Teaching kids about love and kindness can be explored through story characters in thought and heart provoking simple picture books.

by Lorrie Holmes

HERE ARE 6 PICKS OF KIDS BOOKS ABOUT LOVE AND KINDNESS!

1. LOVE IS

Written by Diane Adams and Illustrated by Claire Deane, this is the perfect Valentine’s Day book, written by a teacher to tell a tale about a little girl and a duckling who share with us what love is all about by their actions of taking care of each other. It’s a story of unconditional love as a little girl raises a duckling and through their love connection, they forever stay connected. The sweet rhyming quality of this book is very charming and will be favoured by preschoolers.

2. LOVE

Written & Illustrated by Robert Sabuda, Love is a beautifully crafted pop-up book offers bright colorus and phrases full of gentle gestures that explore the theme of love using the power of simplicity for young minds and hearts. With its stunning illustrations and intricate pop-up paper designs, each page beautifully illustrates expressions of love — starting with the bonds created between family and friends, then extending to the world around us. This is definitely a feel-good book for young children.

3. I AM LOVE: A BOOK OF COMPASSION

Written by Susan Verde and Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, I Am Love: A Book of Compassion is a gentle, uplifting story that teaches young readers about the power of love with a focus on the important role that kindness and empathy play in it. Through simple, figurative language, this book explores how we can show love to ourselves and others through practicing understanding during challenging times. The illustrations in this book are so soft and beautiful which perfectly capture the messages of peace and love in this book. Young children will be captured the cheerfulness in the bright colours and heartwarming scenes illustrated on these pages. This is the perfect title to help young children learn how to start practicing compassion which is a very big concept that is beautifully simplified in this book.

4. THE I LOVE YOU BOOK

Written & Illustrated by Todd Parr, this sweet little board book shares thoughts and feelings of cheerful sentiment that help young children understand the many ways that we can show our love. From hugging to caring for someone else to simply sharing our time with each other – the simple and repetitive text and bright cheerful illustrations reinforce these simple lovable messages about what love means and leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy as we explore all the examples of how love is all around us.

5. THE LOVE LETTER

Written by Anika Aldamuy Denise & Illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins, The Love Letter offers a sweet and heartwarming story that celebrates friendship and kindness – both perfect for Valentine’s Day! The story tells the story of a little mouse who yearns to learn how to send a special love letter to a friend. The rhyming text and adorable illustrations captures the gentle tone of this book and the magic that takes place in giving and receiving love. Through the story characters, so many beautiful samples of how to speak kindly are depicted in both words and soft illustrations throughout this adorable and sweet picture book.

6. LOVE YOU FOREVER

Written by Robert Munsch & Illustrated by Sheila McGraw, this timeless classic offers so many pictures and words full of love between mother & son. The story is told in verse and is so poignant and nostalgic that it cannot help but pull an all of our heartstrings. A must-read in any classroom or home this and every Valentine’s Day!

We hope you enjoy these titles and the video read alongs that are also fun to share while you flip the pages to these books. If you have a favourite children’s book about love that you would like us to add to this list, please message us at lyricalwriters@gmail.com and we would be happy to review your choice.

If you have a book you would like reviewed by us, check out our Book Review Guidelines here!

Another tool to really enforce this social emotional learning in our littles is by curating a very strong playlist of songs that love and kindness which we have here for you!