From board books with kids and dogs sharing Valentine's wishes to YA novels about Valentine's dances and do-overs, these titles will warm young readers' hearts this holiday season.

Board Books

Hap-Pea Valentine’s Day by Keith Baker. illus. by author. S. & S./Beach Lane. ISBN 9781665940221 
PreS-Gr 3–A Valentine’s Day book that illustrates a variety of “heart” vocabulary words to celebrate the holiday. On February 14, the peas celebrate love with many kinds of hearts, including locket hearts, candy hearts, chocolate hearts, and more. No matter the type of heart, they all express “I love you!” VERDICT A solid vocabulary or holiday book with repeat-read value for bulking up holiday titles.

Share the Love!: A Valentine Lift-the-Flap Book by Frederick Glasser. illus. by Edward Miller. Abrams/Appleseed. ISBN 9781419772948. 
PreS-Gr 1–This lift-the-flap board book follows a group of neighborhood children as they spread Valentine’s Day cheer to mail carriers, librarians, bus drivers, and other community helpers. VERDICT Bound to be a story time hit.

Hearts Are Everywhere. Chronicle. ISBN 9781797210681. 
Toddler-PreS–Get ready to play a game of hide-and-seek in time for Valentine’s Day with this interactive search-and-find board book. Readers are on a hunt to find the hearts hidden in beautifully illustrated Valentine’s Day–inspired scenes. VERDICT Recommended for general purchase for collections aimed at the youngest readers.

[Read: 9 Books to Help Young Readers Feel the Love on Valentine’s Day]

Brown Sugar Baby Sweetest Love by Kevin Lewis. illus. by Jestenia Southerland. Cottage Door. ISBN 9781646386604. 
K-Gr 1–Brown Sugar Baby is back, this time with a lyrical short book about celebrating one’s light during Valentine’s Day. VERDICT Best read aloud to fully relish the rhyming flow, this is a fun, thoughtful addition to libraries with larger collections looking to increase their diverse holdings.

Yappy Valentine’s Day! by Madeleine Marie. WorthyKids. ISBN 9781546005360. 
Toddler-PreS–This sentimental Valentine’s Day board book is told from the point of view of the dog to his beloved “hooman.” Photographs of adorable dogs in various coo-inducing poses—wearing hats, holding roses in their mouths, covered in mud and smiling, and cuddling—are juxtaposed with illustrations of happy kids playing with dogs. VERDICT Recommended as an additional purchase where holiday books are in demand.

The Goodnight Train Valentine by June Sobel. illus. by Laura Huliska-Beith. HarperCollins/Clarion. ISBN 9780063354135. 
PreS–Like the other books in the “Goodnight Train” series, this story features a whimsical train with children nestled in bed-shaped cars while anthropomorphized animals, such as a hedgehog enjoying a bubble bath and blowing kisses, make appearances, too. VERDICT Recommended for libraries seeking to expand their Valentine’s Day collection with a heartwarming and simple title.

Picture Books

Bigfoot’s Big Heart by Sarah Glenn Marsh. illus. by Ishaa Lobo. Viking. ISBN 9780593352243. 
PreS-Gr 2–In this tender tale, Bigfoot hides away because he does not like loud noises or the fearful way people act around him. Many of his mythical friends, including Nessie and Mothman, hide away, too. To show them he cares, Bigfoot makes Valentine’s Day cards. VERDICT A fun story that allows children to consider perspectives in an interesting way.

I Spy Love by Dan Marzollo & Dave Marzollo. photos by Walter Wick. Scholastic/Cartwheel. 2024.
PreS-Gr 3–Gussied up for Valentine’s Day, this I Spy does not disappoint. Stuffed animals, hearts, and a cavalcade of reds and pinks leap from the page. VERDICT An ideal time-filler for young detectives.

 Be My Valenslime by Kris Tarantino. ­illus. by Cori Doerrfeld. WaterBrook. ISBN 9780593579459. 
PreS-Gr 2–Snoodle loves candy hearts, sparkly stickers, and valentines. The other monsters don’t do Valentine’s Day. Snoodle decides to convince her friends—“I’ll prove Valentine’s is the BEST!”—and that’s where the fun begins. VERDICT Highly recommended. An accomplishment, this book manages to be simultaneously important and fun.

Bobby and the Big Valentine by Timmy Woitas. illus. by Addy Rivera Sonda. Penguin Workshop. ISBN 9780593659779. 
PreS-Gr 1–A heartwarming story that celebrates the power of friendship and self-expression. At the heart is the friendship between Bobby and Eddie, and Bobby’s desire to give Eddie the perfect Valentine’s Day card. VERDICT A delightful and meaningful read that celebrates the power of friendship, self-expression, and the magic of childhood. It would be a wonderful addition to any library or classroom, providing a relatable and affirming story for young readers.

Chapter Books

From Megabat with Love by Anna Humphrey. illus. by Kris Easler. Tundra. ISBN 9780735271685. 
Gr 2-4–Daniel, Talia, Birdgirl, and the titular Megabat are back for their sixth outing. Valentine’s Day is on the horizon, and Megabat is eager to deliver the most incredible gift to his beloved Birdgirl. Daniel, meanwhile, is focused on earning his Sharing and Caring Bird Scouts badge. A series of comical miscalculations by Daniel and Megabat lead to humorous outcomes. VERDICT Recommended for purchase where the series is popular.

 Tana Cooks a Valentine Surprise by Stacy Wells. illus. by Maria Gabriela Gama. Capstone/Picture Window. ISBN 9781484695302. 
Gr 2-4–In this new early chapter book series, second grader Tana loves to cook and bake with her family, especially her father, who tells stories about their Choctaw heritage and traditional foods. In this book, Tana struggles to come up with the perfect gift for each of her classmates on Valentine’s Day. VERDICT Purchase where diverse early chapter books are in demand.

YA

Wren Martin Ruins It All by Amanda DeWitt. Peachtree Teen. ISBN 9781682635988. 
Gr 9 Up–High-strung student council president Wren Martin has one goal for his senior year term: to eliminate the school’s wasteful spending on the annual Valentine’s Day Dance. Golden boy and student council vice president Leo Reyes comes up with an inspired solution—getting anonymous social media messaging app Buddy to sponsor the dance. The app’s anonymous matches are slated to be revealed on the eve of the dance, saddling Wren with a year’s worth of collaboration with his long-time nemesis. VERDICT A witty, feel-good romance with the perfect blend of tension, banter, and heart. Highly recommended.

The Do-Over by Lynn Painter. S. & S. ISBN 9781534478862. 
Gr 8 Up–This hilarious and swoon-worthy YA rom-com has main character Emilie reliving the worst Valentine’s Day over and over again. After surviving her teenage nightmare of watching her boyfriend cheat on her, she seeks comfort in a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and her loving grandmother—only to discover when she wakes up that she must do it all over again, and again. VERDICT A must for all secondary library collections.