Love comes in many beautiful forms—from the bonds of friendship and family to a love for nature and the important practice of self-care. At its core, love is about connection, kindness, and care. It’s something worth celebrating every single day—not just on Valentine’s Day.
In this blog, we’re sharing 10 must-read children’s books that celebrate all types of love. Plus, if you’re working on your own children’s book, we’ve included some practical tips to help you bring those heartfelt themes to life.
Want to jump right to the tips on how to write children’s books on love? Click here!
10 Children’s Books About Love
- Carry a Bead for Courage by Steven Bay
- Farkel and Sparkle by Debra Quercetti
- New Friends by Glynis Falloon
- Mama, I Will Send You a Purple Flower by Manizeh Mirza-Gruber
- Love From Your Heart by Primrose Mary Lewis
- The Gift by Laura-Lee Blackmore
- Zeus and Ziggy: First Friends by E.C Sherman, PHD
- Grateful Being Me by Deena Kong
- Brave Lolis’s Box of Hope/LA VALIENTE LOLIS Y SU CAJA DE ESPERANZA by Armida Espinoza
- What Hat Today? By Tamee Knox
1. Carry a Bead for Courage by Steven Bay
Alan and his friend Cathy discover that they can bring hope to children with serious illnesses with beads. They partner with the non-profit Beads of Courage® to send a meaningful bead to a child in need, realizing that helping others is the most valuable reward.
The Takeaway: Love is about thinking of others and doing kind things to help them feel better. When you take action to help or care for someone, it can make all the difference in their life.
2. Farkel and Sparkle by Debra Quercetti
Farkel and Sparkle, two adventurous snowflake friends, enjoy carefree days on the mountain until Sparkle suddenly goes missing. Farkel must overcome fears to find Sparkle, and along the way, they discover the power of bravery, hope, and the true meaning of friendship.
The Takeaway: Love means sticking by each other’s side, through all of life’s ups and downs.
3. New Friends by Glynis Falloon
When Katie finds a fuzzy friend under her Grandma's desk, she goes on an adventure to reunite the animal with its family. Along the way, she learns important lessons about compassion and the joy that comes from helping others.
The Takeaway: Love is often shown through acts of kindness and caring for others. Always listen to your heart and do what's right.
4. Mama, I Will Send You a Purple Flower by Manizeh Mirza-Gruber
This is a heartwarming tale about the unbreakable bond between a rescue dog, Cuddles, and her owner. Told from the perspective of Cuddles, this story touches on themes of hope, healing, patience, and the power of love.
The Takeaway: Love can find you in unexpected ways. It heals, strengthens, and connects us. Sometimes when we rescue others, we find ourselves rescued in return.
5. Love From Your Heart by Primrose Mary Lewis
Chantalabella has a big school project due, but she keeps putting it off, thinking she has plenty of time. Will she finish on time? This touching story highlights the importance of self-care, creativity, and friendship while teaching children about taking responsibility and staying true to their commitments.
The Takeaway: When you love from your heart, you learn how to care for yourself and for others to make the world better.
6. The Gift by Laura-Lee Blackmore
Loxley is a little girl in the hospital who finds comfort in a new friend—a stuffed bear named Patch. Her biggest wish is to be the flower girl in her Aunt Sam’s wedding, but there might not even be a wedding. With the love of her family and a little help from Patch, Loxley works to convince Aunt Sam to have the special day they all need.
The Takeaway: Make everyday count with the ones you love, celebrating the moments that bring joy and meaning to life.
7. Zeus and Ziggy: First Friends by E.C Sherman, PHD
Zeus is a new horse at the farm and Ziggy cannot wait to meet him! But before she can ride, she must first learn to build trust with him by learning the importance of listening, understanding, and having patience.
The Takeaway: Connection between humans and animals is built on trust, patience, and unconditional love.
8. Grateful Being Me by Deena Kong
Rosila is the new kid in school, starting a new life in America. It doesn’t take long for Rosila to discover just how different she is from her peers. But even among differences, Rosila soon learns the beauty of embracing who she is and finding pride in her individuality.
The Takeaway: Being yourself is what makes you special. When you stay true to who you are, it helps you to love yourself and make real friends.
9. Brave Lolis’s Box of Hope/LA VALIENTE LOLIS Y SU CAJA DE ESPERANZA by Armida Espinoza
While watching the evening news with her parents, Lolis is heartbroken to see the devastation caused in Puerto Rico by a hurricane. Lolis feels helpless—that is until one small idea inspires her to help make a difference.
The Takeaway: Even small acts of love can make a big difference. Just by showing care to others, you can bring hope and make the world a better place.
10. What Hat Today? By Tamee Knox
Astral’s mom has a chronic illness that affects how she feels each day. On playful days, she wears fun hats with feathers, but on tired days, it’s her blue baseball hat. As Astral’s birthday approaches, she wonders what kind of day it will be. What Hat Today? beautifully touches on the love and special bond between a mother and daughter—on the good and hard days.
The Takeaway: Some days might feel extra tough, but when we go through them with the ones we love, there are always special moments to be found.
Practical Ways to Write Stories on “Love”
If you are thinking about writing a children’s book on love, it’s important to make it feel real and relatable to them. Here are some tips you can use when writing your own love story:
- Build on familiar experiences. Think about the love children feel for pets, friends, or family and use those relatable experiences as your foundation.
- Show it, don’t say it. Show love through actions like helping, sharing, or comforting, rather than just saying it. Instead of saying, “They loved each other,” show it through actions.
- Think like your readers. Consider what love looks like in your audience’s world. Is it spending time with a friend, snuggling under a blanket with their dog, or getting a kind note from a parent?
- Let love drive the story. Show how love motivates characters to do something meaningful, like helping others or solving a conflict.
- Explore the many forms of love. Include themes like self-love, kindness to others, or a connection to nature.
As authors, we have the opportunity to write children’s stories that celebrate all the ways that love shows up in life. As you begin to write your story, think about the love you want to inspire—is it through friendship, family, nature, or learning to embrace who you are? When your story comes from the heart, children will feel it on every page.
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