Love
This is a very special post because the books listed here are near and dear to my heart!
They illustrate the love between parents and children. They remind us that our children can turn the ordinary moments of our day into the extraordinary. They remind us of the tender moments that we hold in our hearts and reflect the depth of love that we have for our little ones.
I love reading these books with my kids because it helps me show them, in many different ways, how much I love them. These are the books that leave us with that warm and fuzzy feeling, and I hope they will give that feeling to you.
Happy reading!
I hope you love the books I recommend! Please note that the links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Call Your Mother - I’m crushing hard on this sweet book. Every page resonated with me! I can’t count how many times I’ve wondered how my mom raised 4 kids and kept her sanity, while I have 2 littles and am constantly wondering if I’m doing anything right. This gorgeous book is a celebration of motherhood through ups, downs, and every phase of life.
Mommy’s Love & Mommy Loves Me are 2 adorable board books, perfect for our youngest readers. With bright and colorful illustrations, these books are the sweetest way to share poetry about Mommy’s unconditional love.
If There Never Was a You - this book makes me tear up every time I read it! This heartfelt, book draws us into the story of Mommy Bunny and her son, and all of the joy that he brings each day. With lyrical text and lovely illustrations, this title celebrates moments big and small. this story reminds all parents “If there never was a you how boring life would be.”
Just In Case You Want to Fly - a sweet and simple book, full of affirmations that someone you love will always be there for you.
On Your Way- this book is one of my new favorites, as my son and I are in this exact stage right now, with him just recently learning how to walk. This book brings us into the world of a mother and her young son, during the days in which he takes his first steps. John Coy tenderly captures the love between them and reminds us just how magical it is to watch our little ones begin to explore their world.
Welcome To The Party - an absolutely sweet and stunning book! Written by mother, actress, and activist, Gabrielle Union, this book captures the joy and love of welcoming a new baby into the family. The gorgeous illustrations by artist, Ashley Evans, will draw you in and make you want to tickle the cute little toes of this new little princess. I love the way Union includes the message “say hi to your guests, they’re happy to meet you, they’ve waited so long and can’t wait to greet you.” This passage resonated so strongly with me, and does for so many other women, like Union, who have struggled with fertility challenges.
The Wonderful Things You Will Be - This sweet and special book illustrates all of the hopes and dreams that parents have for their children. As our little ones grow, we watch and wonder who they’ll be. Emily Winfield Martin has expertly captured the feeling we have when we look at our children and imagine how bright their futures are. There’s also a Spanish edition.
So Much! and Full, Full,Full of Love are two books by Trish Cooke that I love! Both books beautifully capture the love and sweetness between parents, grandparents, kids, grandkids, aunts, uncles and, cousins. The playful spirit of these books remind me so much of the excitement and energy that fills the house when my whole extended family gets together.
My Nana and Me - is a peek inside of a fun-filled day at Nana’s house. Full of tea parties, stories and all of the magical moments that make up the special bond between grandparents and grandkids. I love the way author, Irene Smalls, and illustrator, Cathy Ann Johnson, bring to life that warm and fuzzy feeling of being wrapped in grandma’s love.
One Family - this creative counting book celebrates families of all shapes and sizes. Take a peek into homes with single and same-sex parents, multigenerational families, single-parent and, adoptive families, and see the universal thread of love that connects them all.
Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s books are some of my favorites. Love and sweet sentiment drip off of every page.
I Wish You More - this book is full of good wishes for the special child in your life. I love the way Rosenthal uses simple comparisons and beautiful pictures to illustrate the depth of love we have for our kids. Some of my favorites are “I wish you more treasures than pockets,” and “I wish you more tippy toes than deep.”
Dear Girl & Dear Boy - two fabulous books, written as a note, to the special children in your life. These books are full of positive affirmations & encouragement. They’ll leave your little one feeling loved, inspired and empowered.
