Hellobee

My kids were 4 and 5 when we moved to the Philippines, and they’ve forgotten most of their lives in New York. Something they still remember clearly is when I made all their breakfast foods green for St. Patrick’s Day one year – green milk, green pancakes, and green fruit. My kids have traveled a lot in their little lives and without fail the things they remember most are little traditions like these. That’s why I’ve always had an affinity for the holidays because they’re traditions we can celebrate each year. Valentine’s Day is coming up soon, and I plan on doing the heart attack love notes that I’ve been meaning to do forever but haven’t gotten around to yet. I don’t want them to forget about the American traditions they used to love so much so we’ll be reading some Valentines books too. Here is a roundup of some of my recent favorites!

Remember if you want to see a book before buying it, Youtube has read alouds of most popular books so you can see each page!

Scribble Stones (available on Kindle Unlimited and youtube) – This isn’t specifically a Valentine’s Day book, but it is about inclusivity, which I think is a good message for Valentine’s Day. We’ve given painted rocks as gifts to friends, and they’re always a huge hit. I think they would be a great idea for a DIY Valentine!

Roses are Red, Your Feet Really Stink (youtube) – Gilbert writes two mean Valentines Day cards to kids who had been mean to him, and signs someone else’s name on them. This hilarious book is right up my kids’ alley with a great message about being a kind friend.

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch (youtube) – This is a simple but very powerful story about how a small act of kindness can have a huge impact on someone. A perfect message for Valentine’s Day and every day because the world needs more kindness!

The Invisible String (youtube) – This is a really lovely book, especially for younger kids, that explains how an invisible string connects you to all the ones you love no matter where you are. A great message for kids experiencing separation anxiety and loss. We are not a religious family and there is a reference to heaven, but that doesn’t bother me.

Love Is (youtube) – My daughter loves the Love Is… cartoons that used to be published in the newspaper, and this beautifully illustrated book follows a similar format. A little girl takes care of a little duckling as it grows up, and their journey is congruous to our own motherhood journeys. :tear:

A Little Spot of Love (youtube, Kindle Unlimited) – This book explains how to express love in different ways to grow our own love spots and the love spots of others through words, actions, affection quality time, gifts (the 5 love languages!). It serves as a great springboard for conversations on love!

The Valentine Bears (youtube) – Written by children’s book author powerhouse Eve Bunting and one of my favorite illustrator’s Jan Brett, this book shares a sweet tale about love and marriage.

The Very Fairy Princess: Valentines From the Heart (youtube) – The Very Fairy Princess series is written by Julie Andrews (yes that one!) and her daughter. Geraldine makes personalized valentines for everyone in her class, but accidentally brings the wrong folder to school. She decides to tell each student what she loves about them instead. If your child is a fan of Fancy Nancy, this book will probably be right up their alley!