I know, I know...upper elementary starts getting all weird about Valentine’s Day. But I still LOVE using these books to emphasize all forms of love. It turns out, big kids still enjoy these!
In this post, I’ve gathered a selection of my favorite Valentine’s Day books that not only bring the holiday spirit to life but also offer opportunities for reinforcing reading and writing concepts. I’ll also share tips for using these texts to enhance your lessons and engage students with ELA standards.
Literary Elements: Setting, Theme
Themes to Explore: Kindness, Love, Creativity
In this sweet story, a young girl named Cornelia Augusta catches hearts that rain from the sky. Teachers can discuss the setting and how it adds to the magic of the story, as well as the themes of kindness and creativity when making connections with others.
Guess How Much I Love You By: Sam McBratney
Literary Skills: Dialogue, Tone
Themes to explore: Love, Family
Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare express their love for each other in increasingly grand ways. Students can analyze dialogue and explore tone, helping them understand the depth of family love and relationships. This text also lends itself well to discussions about comparisons and expressing emotions.
Literary Elements: Rhyme, Repetition
Themes to Explore: Humor, Patterns
This twist on the classic "Old Lady" series follows the old lady as she swallows a rose for Valentine's Day. Teachers can highlight the use of rhyme and repetition in storytelling, encouraging students to notice patterns.
Literary Elements: Characterization, Humor
Themes to Explore: Emotions, Friendship, Self-regulation
In this playful story, Grumpy Monkey struggles with feeling "grumpy" when he’s expected to feel the love and excitement of Valentine’s Day. You can explore how emotions can affect behavior and discuss how we manage our feelings and relationships with others.
Literary Elements: Characterization, Historical Fiction
Themes to Explore: Kindness, Sacrifice, History
This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of Saint Valentine, focusing on his acts of kindness and compassion toward others. Use this text to explore characterization and discuss how Saint Valentine’s selflessness shaped his legacy. You can also discuss the historical context of the real Saint Valentine.
Literary Elements: Imagery, Theme
Themes to Explore: Love, Assurance, Family
In this book, love transcends distance with a parent’s promise to always be there for their child. You can use this text to focus on imagery and how repetition strengthens the message. Themes of unconditional love and family bonds are central to discussions.
Literary Elements: Plot Development, Character Motivation
Themes to Explore: Friendship, Acceptance
Frankenstein’s monster struggles to make a Valentine for his friends, but in the end, his heartfelt gesture is what matters most. This story provides allows students to analyze plot development, character motivations, and themes of friendship and acceptance.
Themes to Explore: Generosity, Tradition
Literary Elements: Symbolism, Expression
Themes to Explore: Love, Creative Expression
This beautifully illustrated book expresses the many ways we show love. You can explore how symbolism is used to represent love, and encourage students to reflect on how they express love in their own lives. It’s also a great way to practice creative writing and art projects.
Literary Elements: Rhyme, Humor
Themes to Explore: Friendship, Apology, Humor
Gilbert the Opossum navigates the ups and downs of Valentine’s Day by making a funny poem for his friends. Unfortunately, things don’t quite go as planned. This story can help students practice rhyme and rhythm in poetry, while also discussing the importance of friendship, apologies, and humor in relationships.
Have I missed any of your favorites? I’d love for you to share them with me over on my instagram @fifthintheforest!
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