Valentine’s Day is a sweet excuse to snuggle up and read about love. These board books and picture books say “I love you” in gentle, playful ways that little ones can enjoy again and again.
1. You Are Loved: A Capybara’s Welcome
written and illustrated by Helen H. Wu; CapyFun, 2026
A capybara parent tells a little one how much they are loved, through every season. A gentle board book for bedtime cuddles and Valentine’s Day.
2. Cozy Capy Love Coloring: Adorable Capybara Coloring Pages for Relaxation, Self-Care, and Love
illustrated by Helen H. Wu; Walter Foster Publishing (Quarto), 2026
For the grown-ups: a cozy capybara coloring book all about love, friendship and self-care. A calm Valentine’s treat for parents, teachers and capybara fans.
3. Love
by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Loren Long; G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2018
In tender, poetic lines, this book shows love in many forms across many different families and places, in happy times and hard ones. Loren Long’s beautiful paintings make it a reassuring read-aloud about how love is always around us.
4. Llama Llama I Love You
by Anna Dewdney; Viking Books for Young Readers, 2014
Llama Llama shares hugs and kisses with Mama and all his friends in this short, rhyming board book. Sturdy pages and a familiar character make it an easy Valentine’s gift for babies and toddlers.
5. Little Blue Truck’s Valentine
by Alice Schertle, illustrated by John Joseph; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020
Little Blue Truck delivers valentines to all his farm friends and wonders whether anyone will remember him. Lift-the-flap cards and a happy ending make this a favorite with toddlers who already love the series.
6. I Love You Like No Otter
by Rose Rossner, illustrated by Sydney Hanson; Sourcebooks Wonderland, 2020
Adorable animal pairs trade punny declarations of love, from otters to pandas. It’s sweet, giggle-worthy and quick, which makes it a natural little-one Valentine.
7. Mama, Do You Love Me?
by Barbara M. Joosse, illustrated by Barbara Lavallee; Chronicle Books, 1991
An Inuit girl tests her mother’s love with "what if" questions about getting into more and more mischief. Each time, Mama answers with steady, unconditional love, set against rich Arctic scenery.
8. Sweetest Kulu
by Celina Kalluk, illustrated by Alexandria Neonakis; Inhabit Media, 2014
In this gentle bedtime poem, an Inuk mother tells her newborn about the gifts of love and kindness that Arctic animals bring. Kulu is an Inuktitut term of endearment for babies, and the whole book feels like a lullaby.
9. I Love You, Stinky Face
by Lisa McCourt, illustrated by Cyd Moore; Scholastic, 1997
At bedtime, a child asks a string of silly what-ifs: would Mama still love me if I were a smelly skunk, a swamp monster or an alien? Mama’s patient, funny answers make it a cozy way to say I’ll love you no matter what.
Want more cuddly reads? See my list of bedtime and I-love-you books for babies and toddlers.
More picture book lists
- Best Books for Baby Shower Gifts
- 10 Multicultural Children’s Picture Books for Mother’s Day
- Picture Books for Father’s Day
- Capybara Books for Kids: Stories and Fun Facts
Browse all of Helen’s picture book lists, or see all of Helen’s books.
