Children's Book Suggestions | Valentine's Day

A mix of Valentine's Day picture books and gentle, age-appropriate romance stories for older kids & young teens who are experiencing first crushes.

Updated January 25, 2024
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County) Oregon City Public Library
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Bad Kitty gets a bath
Bruel, Nick
Paper Book
Pet owners beware! Bad Kitty really needs a bath, and she is forced to take one in this hysterical new illustrated how-to for young readers. The following are some items you will need for Kitty's bath: one bathtub, plenty of water, dry towels, a suit of armor, a letter to your loved...

Holiday Picture Book (Age 4-8)

The Valentine bears
Bunting, Eve 1928-
Paper Book
Mr. and Mrs. Bear have never celebrated St. Valentine's Day because they hibernate during the winter.

Holiday Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Porcupine Cupid
June, Jason
Paper Book
A porcupine hatches a prickly plan to bring his animal friends together on Valentine's Day in this humorous, heartwarming tale where everyone gets a happily ever after. Love is in the air this Valentine's Day--or it will be if Porcupine has any say. He uses his quills like...

Holiday Picture Book (Age 4-8)

The secret valentine
London, Jonathan
Paper Book
Join Duck, Hippo, and their friends as they uncover their secret valentines! It's Valentine's Day, and something curious is going on. As the birds tweet their love songs, Hippo and his friends Elephant, Pig, and Turtle each receive mysterious, unsigned Valentine's Day cards. Hippo...

Holiday Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Valensteins : (a love story)
Long, Ethan
Paper Book
Something strange is in the air on this dark, cold night. The members of Fright Club are always ready to scare, but tonight Fran K. Stein has something else on his mind. He's busy making something, and the other monsters want to know what it is. Could it be a mask with...

Holiday Picture Book (Age 4-8)

How do dinosaurs say I love you?
Yolen, Jane.
Paper Book
With more than 7 million copies sold, everybody's favorite bestselling dinosaurs are back to say: "I love you," in a VERY big way!Parents and children can never have enough ways to say "I love you"--and now, America's favorite dinosaurs are giving families a funny book, perfect for bedtime,...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Happy Valentine's Day, Charlie Brown!
Testa, Maggie
Paper Book
Join Charlie Brown, Lucy, and the rest of the Peanuts gang as they celebrate Valentine's Day in this Level 2 Ready-to-Read! It's Valentine's Day and Charlie Brown is trying to find the courage to give the Little Red-Haired Girl a valentine! With a little encouragement from Lucy,...

Holiday Easy Reader (Grades K-2)

Mouse and Mole, secret valentine
Yee, Wong Herbert
Paper Book
Mole took a piece of pink paper and folded it in half. He drew a curvy line in pencil. "That looks like my tail," giggled Mouse. "Don't be silly!" chuckled Mole. He cut along the line with scissors. Snip, snip,...

Holiday Easy Reader (Grades K-2)

Oh, Valentine, we've lost our minds!
Gutman, Dan.
Paper Book
With more than 35 million books sold, the My Weird School series really gets kids reading! It's the week of Valentine's Day, and A.J.'s class is getting a foreign exchange student! His name is Pierre, and he's from France. But what happens when Pierre challenges A.J. to a duel (or at least...

Bridging Fiction (Grades 2-4)

Nancy Clancy, secret admirer
O'Connor, Jane
Paper Book
* Continued promotion of series at teacher & librarian conferences and events, including standee and Teaching Guide distribution

Bridging Fiction (Grades 2-4)

Junie B. Jones and the mushy gushy valentime
Park, Barbara
Paper Book
THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES WITH OVER 80 MILLION COPIES SOLD * Junie B. Jones has a secret admirer in the hit chapter book series that keeps kids laughing and "makes reading fun" (Dav Pikey, author of Dog Man). "Junie B. is the darling of the young...

Bridging Fiction (Grades 2-4)

Geronimo's Valentine
Stilton, Geronimo
Paper Book

Bridging Fiction (Grades 2-4)

Just be cool, Jenna Sakai
Florence, Debbi Michiko
Paper Book
Fans of Lisa Greenwald and Wendy Mass are sure to fall head-over-heels for this funny, sweet story of crushes, competition, and the confusing reality of middle school. "Heartbreak is for suckers." -- Jenna Sakai When Jenna gets dumped over winter break, it confirms what she learned...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Puppy love
Soto, Gary
Paper Book
Featured title at school & library conferences and preview events (virtual and in-person)    Featured title on HarperStacks, the school & library digital marketing hub   State and national award mailing 

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Courtesy of Cupid
Jones, Nashae
Paper Book
In this "sweetly romantic coming-of-age story with fun, magical touches" (Kirkus Reviews), a girl uses her newfound ability to make people fall in love to sabotage her rival. Erin Johnson's thirteenth birthday unfolds like any other day, from her mom's quirky and...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Both can be true
Machias, Jules
Paper Book
*An Indie Next List Pick, a Top Ten Rainbow Book for Young Readers, and one of Bank Street Children's Best Books of the Year!* Jules Machias explores identity, gender fluidity, and the power of friendship and acceptance in this dual-narrative story about two kids who join...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Cake pop crush
Nelson, Suzanne
Paper Book
Sometimes friends, school, and boys can be a recipe for disaster! This sweet treat of a read is irresistible.Alicia Ramirez has always loved baking. Her family owns Say It With Flour, the small bakery in town. And Ali's specialties are cake pops: delicious confections on a stick. But Ali's sweet...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

The love report. 1
Béka
Paper Book
BFFs Grace and Lola try to unravel the mystery of romance with a plan to observe, study, and analyze the ways of love at their middle school in the first book in this addictive graphic novel series. BFFs Grace and Lola talk about everything related to romance-and have lots of...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)

Crush
Chmakova, Svetlana 1979-
Paper Book
Jorge seems to have it all together. He's big enough that nobody really messes with him, but he's also a genuinely sweet guy with a solid, reliable group of friends. The only time he ever really feels off his game is when he crosses paths with a certain girl... But when the group dynamic among the...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)

Apple crush
Knisley, Lucy
Paper Book
In the second book of a bestselling graphic novel series that explores family, friendship, and change, a former city kid is finally adjusting to life on a farm with two brand-new stepsisters when she faces an even bigger challenge- middle school. "Readers looking for budding...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)

Drama
Telgemeier, Raina.
Paper Book
From Raina Telgemeier, the #1 New York Times bestselling, multiple Eisner Award-winning author of Smile and Sisters!Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle school's production of Moon over Mississippi, she can't really sing....

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)


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