picture books on love and friendship

Since International Book Giving Day is February 14th, I’m figuring what better way to celebrate than by giving or donating picture books that touch on love and friendship?

 

 A valentine to read all year!

 

(The super fun poster’s by Mariann Maray.)

The folks who put it together recommend three ways to give books:

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Give a child a used or new book (or lend one).

2. Leave a book in a waiting room or lobby (or little free library?).

3. Donate a book or books to children’s hospital, library, shelter, or other organization you know of.

Without further ado, here are eight books that fit the bill.  Some gems about friends and love:

 

 

 

 

 

Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts, illustrated by Noah Z. Jones. 

A story about wanting the cool shoes everybody else has  turns into a story about wanting to give to a friend despite your own lack. I love how this one plays out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lonely Beast by Chris Judge.

Everyone gets lonely without someone including the lonely beast. The ending = sweet city.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because Amelia Smiled by David Ezra Stein. 

A simple story of kindness: Amelia smiled and her smile traveled around the world. Sometimes that’s what happens with a good vibe.

 

 

 

 

 

 Little Treasures by  Jacqueline K. Ogburn, pictures by Chris Raschka. 

This one explores pet names for loved children all over the world. Plus it’s the reason I started calling my cat “little flea” in French.

 

 

 

 

 One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo, pictures by David Small.  

This is such a charmer! And not only is it about a boy and his penguin friend (they both wear tuxedos), but the father/son duo is delightful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrations by E.B. Lewis.  

Friendship despite obstacle, namely a fence separating the white side of town from the black. So good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sea Serpent and Me by Dashka Slater, illustrated by Catia Chien. 

An all-time favorite of mine, the friendship of a girl and a sea serpent who, one day, has to go to its true home. On love and growing up and letting go. If you have a heart, you will cry.

 

 

 

 

 

The Robot and the Bluebird by David Lucas. 

This is the kind of book I fall in love with. A broken heart. Friendship. Healing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks goes to Zoe at Playing By the Book for the heads up about International Book Giving Day!

And since there’s a veritable plethora of books on love and friendship (as there should be) here are some I’ve posted about here in the past:

Flora and the Flamingo

Lost and Found (my very first post!!)

The Giant Hug

Penguin and Pinecone/Squid and Octopus

To books as very special valentines!