Reading opens your imagination and introduces people to new worlds. With so many choices available, how do you know which book to choose for your child? To find out, we bypassed the publishing, the PR firms, and the mainstream media and went straight to the experts: Your Harris County Librarians!
Toddler (Ages 1-3)
1, 2, I Love You by Alice Schertle
A counting rhyme that captures the playfulness and tender affection between parent and child, this is a joyful romp sure to be read again and again, memorized, and cherished.
A Kiss Means I Love You by Kathryn Madeline Allen
A kiss means I love you, a wave means hello, a smile means I’m happy, a tug means let’s go! Featuring engaging photographs of young children and sweet rhyming text, this fun read-aloud teaches little ones about nonverbal communication.
Plant a Kiss by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
One small act of love blooms into something bigger and more dazzling than Little Miss could have ever imagined in this epic journey about life, kindness, and giving.
Picture Books (PreK-K)
Meet Me at the Moon by Gianna Marino
During a dry time, Mama leaves Little One alone while she climbs the highest mountain to ask the skies for rain, but she promises that her love will remain all around.
Snowy Valentine by David Petersen
Jasper Bunny spends a snowy Valentine’s Day visiting his forest friends in hopes of finding the perfect gift for his beloved Lilly.
Mr. Prickles: A Quill-Fated Love Story by Kara LaReau
Excluded by the other forest animals for not being cute, cuddly, and playful, a porcupine feels lonely and angry until he finds a prickly companion, Miss Pointypants.
Early Readers (Grades 1-3)
Andy Shane is Not in Love by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
When Andy Shane befriends the new girl in town, everyone thinks he must be in love with her, but the reason he is spending so much time with her is because her dog just had puppies.
I Spy: I Love You by Jean Marzollo
Simple riddles are paired with ten Valentine’s Day-themed photographs, and encourage the reader to locate candy, hearts, and more within the crowded images.
Pig in Love by Vivian French
Peter Pig and Polly Pig are in love. But Polly’s father won’t let her get married until pigs can fly. Will Peter and Polly find a way to make this happen?
Children’s Fiction (Grades 4-6)
Crush: The Theory, Practice, and Destructive Properties of Love by Gary Paulsen
Afraid to actually ask Tina Zabinski for a date, eighth-grader Kevin spends most of his time theorizing about love and romance and observing and analyzing male/female interaction.
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
In this story about the perils of popularity, the courage of nonconformity, and the thrill of first love, an eccentric student named Stargirl changes Mica High School forever.
Nice Shot, Cupid! By Kate McMullan
In this updated version of Greek mythology, Hades, King of the Underworld, tells how a gawky teen Cupid fell in love with the mortal Psyche and what really happened when he kidnapped her.
Teen Fiction (Ages 12 & up)
Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill
During an educational trip to London away from her friends and the boy she thinks she is fated to love, Massachussets high school junior Julia Lichtenstein is paired with her nemesis, Jason, and begins seeing many things differently.
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
Hadley and Oliver fall in love on the flight from New York to London, but after a cinematic kiss they lose track of each other at the airport until fate brings them back together on a very momentous day.
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Having been recently dumped for the nineteenth time by a girl named Katherine, recent high school graduate and former child prodigy Colin sets off on a road trip with his best friend to try to find some new direction in life while also trying to create a mathematical formula to explain his relationships.