That’s Me Loving You - this book makes me tear up every time I read it. In this book, Rosenthal helps readers feel connected to their parents through the simple moments of daily life. The opening pages read “wherever you are, wherever you go, always remember and always know…that shimmering star, that’s me winking at you…that drifting cloud, that’s me thinking of you.”
I Belong - a gorgeous book, full of affirmations about the special places that we hold in our families and friendships. This book is great for toddlers, twos and young preschoolers, because it helps promote their senses of belonging. Books like these are so important because they help children understand that they are safe and loved.
Alyssa Satin Capucilli, the author behind the iconic Biscuit books, has an adorable series of board books. The Illustrations, by Shahrzad Maydani, are beautiful & sweet. I love that they feature families of color and same-sex parent families. They’re also available in Spanish!
I’ve Loved You Since Forever & On The Night You Were Born are absolutely beautiful books. They’re full of sweet affirmations of how much your new baby is loved! Also available in Spanish!
You Are My Sunshine is a beautifully-illustrated version of this famous song. Your baby will enjoy reading and singing this book.
Besos for Baby - A perfect book for all parents, like me, who could kiss those sweet baby cheeks all day!
Under the Love Umbrella - this sweet rhyming book beautifully captures the love between parents and children. Author, Davina Bell, and illustrator, Allison Colpoys, shine a light on the safety net of love that is always there to catch our children when they stumble.
Who’s Your Real Mom - Elvi has two moms and her friend wants to know which is her “real” mom. Elvi explains that her real mom is a pirate, who can cartwheel up mountains, the one who takes care of her and the one who tucks her in at night. I love the sweet and whimsical way that Elvi describes both of her mothers.
Benny’s True Colors - This book is so sweet and heartwarming, it’s a definite MUST READ! Benny is bat who doesn’t feel like a bat. He stays awake during the day and hates eating bugs. He loves flying with the butterflies, admiring their beautiful colors and patterned wings. With the help of his butterfly friends, and lots of love and support from his mom, he finds a way to make his outer appearance match his inner butterfly. The messages in this book encourage readers to be who they are, not to please others, but just for themselves. They also illustrate how important it is for kids to have our unconditional love and support as they navigate questions about identity and orientation.
To the Moon and Back for You - In this beautiful book author, Emilia Bechrakis Serhant, shares the story of her journey to motherhood. She describes the feelings she experienced through the ups and downs of fertility challenges and IVF. I love the way this book describes the difficulties that many parents face, and celebrates the entrance of miracle babies into the world.
My Heart Fills With Happines - this beautiful book describes the warmth we feel from the simple pleasures of life. The feeling of walking barefoot in the grass, the smell of bread baking in the oven, and looking at the faces of people we love. Written by Monique Gray Smith, an award-winning author, who is Cree and Lakota. Art by Julie Flett, an award-winning illustrator, who is Cree-Métis. The story and illustrations reflect the rich culture of First Nation communities, and is written in both English and Plains Cree. Check out this video of a read-aloud version of this story in Plains Cree! Also available in a French and Spanish editions.
Stay, Little Seed - make sure you have a tissue nearby when you read this one because it will bring a tear to your eye. All the seeds on the tree have flown away, except for one. Little Seed stays with the tree. Each day the tree finds another reason to let the Little Seed stay. This sweet and beautiful book is a heartwarming story about letting our little ones spread their wings!
In My Heart - this is the perfect book for explaining, in the sweetest way, what moms do after dropping their children off at school. I love the way this book illustrates how parents and kids stay connected throughout their day, even when they’re apart, through looking at photos, eating the same foods for lunch, and more. If your little one is starting school again soon, this adorable book is for you!
Kiss by Kiss/Ocêtôwina - this sweet rhyming book will warm your heart! Follow along and count kisses from 1-10 with beautiful photos of diverse families. My son loves it when I give him little kisses as we count the kisses on each page! Written in both Plains Cree and English, this story reflects the traditions of the First Nations Indigenous communities of Canada.
