a list of children’s books about love and family | children’s book review
A few years ago, during a scbwi lines & letters conference in colorado, i was incredibly lucky to hear award-winning author matt de la peña do an early reading of his upcoming picture book, love (g.p. putnam’s children’s books for young readers), illustrated by illustrator loren long. In general, it’s usually a wonderful thing to hear an author read their own work, but in this case, it was extraordinarily moving (yes, a kind of teary-eyed poignant that filled the great room with a buzz of energy that, at the time, , could only be described as love).
You are reading: Children’s books about love
I’ve wanted to get my hands on a copy ever since so I could get a closer look at the rich illustrations. and now I have a copy! love makes my heart skip a beat every time I take it, and it inspired me to put together this book list: ten picture books for children about unconditional love.
there is no doubt about it, love is shown to us in many different ways. It doesn’t always look the same for every child, parent, or family. however, when we give love unconditionally and feel loved unconditionally we certainly feel happier. AHA! parenting, an excellent parenting site run by dr. Laura Markham (clinical psychologist, mother, and author) says, “Unconditional love is like a muscle. needs daily training. compassion is the drudgery of life. you know it takes daily practice to build that kind of muscle.”
in one of his articles, he provides ten steps to unconditional love, and I think a comfortable family read with books that focus on love and unconditional love could only help give the “unconditional love muscle” some of daily care. needs to. So, in an effort to fill the hearts of the children and adults in your home, as well as mine, here are ten children’s books that can help instill unconditional love.
10 amazing picture books about love
Love
Lovewritten by matt de la peña
illustrated by loren long
Publisher Synopsis: From Newbery Medal-winning author Matt De La Peña and best-selling illustrator Loren comes a story about the strongest bond there is and the diverse ways and powerful in that it connects us all.
“In the beginning there is light and two wide-eyed figures standing near the foot of your bed and the sound of their voices is love. … A taxi driver softly plays love on his radio while you return with the potholes of the city and everything smells new, and it smells of life.”
In this heartfelt celebration of love, newbery medal-winning author matt de la peña and best-selling illustrator loren describe the many ways we experience this universal bond, which takes us from the day we are born throughout our childhood years and beyond. With lyrical text that’s soothing and uplifting, this heartwarming tale is needed comfort and a new classic that will resonate with readers of all ages.
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from 4 to 8 years old | publisher: g.p. sons of putnam books for young readers | 2018 | isbn-13: 978-1524740917
Dear Girl
Dear Girlwritten by amy krouse rosenthal and paris rosenthal
illustrated by holly hatam
Editor’s Synopsis: From the New York Times bestselling author of I Wish You More, Amy Krouse Rosenthal and her daughter Paris Rosenthal come to the moving and inspiring darling girl,
dear girl is an extraordinary love letter written for the special girl in your life.
See Also: 20 Best Baby Books for Girls 2022: Guide for Newborns, Infants, & Toddlers – Capitalize My Title
through lovely text by amy and paris and amazing illustrations by holly hatam, any girl who reads this book will feel like she’s perfect, whether she enjoys jumping in a muddy puddle, has a face full of freckles, or dances on the tables.
This book encourages girls to always be themselves and love who they are, inside and out.
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from 4 to 8 years old | publisher: harper collins | 2017 | isbn-13: 978-0062422507
Sugar Cookies: Sweet Little Lessons on Love
Sugar Cookies: Sweet Little Lessons on Lovewritten by amy krouse rosenthal
illustrated by jane dyer and brooke dyer
Editor’s Synopsis: From beloved New York Times bestselling author Amy Krouse Rosenthal, this delightful sequel to the best-selling Cookies and Christmas Cookies defines words associated with love. .
From letting your friend eat the last cookie (selfless) to waiting to lick the bowl together (considerate), here’s a book for anyone looking for the right words to say I love you. the meanings are illuminated in this different kind of dictionary, which is as moving as the experience of baking cookies with someone you love.
Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s sweet little lessons, combined with warm and engaging illustrations by mother-daughter duo, Jane Dyer and Brooke Dyer, create a book that will hit the spot. go ahead, have another bite! (and one more)
A beautiful Valentine’s gift, especially with some homemade cookies.
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from 4 to 8 years old | publisher: harper collins | 2009 | isbn-13: 978-0061740725
The Wonderful Things You Will Be
The Wonderful Things You Will Bewritten and illustrated by emily winfield martin
Publisher’s synopsis: The new york times bestseller that celebrates the dreams, acceptance and love parents have for their children. . . now and always! From brave and daring to creative and clever, Emily Winfield Martin’s rhythmic rhyme expresses all the loving things parents think of when they look at their children. With beautiful and sometimes humorous illustrations and a witty cover featuring children in costumes, this is a book that adults will love to read over and over again to children young and old. A great gift for any occasion, but a special highlight for baby showers, birthdays, and graduation. the wonderful things you will be has a loving and truthful message that will last a lifetime.
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from 3 to 7 years old | publisher: random house children’s books | 2015 | isbn-13: 978-0-385-37671-6
Someday
SomedaySee Also: 25 Bullet Journal Reading List Ideas For Book Lovers
written by alison mcghee
illustrated by peter h. reynolds
Editor’s synopsis: A mother’s love leads to a mother’s dream, every mother’s dream, of her child living life to the fullest.
A deceptively simple and powerful ode to the potential of love and the potential of life, someday is the book you’ll want to share with someone else… today. the perfect gift for mother’s day, graduation day or any other day – share a copy with every special person in your life.
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from 3 to 7 years old | publisher: atheneum books for young readers | 2007 | isbn-13: 978-1416928119
An Awesome Book of Love
An Awesome Book of Lovewritten and illustrated by dallas clayton
publisher synopsis: when dallas clayton wrote an amazing book! for her son, everything changed. A self-published sensation, Dallas has visited schools and stores across the United States, personally selling her book to one child at a time. An Incredible Book of Love!, the moving sequel to it, explores the many faces of love. This book is a perfect gift for Valentine’s Day, or really any day you’d like to tell someone special how much you care.
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from 4 to 8 years old | publisher: harper collins | 2012 | isbn-13: 978-0062116666
All the Things I Love About You
All the Things I Love About YouEditor’s Synopsis: There are so many things a mother loves about her young child. but most of all, she just loves him no matter what.
Best-selling author and illustrator Leuyen Pham combines her experience as a mother and her proven storytelling skills in a book filled with humor and a heartfelt love letter. in all the things i love about you, mom lists the reasons she loves her little boy: the way his hair stands up in the morning, the way he says “mama” (even in the middle of the night), and the way you laugh simply written and beautifully illustrated, all the things i love about you speak honestly to the unconditional love between a mother and her child. Children and parents alike will treasure this heartwarming book and, reading it together, will appreciate the small actions that make love grow stronger each day.
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from 4 to 8 years old | publisher: balzer + bray | 2010 | isbn-13: 978-0061990298
Wherever You Are: My Love Will Follow
Wherever You Are: My Love Will Followwritten and illustrated by nancy tillman
publisher synopsis: . . . I wanted you more than you will ever know,
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