Celebrating Holidays Through Literature - Valentine's Day 2019 • Capturing Parenthood

“You see, sometimes, when you least expect it…love finds you.”

– Love Monster by Rachel Bright

Valentine’s Day is my second favorite holiday (Christmas is my first) and it’s not because of any glamorous gifts or special dinner dates (though those can be nice too). What I love about Valentine’s Day are all of the beautiful colors and heartfelt crafts…and all of the love and kindness that bursts forth to fill our hearts, homes, and lives during this time of year. I love watching our little nugget create unique valentines to give to each of her classmates, just knowing that in doing so, she will make their hearts incredibly happy. I love enjoying a few sweet Valentine’s Day treats. And I love cozying up with the entire family to read some heartwarming Valentine’s Day stories!

And in case you enjoy cuddling up with a few good books too, we wanted to share some of the Valentine’s Day stories that we’ve been loving this year!

Valentine’s Day Books (2019)

Little Bear’s Valentine by Else Holmelund Minarik
- Little Bear is excited to deliver the valentines that he made for all of the special people in his life. Before he heads out, he checks the mailbox – only to discover a valentine inside that’s just for him. But it’s not signed. Who sent it? Little Bear goes about his valentine deliveries, hoping that he’ll discover his secret admirer in the process. But after handing Emily, Hen, Owl, and Duck their handmade cards, and receiving valentines from them in return, he’s still stumped about the identity of his secret admirer. Who could it possibly be?
Will You Still Love Me? by Carol Roth
- This adorable book teaches kiddos about a parent’s never-ending love. It’s the perfect book for little ones who are getting ready to welcome a new family member – as the often difficult transition leaves them wondering if their parents will still love them just as much. And to squash any speculation right here and now…no, I’m not pregnant. I just love how this book illustrates that a parent’s love has no limits or bounds. Every night as we tuck our little nugget into bed, we tell her how much we love her…and we remind her that we will always love her – no matter what. Even when we are not all physically together, we carry each other in our hearts.
The Valentine Bears by Eve Bunting
- Mr. and Mrs. Bear have never celebrated Valentine’s Day before – they’re always hibernating at that time of year. But Mrs. Bear is determined to celebrate her love for Mr. Bear this year, so she sets her alarm for February 14th. When she wakes, she makes him a special card, digs up a jar of honey that she buried in the fall, and gathers up Mr. Bear’s favorite crispy critters. Then it’s time to wake Mr. Bear, but try as she might, she can’t get him to budge. So, she creeps back outside to fetch some ice cold water – surely it will do the trick. But, when she walks back into the cave, it’s her turn to be surprised. As it turns out, the Bear’s very first Valentine’s Day is a success! And when night falls, they snuggle right back up and sleep until Spring.
My Heart Is Like a Zoo by Michael Hall
- We absolutely love this creative and colorful book that contains twenty different animals – all made using heart shapes. There’s a beaver, a yak, and a hungry heron fishing for a snack. We enjoy flipping through the pages and counting the many hearts that make up each animal. Some hearts are easier to see, while others require a bit more searching. Either way, your kiddos are bound to have fun with this one!
Groundhug Day by Anne Marie Pace
- Moose has two weeks to finish planning his big Valentine’s Day party and he’s excited to invite all of his friends. There’s just one problem. Tomorrow is Groundhog Day, and if Groundhog sees his shadow, he’ll go back into his hole for six more weeks – he would be asleep come February 14th. Moose, and his non-hibernating friends, devise numerous plans to keep Groundhog from seeing his shadow, but before they can decide to put any of them into action…Groundhog has already emerged, glimpsed his shadow, and returned to his warm and cozy abode. Will the group of friends find a way to get Groundhog to the Valentine’s Day party? Or will they have to wait – and celebrate on St. Patrick’s Day?
Hedgehugs by Steve Wilson & Lucy Tapper
- Horace and Hattie are the best of friends. They like to do everything together! That being said, there is one thing they cannot do together – they cannot hug – they are just too spiky. They try to cover their pokey quills on numerous occasions – they roll into snowballs, they squeeze into hollow logs, they even cover their spikes with strawberries. But nothing works…until the day they happen upon a basket of laundry, sitting beneath a clothes line. That’s the day they discover something that magically solves their hugging dilemma. Can you guess what piece of clothing brought them together for their very first warm, soft, and cuddly hedgehug?
Love Monster by Rachel Bright
- And we’ve saved the best (or at least our absolute favorite) for last! Our entire family has fallen in love with this slightly hairy and a-bit-googly-eyed monster. A monster who lives in Cutesville, where an abundance of cute, fluffy things always steal the spotlight. Poor monster. So one day, the monster packs his bags and sets out to look for someone who will love him, just the way he is. He looks high. He looks low. He looks everywhere. When day turns to night, and things start to get a bit scary, the monster reluctantly decides to return home…only to discover that sometimes, love finds you when you least expect it!

Isn’t it nice to read books that leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside? 🙂 These adorable stories have brightened our days and made us feel especially sentimental. And on top of all of that…a few of these books have even inspired some fun, heartfelt Valentine’s Day crafts…that we are excited to share with you this Thursday. So stay tuned!