I Love You So Much… - This book begins with “I love you as brilliant as each sparkling star, and as way out as space, I love you that far.” Each page is full of sweet sentiments and expressions of love. I love the way the illustrations feature loving relationships between parents and children, brothers and sisters, and even pets.
If You Were Spaghetti: I Silly Book of Fun I Love Yous - my kids absolutely love this book! Lift the flap on each sweet and colorful page to find pairs of things that go together, including, “if you were spaghetti, I’d be the meatball” and, “if you were a bath, I’d be the bubbles.” Great for children ages 2+
My Mommy Medicine - Is there anything better than having Mom take care of us when we’re sick? Who has the magic touch to get us back to sleep after a nightmare? Mommy of course! When her little girl wakes in the middle of the night feeling sick, mommy is there with soothing hugs, hot cocoa, and cuddles that cure-all. I love this book so much! It brought a tear to my eye, as a mama of 2 little ones.
The Cuddle Book - There could not be a sweeter book about snuggles and cuddles with our little ones! My favorite passage from this adorable board book is: “and what about a rain day, chasing gloomy thoughts away? Yes as we cuddle, as we snuggle, problems pop like soapy bubbles.” If you’re looking for a book for your cuddle bug, this book is for you!
A Book of Love - here’s a book that’s not just for Valentine’s Day, but for every day! With colorful and lively illustrations and rhyming text, this story is a celebration of all of the ways that we can show love to each other.
of Thee I Sing A Letter to My Daughters - In this heartfelt book, President Barack Obama weaves sweet sentiments about his daughters together with stories of inspiring figures throughout history. I love the way Obama compares their bravery, creativity, kindness, and perseverance to that of Jackie Robinson, Georgia O’Keefe, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Helen Keller, and many others. With gorgeous illustrations by Loren Long, you and your little reader can explore the legacies of influential people, including many inspiring women and people of color.
Bunny in the Middle - as a middle sister, I really loved and appreciate this book! Being a middle sibling has many challenges: you never have your own space and all of your clothes are hand-me-downs. BUT, it also means you have someone big to help you, and someone smaller that you can help. This sweet and special book will capture your heart!
The I Love You Book - Have I mentioned that I absolutely adore Todd Parr’s books? With colorful and silly illustrations and simple, heartfelt text, they’re perfect for readers big and small. The I Love You Book has been a favorite in our home library for a few years now. I love the way it helps me remind my little ones that I love them unconditionally, on good days and bad days, when they’re happy and when they cry, when they’re squeaky clean or a little stinky!
I Love You More Than Ice Cream - I am crushing HARD on this book! It’s equal parts fun and sweet. Full of adorable declarations like “I love you more than unicorns, and more than chocolate fountains. I love you more than ice cream skipping over fudge cake mountains.” The silly, quirky text, paired with colorful, glittering illustrations is sure to inspire some creative (and mushy) conversations with your little ones.
This Love - this book is simply adorable and I absolutely love the message.
How Do You Make a Rainbow - How do you make a rainbow? Finding color and joy on a cloudy may seem impossible, but not when you’ve got love, kindness, and hope in your pocket. I love the way this little girl and her grandpa find joy in helping others and show just how far a little bit of kindness can go.
If You Believe in Me - Reading this sweet and heartfelt story for the first time brought a tear to my eye. Legendary author, Rosemary Wells, so beautifully captures the limitless possibilities of all we can accomplish when we have someone who believes in us.
If You Are the Dreamer - this book is so sweet it brought a tear to my eye. It so beautifully captures the unconditional love that we feel for our children and the knowledge that we would go to the ends of the Earth for them. With sentiments like “If you are the squirrel, I am the tree. If you are the traveler, I am the sea. If you are the writer, I am the nook. If you are the reader, I am the book,” this book is sure to capture your heart.
My Love for You - a simply gorgeous book about the limitless love between mother and child. With stunning illustrations of baby animals and their mothers, this story is perfect for sweetly sending your little one off to sleep.
A Mother is a House - coming soon
“Check back again soon for more great books!”
