Dino-Valentine’s Day
By Lisa Wheeler
Picture Book
February snow is on the ground and the dinosaurs in town are all aflutter with Valentine’s Day preparations. At school, the Dinos are crafting paper Valentine holders and cards. Dino Minmi makes special Valentines for not one, but three Dino-crushes! After school, Dinos make Valentine treats and cookies at home. They buy flowers, chocolates, and treats at specialty stores. On Dino-Valentine’s Day, the Dinos can’t wait for the time to arrive to exchange their Valentine cards and gifts. The day concludes with a raucous Valentine’s Dance where Minmi takes the stage to declare her true Valentine. The digital artwork includes intense pinks, reds, and purples that reinforce the customary Valentine holiday color scheme. As usual for the “Dino-Holiday” series, the illustrations are well-composed, which draws the viewer’s eye around the page to see all the dinosaur action that surrounds the bubbly narrative rhyming couplets. Kids will surely relate to the hype and anticipation of a classroom Valentine’s Day party. A roarsome picture book read!
More Valentine’s Day Picture Books
A Unicorn Named Sparkle and the Perfect Valentine
By Amy Young
Picture Book
Sparkle the unicorn, who looks suspiciously like a goat, and Lucy make valentines for each other, but Sparkle begins to doubt his card is good enough to give to Lucy.
The House of Love
By Adriana Trigiani
Picture Book
Mia Valentina Amore loves valentines. After all, her name means My Valentine. When she wakes up on Valentine’s Day, it looks like just another morning in the rickety old Amore house in the Blue Ridge mountains of Appalachia. But over the course of the day, her home is transformed into the House of Love. Mia and her mama festoon the halls, build a gumdrop tree, bake cupcakes, and most importantly, make valentines for all six of her siblings. But when Mia doesn’t receive her own valentine, she wonders if Mama could have forgotten her.
Love, Violet
By Charlotte Sullivan Wild
Picture Book
Shy Violet attempts to show another girl how she feels on Valentine’s Day.
Porcupine Cupid
By Jason June
Picture Book
Porcupine is determined to play Cupid for his forest friends, but his “arrows” only anger them until he finds another way to bring them together.
Mirabel’s Missing Valentines
By Janet Lawler
Picture Book
Shy Mirabel is too scared to give out her homemade valentines to her classmates on Valentine’s Day, but she gets a surprise when the cards fall out of her bag on her way to school.
Love, Mama
By Jeanette Bradley
Picture Book
With a heartwarming story and tender illustrations, Jeanette Bradley’s debut picture book is perfect for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and any day when a child needs a reminder of the strength of a mother’s love.
Valensteins : (A Love Story)
By Ethan Long
Picture Book
On a cold, dark night perfect for scaring, Fran is making a valentine, causing other members of Fright Club to howl and hiss over the idea of being in love.
Click, Clack, Moo : I love you!
By Doreen Cronin
Picture Book
Little Duck is working hard making valentines for everyone and decorating for the Valentine’s Day dance, but what happens when an unexpected guest arrives?
Groundhug Day
By Anne Marie Pace
Picture Book
Moose is planning the biggest Valentine’s Day party ever. But can he convince his friend, Groundhog, to stay around to celebrate without hiding from his shadow?
Here Comes Valentine Cat
By Deborah Underwood
Picture Book
Cat does not want to send a valentine to anyone, until some unexpected gifts from the dog next door make him change his mind
A Crankenstein Valentine
By Samantha Berger
Picture Book
A boy who looks ordinary transforms into grumbling Crankenstein on the most “lovey-dovey, yuckiest day of the year.”
