Wondering how to celebrate the upcoming day of hearts and kisses with young children? By reading beautiful, fun, and kid-friendly picture books of course! Here is a list of eight great picture books for Valentine's Day. Enjoy!

Here Comes Valentine Cat

by Deborah Underwood and Claudia Rueda

I am a huge fan of Deb Underwood and her Here Comes...Cat series. In this hilarious Valentine's Day addition, Cat is not feeling exactly lovey-dovey toward his new neighbor, Dog. NO WAY is he going to send friendly Valentine's greetings...until something unexpected changes everything. As always, Claudia Rueda's lovable illustrations perfectly convey the inner workings of our mischievous feline's mind. Don't miss this refreshingly funny, ultimately heartwarming story.

Snowy Valentine

by David Petersen

Snowy Valentine is a sweet, but not syrupy debut picture book by author-illustrator David Peterson. Jasper the bunny searches high and low and even where he really shouldn't, to find that one special gift for his wife. The pencil and ink illustrations are beautiful and adorable.

Love Monster

by Rachel Bright

Everybody loves "cute, fluffy things," which makes it hard to fit in for our hero--a not-so-fluffy monster. So, Love Monster sets out in search of someone to love him just the way he is. Bright's printmaking style illustrations are perfect with this simple but heartfelt story about finding love just when you least expect it.

Mostly Monsterly 

by Tammi Sauer and Scott Magoon

Speaking of adorable monsters, Bernadette the monster is not like everyone else at Monster Academy. Oh, she looks the part: fangs, claws, and all, but what will the other monsters say when they find out she likes to do some not-so-monsterly things? Magoon's brightly colored, whimsical illustrations keep even the most fearsome monsters from seeming too scary for very young audiences.

Splat the Cat: Funny Valentine

 by Rob Scotton

Who doesn't love the Splat series? Rob Scotton's books are funny, well written and adorably illustrated. Funny Valentine is no exception.

Plant a Kiss

by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Peter H. Reynolds

A young girl plants a kiss in the ground... literally. What will it grow into? Reynolds’ always wonderful watercolor illustrations depict a magical interpretation of Rosenthal's metaphorical text. This is a beautiful story about the kind of love that can change anything for the better.

The Runaway Valentine 

by Tina Casey and Theresa Smythe

The comically catastrophic adventure of a cast-off valentine whose quest to find love ultimately brings people together. Smythe's illustrations are hilarious and cleverly done with cut paper and cloth. A fun and visually delightful read.

Lucky Lazlo 

by Steve Light

Mayhem ensues when a sly cat steals Lazlo's perfect red rose, the one he has picked out for his actress sweetheart. Light's pen-and-ink illustrations are as intricate as the story, which includes allusions to Lewis Carroll's classic Alice in Wonderland and an introduction to the behind-the-scenes workings of the theater. Delightful and unique!