Biggest Valentine Ever is definitely worth a peek so take a look here.

Here Comes Valentine Cat

I first discovered this series when I found their Here Comes Easter Cat. The Valentine Cat book has a lot of heart and humor and you can see it here.

Keep reading for more of the best childrens’ books for Valentine’s Day!

BEST CHILDREN'S books for Valentine's Day fb

A Crankenstein Valentine

If you have heard of Crankenstein, and enjoyed the first book in the series, you might want to check out this second book in the series. It turns gross reactions and annoyance at Valentine’s Day into a fun story that everyone can enjoy. Check out one of the best books for Valentine’s Day here!

Groggle’s Monster Valentine

Okay, we are getting to the end of the list of the best childrens’ books for Valentine’s Day! Let’s talk about the Groggle’s Monster Valentine. He is one of the most creative and interesting childrens’ books characters I have ever read. Groggle is also very endearing. Take a look here.

Which is your favorite? Did I miss one of your favorite books for Valentine’s Day?

Ready to Use Valentine’s Day Activities for the Classroom

Are you looking for some Valentine’s Day activities to help engage students and keep them learning, even during the hectic days around Valentine’s Day? Check out some things you can grab from my Teachers Pay Teachers shop with a Valentine’s Day theme.;

Valentine’s Day Writing Prompts are a great way to get everyone writing – even the kids who usually say: “But I can’t think of anything to write”. The prompts are fun and cute and include narrative, friendly letter, informational and opinion writing and come with checklists for student accountability.

Valentine’s Day Antonyms is a fun little matching game! Check it out here!

The Valentine’s Day pack of ELA activities includes antonyms, contractions, a subject and predicate activity, a fill in the blank activity (similar to Mad Libs) and a parts of speech resource. Lots of way to learn while having fun!

Feed the Heart activities are a fun way to practice important decoding skills. I actually tape the heart onto a paper bag (with the mouth cut out) and my students read the words and drop the candy into the heart’s big mouth. There is also a CVC word version as well as one for vowel teams.