The Best Valentine’s Day Books for Kids: Sugar-Free Treats for Your Little Ones
Looking for a sugar-free Valentine’s Day treat? We’ve got you covered with our favorite kids’ books that celebrate love in all its forms—from friendship to family. These books are a wonderful, lasting alternative to candy and are the perfect way to celebrate love this season.
Headed home from a trip with some books in my bag for (sugar free! 🙌) Valentine’s Day treats for my boys. There’s still time to scoop these up from your local bookstore or Amazon before Wednesday. These books are the perfect way to celebrate love in all its forms, and they're a wonderful alternative to candy.
Heartfelt Stories About Unconditional Love
LOVE by Loren Long:
A poetic celebration of love in its rawest and most honest forms that never fails to tickle my tear ducts. This children’s book about love is a beautiful reminder that love can be found in the small moments as well as the grand ones.
Me & Mama by Cozbi A. Cabrera:
This delightful Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Honor Book is a not-so-subtle reminder that I’m their Valentine! It's a wonderful, quiet story that beautifully captures the gentle, everyday love between a mother and her child.
A Little Spot of Love by Diane Alber:
As the self-appointed president of Diane’s fan club, I’m grateful as ever for all the ways she’s taught us how to talk about our feelings and all the tools she’s given us for regulating them. This one is complete with activities at the end for growing your “love spot.”
Books That Teach Compassion & Connection
What is Love by Mac Barnett:
If I had a genie in a bottle my first wish would be to write like Mac. My envy and admiration for him are as strong as ever in this book about how we each get to define love for ourselves. Barnett's books are known for being playful, profound, and thought-provoking, and this one is no exception.
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst:
In our family, we have a secret handshake that ends with us all yelling “Team Finck!” and helps with hard goodbyes at school drop-off. We also love a “kissing hand” from time to time, which is a reference to another book that helps with separation anxiety. The Invisible String is another essential tool to add to that arsenal, as it reassures children that they are always connected by an invisible string of love to the people they care about.
The Love Letter by Anika Aldamuy Denise:
The unexpected outcomes in this book show the domino effect of love in our lives (and might convince your kids to help around the house? tbd). This charming book about friendship and a mysterious letter demonstrates how one small act of kindness can start a chain reaction of goodness and love.
Fun & Funny Reads
Plant a Kiss by Amy Krouse Rosenthal:
My son Foster told me about this one he read at school and asked me to get it. I love having something short and sweet on hand for the evenings they ask so politely with their crystal blue puppy dog eyes “can we pleeeeaaase have one more book?” A one-minute read is a win/win for us all 🙌.
Ready to celebrate love with these beautiful stories? Grab your favorite titles from this list and tell us which books your family is loving this Valentine's Day in the Instagram comments!
The perfect gift is a moment shared together. 💖
You've found the perfect sugar-free treats for your Valentine's Day basket. Now, what's next? For more ways to make holidays and everyday moments special, check out our full collection of Celebrations posts.