As we are in the month of romance – whether you have a valentine or a palentine – this is the time of year when we all start thinking about love. With that in mind, I have for you 5 brilliant books which have a key theme of love – be that platonic, romantic or familial – that will have your class or children excited to read them.
In My Heart – Jo Witek (Illustrated by Christine Roussey)
Theme: Feelings / Self Love
Perfect for: EYFS +
Within the pages of this book you discover the range of feelings your heart can hold. From sadness to hope, you’re taken of a journey of acceptance. The cut out pages add interest, and the bright pops of colour are engaging, allowing children to explore how we might connect emotion to colour and the world around us.
Nen and the Lonely Fisherman – Ian Eagleton (Illustrated by James Mayhew)
Theme: Love / Fairy Tale / LGBTQ+
Perfect for: KS1 +
A reimagined fairy tale, Nen and the Lonely Fisherman is a story of finding love in unexpected places. Based – as I’m sure you can guess! – on The Little Mermaid, this book will have you feeling warm inside. A lonely fisherman wants to find some warmth in his heart and Nen sings a song of hope across the sea. When they find each other, not everyone is happy about it. We see them overcome obstacles and find not only each other, but themselves.
Chime Seekers – Ross Montgomery
Theme: Familial Love / Adventure
Perfect for: Year 4 +
Yanni is not happy he has a baby sister; everything has changed, including how his parents treat him and the time they have to spend with him like they used to. But when an evil faerie steals her away and swaps her for a changeling, Yanni begins to understand exactly what it means to love. A book that will connect with many readers with siblings, it is an adventure that will have you gripped by the twists and turns of the pages.
Murderer’s Ape – Jakob Wegelius
Theme: Friendship / Adventure
Perfect for: Year 6 +
In this tale of friendship which weathers a number of storms, we see Sally Jones travel the world to help her friend, the ship engineer. The difference to this story is…Sally Jones is an extraordinary gorilla! When the engineer is charged with murder, Sally goes on an adventure to clear his name and uncover a conspiracy along the way. With a powerful message of love and hope, this is a magical book that both children and adults alike will enjoy.
Pumpkin Heads – Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks
Theme: Love / Friendship / LGBTQ+
Perfect for: KS3
This graphic novel is a brilliant demonstration of love and friendship, allowing a range of children and young adults alike to access a story full of heart. Desi and Josiah are seasonal friends who, each year, work at the pumpkin patch. This year, however, will be their last one working together so they spend the evening seeing all the sights their place of work has to offer. But will it just be the stalls they discover, or something else along the way, too?