Love is the very foundation of life. We learn that from the Bible when Jesus talked about the greatest commandment: ‘’You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’’
The second great commandment is also about love: ‘’You must love your neighbor as yourself.’’
As parents, it’s our duty to find a way to teach our children these commandments so their wisdom can form an integral part of their lives right from the start.
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One resource that can help you with this important task, are books. I’m going to discuss 15 books here that will help you teach your children about the importance and far-reaching effects of love.
Here are 12 of the best kids books about love you have to read your kids
1. Seeds and Trees by Brandon Walden
Seeds and Trees is a children’s book about the power of words. In the beautifully illustrated book, children meet a prince who gives seeds (words) to others and also gathers seeds from others.
He gathers dark and green seeds from others and plants and waters them daily, but later find out that the dark trees harm the green ones. A kind friend helps him to find out what he can do about it: he can cut down, uproot, and then replace those dark trees with green seeds to make a beautiful garden.
The book teaches that words have power and you must be careful how you use them.
The book will help you to raise your children to have confidence in themselves, helping them to handle bullying as well.
This book is suitable for children 6 -12 years old.
2. I’ve Loved You Since Forever by Hoda Kotb
I’ve Loved You Since Forever is written by multiple award winner and Today show co-anchor, Hoda Kotb.
I’ve Loved You Since Forever celebrates the timeless love felt between parent and child. The beautifully illustrated book is written in simple prose that will resonate with parents. It’s a lovely gift for a new mother.
The book is suitable for pre-school children and children up to eight years old.
3. The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
The Invisible String is a celebrated book suitable for all ages. It is a book about the intangible yet unbreakable connections between people.
This bestselling picture book has been praised by parents, educators, therapists and social workers as the perfect tool to help children deal with separation anxiety, loss, and grief.
The story is about a mother who tells her children about an invisible string that connects everybody. This invisible string is made of love.
The mother tells her children that everyone is connected to this string although you can’t see it. And it’s unbreakable – what a wonderful truth to share with your children.
The Invisible String has been used by bereavement support groups, hospice centers, foster care and social service agencies, military library services, church groups, and, educators to help children and adults overcome loneliness, separation, or loss. This is the perfect book for the difficult times we live in.
4. Love is: by Diane Adams
Love is: you will find is a rhyming picture book about caring for others.
The story is about a little girl who finds a duckling and takes it home to care for it. The baby duck needs a lot of caring until it’s old enough to take care of itself and the girl takes it back to the pond. She misses the duck and then one day the duck returns with six ducklings.
The book is about loving someone and caring for someone and having that love recognized. It’s a lovely book with funny illustrations that parents and children will enjoy.
The book is suitable for pre-school children to Grade 2.
5. I Am Love: A Book of Compassion by Susan Verde
I am love, is another book in the ‘’I am’’ series. There’s also I am one, I am peace and I am human. The books are based on mindfulness and wellness.
I Am Love reminds us to look inward when we feel afraid, angry, hurt, or sad. The main character shows readers ways to show love, including listening carefully to others.
The book, for preschoolers till grade 2, includes yoga poses and guided meditation.
6. The day it rained hearts by Felicia Bond
One day it rains hearts, and the storybook’s main character, Cornelia Augusta, catches them. She decides to use the hearts to make valentines. Because each heart is different, she is able to make a different card for each of her friends.
The book is suitable for preschool through grade 3.
7. The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin
The Wonderful Things You Will Be is a New York Times bestseller about the dreams, acceptance, and love that parents have for their children.
The book celebrates the wonderful potential each child has. The writer encourages children to be kind, clever, and bold, to take care of the small, and to help things grow. The book is written in rhyme.
One reviewer puts it this way: The book ‘’affirms parental wishes for children while admirably keeping child readers at its heart.”
The book is suitable for pre-school – grade 2.
8. One love by Cedella Marley
One love is a music book for children based on the lyrics of one of Bob Marley’s most enduring songs: One love, one heart, let’s get together and feel all right.
Children will enjoy dancing to the music and experiencing the positive vibe when one character takes action to transform her community.
The book is for preschool kids through kindergarten.
9. An awesome book of love by Dallas Clayton
An awesome book of love describes different kinds of love to children – the way you love your parents, a friend, the way a wife loves her husband, etc. The writer’s words perfectly explain different kinds of love and each page is beautifully illustrated by the author.
Says the writer: My name is Dallas Clayton. I used to be a unicorn, but now I write kids’ books.
The book is for preschool children through grade 3.
10. My mom is magical by Sabrina Moyle, Eunice Moyle, et al.
My mom is magical is a book that uses bright colors and silly drawings to illustrate how wonderful moms are.
The book is suitable for preschool and up.
11. The big bed by Bunmi Laditan
The big bed is a funny story about a little girl who doesn’t want to sleep in her own bed. She suggests that her dad sleeps in a camping cot so she can sleep in her parents’ big bed in his place.
The book is very funny because the little girl negotiates with her dad for his place in the big bed as if she is the boss of a company and making him an offer.
She even does a PowerPoint presentation! The girl speaks like an adult but her point of view is that of a child.
The look of the book is also very different. This is a funny book that both adults and children will enjoy.
The book is suitable for preschool through grade 1.
12. Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina
Mango, Abuela, and Me is about Abuela who has left her country where there are parrots and palm trees to live with Mia and her parents in the city. Mia helps Abuela learn English, and Mia learns some Spanish from Abuela. They struggle to understand each other.
The book is about Abuela’s adjustment to her new home how she and Mia forge a friendship that encompasses their different cultures and shared heritage.
The author, Meg Medina, is a Pura Belpré Award winner
The book will be enjoyed by kindergarten kids through grade 3.
13. Listening with my heart by Gabi Garcia
Listening with my heart is a book that teaches children to be kind to themselves.
Esperanza knows it’s important to be kind to others, but when the school play doesn’t go the way she’d thought it would, will she remember to be kind to herself?
Listening with my heart reminds readers how important your relationship with yourself is. It also talks about friendship, empathy and kindness. The book includes mindfulness and self-love exercises.
The book is suitable for children age 4 -8.
14. I will love you till the cows come home by Kathryn Cristaldi
I will love you till the cows come home is a wonderful book about love that uses the adage ‘’till the cows come home’’ meaning forever.
The book has illustrations of animals in impossible situations, starting with cows in a rocket ship. There are yaks driving a fire truck, deer in a tap-dancing contest, wolves in hot air balloons, and more.
And throughout all that, I will love you – the child learns that she will always be loved.
The book is written in catchy rhyme and is suitable for children from preschool to grade 3.
15. Mama do you love me? by Barbara M Joosse
Mama do you love me? Through this book, children learn that their parents’ love is unconditional and forever. The story happens in the Arctic with beautiful illustrations of arctic scenery and animals like whales, wolves, puffins, and sled dogs that introduces young readers to a distinctively different culture.
There’s a glossary that provides additional information on Arctic life.
The book is suitable for preschool to grade 7.
1. Seeds and Trees: A children’s book about the power of words
2.I’ve Loved You Since Forever
4. Love Is:
5. I Am Love: A Book of Compassion
7. The Wonderful things you will be
8. One Love
11. The big bed
15. Seeds and Trees: A children’s book about the power of words
