Whether it’s February or not, it is always a good time to read about love. Here are 12 picture books about love that are perfect for preschoolers! Check your library for these books and ask your librarian for other book recommendations.
12 Picture Books:
1. Love is My Favorite Thing by Emma Chichester Clark–
My family loves this book! The dog in this story reminds us so much of our own. Just like the doggy in this story, ours loves LOVE! Plum the dog loves her family so much, but she also loves playing with pillows until they are destroyed, splashing in the pond, and eating ice cream that doesn’t belong to her. Just like Plum, we all make mistakes sometimes, but the love from our family is unconditional.
2. Love Is by Diane Adams–
This book is short and sweet. Diane Adams uses the story of a little girl who is caring for a duckling as an analogy of the love a parent feels toward their child. The girl raises the duckling until it is big enough to join the other ducks in the big pond. Preschoolers will like the gentle illustrations and touching story.
3. All You Need is Love by John Lennon and Paul McCartney–
The Beatles’ song is now a picture book! Marc Rosenthal adds beautiful pictures to the words of the song, “All you need is love!” Though sparsely worded, preschoolers will see love in action across the pictures as a cute little blue bird leads the reader through the book. Check your library for this one!
4. Love, Z by Jessie Sima–
A young robot discovers a message in a bottle that is signed “Love, Beatrice.” The robot asks the older robots what love is. “Does not compute” they reply as they read the young robot its favorite bedtime story, tuck it in, turn on a nightlight, and give a goodnight kiss. The young robot sets on an adventure to find Beatrice and learn the meaning of love. Along its travels it finds other animals and people who try their best to explain what love means to them, but none of these explanations compute. Finally, the robot meets Beatrice. Beatrice says that love makes her feel safe and cozy and cared for. The young robot realizes that it knows that feeling! Now it has a name for it — love.
5. Guess How Much I love You? by Sam McBratney–
This story is a children’s classic! Little Nutbrown Hare and the Big Nutbrown Hare take turns saying how much they love each other. Preschoolers will enjoy the hares’ analogies of the size of their love–as high as they can jump, to the tips of their toes, and to the moon and back! This is a lovely and reassuring bedtime story to read with your little love.
6. I Love Pete the Kitty by James Dean–
Pete the Kitty is so cute! My preschooler loves this young kitty and your kiddo will love this little guy. In this book, Pete names all of the things he loves. He loves his family, his friends, his guitar, ice cream, and playing. This is a great conversation starter for you and your little one to talk about all things that you love.
7. How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You by Jane Yolen–
Jane Yolen’s rhyming How do Dinosaurs series does a great job of breaking down concepts and demonstrating good behavior for preschoolers. Mark Teague’s illustrations are full of humor and the dinosaurs species are listed inside the book’s cover. In this dinosaur book, the families say I Love You in a variety of ways. Even when young dinos misbehave, their parents reassure them that they will always be loved. You’ll find that you and kiddo will be telling each other how you much you love them after reading this book together.
8. If My Love Were a Fire Truck: a daddy’s love song by Luke Reynolds —
I discovered this sweet story at my library and fell in love. This book is a beautiful representation of a dad’s love for his son. It reminds little one’s that their dads’ love is as powerful as a rocket ship flying into space, as big as a whale swimming in the ocean, and loud as lion’s roar. Kids will enjoy the illustrations filled with fire trucks, rockets, and race cars, and all sorts of animals. The text is short and melodic, making it a great choice for bedtime.
9. I’ll Love You Until the Cows Come Home by Kathryn Cristaldi–
This is a great story about the loving bond a family shares. Kids will enjoy the rhyming text and the silly animal antics. The cows go to the moon, the yaks take a Cadillac, the sheep set sail, and more silliness. The continuous refrain of “I will love you” will gently reassure preschoolers of their family’s love. A great choice for bedtime!
10. Zombie in Love by Kelly DiPucchio —
My son loves this book and its sequel, Zombie in Love 2 + 1. Mortimer, a zombie, is looking for love, but without any luck. DiPucchio’s story and Scott Campbell’s illustrations make this funny book a winner! Preschoolers will giggle at the kid-appropriate zombie grossness, such as of a limb falling off in another of Mortimer’s failed attempts at finding love. The reader will cheer for Mortimer through all of his dating attempts and be delighted when he finally meets the zombie of his dreams.
11. Love Monster by Rachel Bright —
Love Monster is this cute, hairy, kinda googly-eyed monster. He lives in Cutesville which is full of the cutest little animals. Love Monster finds that it is hard to fit in here, so he heads out to find a friend. Preschoolers will giggle as Love Monster searches high, low, and inside. Just when Love Monster thinks that there isn’t anyone out for him, a friend pulls up in the bus headed for Cutesville. It goes to show that friends and love find you unexpectedly. Preschoolers will love this sweet story and adorable illustrations!
12. Olaf loves . . . Everything by Andrea Posner-Sanchez—
Olaf is full of love and we love him back! In this sweet Olaf story, our favorite snowman goes around the kingdom of Arendelle, pointing out everything he loves. He loves flowers, hugs, and his friends most of all.
Check your local library for these picture books about love! If not, I have included links to purchase them on Amazon. To help cover the costs of this site, I joined Amazon’s Affiliate program. If you buy a book through one of my links, then I get a small percentage of the sale (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support! Happy Reading 🙂
