12 Best Baby and Toddler Books for Valentine’s Day

Weekly Trip to the Library

It is vital that nannies and au pairs read to children of every age to help develop their love of reading.

Since the baby’s brain is equipped to absorb enormous amounts of information from birth to two-years-old it is critical that caregivers read to little ones to encourage their language development.

Here are our favorite books to read to babies and toddlers for Valentine’s Day. You can click on the links to purchase any of the books reviewed below.

1. Valentine’s: Lift-a-Flap Board Book (Babies Love)

With colorful artwork and especially sturdy lift-a-flaps, this board book introduces classic Valentine’s Day traditions like giving cards and candies. Simple sentences reinforce future language structure. Grasping and lifting the flaps helps develop fine motor skills.

2. Guess How Much I Love You

“I love you right up to the moon — and back.” The cherished story of Little and Big Nutbrown Hare as they playfully vie to express their love for each other has been a favorite of children around the globe for nearly twenty years. Now it’s available in a beautifully designed big board book to share over and over again.

3. Where Is Baby’s Valentine? by Karen Katz

All babies and toddlers love Karen Katz Books. In this book the baby made a valentine for Mommy. Where could it be?
Have your nanny kid lift up the flaps to see what is beneath each shiny, glittering delight. Your nanny kids will love finding the very special valentine.

4. Snuggle Puppy! by Barbara Boynton

A great big hug in book form, Snuggle Puppy is a year-round valentine from a caregiver to a child. It is bright, chunky, a pleasure to hold, and has a die-cut cover that reveals a glimpse of the joy inside before it’s even opened. Best of all, it’s packed with great illustrations and a sense of fun.

5. Hug You, Kiss You, Love You by Joyce Wan

With a glittery cover and bold illustrations throughout, Joyce Wan celebrates the small joys and big wonders of parental love with a cast of endearing mommy and baby animals. I hug you, tickle you, sing to you softly, carry you, bathe you, kiss you always. Baby, this sweet board book is the perfect way to say, “I love you” for Valentine’s Day.

6. Happy Love Day, Daniel Tiger! by Becky Friedman

It’s Love Day in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. Daniel and his family find all kinds of ways to say “I love you” and show that they care. Daniel makes paper hearts for everyone he loves and Mom Tiger makes a heart-shaped pizza for everyone to share! This board book features red foil on the cover and flaps on each spread. Kids will love lifting the flaps to see how Daniel and his family and friends show their love.

7. Llama Llama I Love You by Anna Dewndy

With short and simple rhyming text, the Llama Llama board books introduce Llama Llama to babies and toddlers before they’re ready for longer full-length stories. And their small size and durable pages are perfect for little hands. In this story little llama shows his friends and family how much he loves them with heart-shaped cards and lots of hugs. What could be sweeter than Llama Llama on Valentine’s Day?

8. Love from The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Using a range of images from the popular author and illustrator Eric Carle, and featuring the Very Hungry Caterpillar, this special gift book gives all the reasons why someone special makes the world a better and brighter place. Perfect for Valentine’s Day or anytime of the year.

9. My Heart Is Like a Zoo by Michael Hall

A heart can be hopeful, or silly, or happy. A heart can be rugged, or snappy, or lonely. A heart holds every different feeling, and debut author-artist Michael Hall captures each one with a delicate touch.

For each feeling, the bold, graphic artwork creates an animal out of heart shapes, from “eager as a beaver” to “angry as a bear” to “thoughtful as an owl.” An accessible and beautiful debut, My Heart Is Like a Zoo is everything a classic picture book should be: honest, sincere, and speaking directly to even the very youngest child.

10. Ollie’s Valentine by Olivier Dunrea

Ollie is looking for a valentine. Gossie, Gertie, Peedie, and BooBoo all have valentines, but Ollie wonders who will be his. His search leads him to a special valentine of his very own — a surprise for Ollie and readers! With shiny foil hearts on the cover and every spread, Dunrea’s charming artwork shines in this gift-worthy treat of a book.

11. I’ll Love You Always by Mark Sperring

This book will ensure babies and toddlers that a parent’s special love lasts through days, weeks, months, years, and far, far beyond! It is a beautiful rhyming promise of love perfect for Valentine’s Day.

12. My Valentine by Brandy Cooke

This sweet story all about Valentine’s Day features adorable animals. A bunny, a fox, a kitten, and a butterfly celebrate this lovey dovey holiday with flowers, chocolate, and more. This chunky, heart-shaped board book features glossy, red edges.