MBC: Lots to Love
Books that convey experiences of love are some of our favorite books.
It is important to support young children in perceiving that there is so much goodness available in the world. These books highlight that love, that goodness.
Even when the world is certainly complicated, which many of these stories also convey.
We chose these stories because they offer an impression of different aspects and experiences of love.
These stories are relational in nature. They have a great deal to offer young children - and are just some of the wonderful choices that exist.
Read these at Valentine’s Day, and throughout the year.
Find them all here.
The Love of Families:
One Family, by George Shannon and Blanca Gomez
Families Can, by Dan Saks and Brooke Smart
Rainbow Shopping, by Qing Zhuang
Where Three Oceans Meet, by Rajani LaRocca and Archana Sreenivasan
Eleven Words for Love: A Journey Through Arabic Expressions of Love, by Randa Abdel-Fattah and Maxine Beneba Clarke
Nell Plants a Tree, by Anne Wynter and Daniel Minares
The Love of Mothers:
Me & Mama, by Cozbi A. Cabrera
Under the Lilacs, by E.B. Goodale
Saturday, by Oge Mora
Mommy’s Khimar, by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Ebony Glenn
Wait, by Antoinette Portis
Here and Now, by Julia Denis and E.B. Goodale
The Love of Fathers:
Hike, by Pete Oswald
Together, We Ride, by Valerie Bolling and Kaylani Juanita
Dad Bakes, by Katie Yamasaki
Daddy & Me, Side by Side, by Pierce Freelon and Nadia Fisher
Ask Me, by Bernard Waber and Susy Lee
Side by Side, by Chris Raschka
The Love of Grandparents:
Our Favorite Day, by Joowon Oh
Masala Chai, Fast and Slow, by Rajani LaRocca and Neha Rawat
Bird House, by Blanca Gomez
A Song of Frutas, by Margarita Engle and Sara Palacios
Berry Song, by Michaela Goade
A Pinch of Love, by Barry Timms and Tisha Lee
Kiyoshi’s Walk, by Mark Karlins and Nicole Wong
What is Love? by Mac Barnett and Carson Ellis
On the Trapline, by David A. Robertson and Julie Flett
The Ocean Calls, by Tina Cho and Jess X. Snow
Abuela, Mango, and Me, by Meg Medina and Angela Dominguez
Just Like Grandma, by Kim Rogers and Julie Flett
I’ll Go and Come Back, by Ranjani LaRocca and Sara Palacios
I Dream of Popo, by Livia Blackburne and Julia Kuo
The Keeper of Wild Words, by Brooke Smith and Madeline Kloepper
Ten Ways to Hear Snow, by Cathy Camper and Kenard Pak
When Lola Visits, by Michelle Sterling and Aaron Asis
Winter Sleep, by Sean Taylor, Alex Morss, and Cinyee Chiu
Granny and Bean, by Karen Hesse and Charlotte Voake
A Gift from Abuela, by Cecilia Ruiz
A Grand Day, by Jean Reidy and Samantha Cotterill
The Love of Animals:
Love Is, by Diane Adams and Claire Keane
Truman, by Jean Reidy and Lucy Ruth Cummins
Homer, by Elisha Cooper
Lucky Dogs, by Joowon Oh
When You Love a Dog, by M.H. Clark
When You Love a Cat, by M.H. Clark
Forever Home, by Henry Cole
Sanctuary: A Home for Rescued Farm Animals, by Julia Denos
The Watcher: Jane Goodall’s Life with Chimps, by Jeanette Winter
The Love of Friends:
I Don’t Care, by Julie Fogliano, Juana Martinez-Neal, and Molly Idle
A Friend for Henry, by Jenn Bailey and Mika Song
Dancing Hands: A Story of Friendship in Filipino Sign Language, by Joanna Que, Charina Marquez, Fran Alvarez, and Karen Llagas
Birdsong, by Julie Flett
The Love of Community:
Love Grows Everywhere, by Barry Timms and Tisha Lee
This Story is Not About a Kitten, by Randall de Sève and Carson Ellis
My Two Border Towns, by David Bowles and Erika Meza
Everybody in the Red Brick Building, by Anne Wynter and Oge Mora
Daniel’s Good Day, by Micha Archer
Mama’s Home, by Shay Youngblood and Lo Harris
Zonia’s Rain Forest, by Juana Martinez-Neal
In a Garden, by Tim McKenna and Aimée Sicuro
Powwow Day, by Traci Sorell and Madelyn Goodnight
The Last Stop on Market Street, by Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson