i love you books for baby (and toddlers!)

I love reading "I Love You" books with Juliet. When she was a baby, these were pretty much the only kind of books we read together.  I dug through our baby book box (filled mostly with board books) the other day and pulled out some of our favorites. I started this blog when Juliet was 2, so I don't have a lot of posts dedicated to baby books, but these are ones that I remember us reading a lot. I think they would be great for Valentines Day.


Counting Kisses by Karen Katz

This was our very favorite book to read together when Juliet was a baby. It begins, "My tired little baby, do you need a kiss?" Then it counts down from "10 little kisses on teeny tiny toes" to "one last kiss on your sleepy, dreamy head." We always kissed her how ever many times it said on each page--she loved it.


I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak, Illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church

This is another one of our favorite baby books. It begins, "I love your top side, I love your bottom side. I love your inside and outside." The last page says, "I love you through and through...yesterday, today, and tomorrow, too."



How Do I Love You? by Marion Dane Bauer, Illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church

I bought this book for Juliet's second Valentines Day. I was drawn to it for two reasons: 1. It's illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church (I like her style!) and 2. It's structure follows one of my favorite love poems, "How Do I Love Thee" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. (This is the sort of thing English teachers get excited about.) You've heard it before--it's alluded to or quoted all the time in TV and movies. I think the first time I ever heard it was while watching the movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit? when Roger is declaring his love to Jessica Rabbit.

The books begins with "How do I love you? Let me count the ways. I love you as the bee loves a fragrant flower. " It goes on to explain various ways a mother or father loves a child and ends with "I love you as the moon loves each shining star. I love all that you will be and everything you are."


Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney, Illustrated by Anita Jeram

This is a classic nursery staple. Most of you probably have a copy of this one, but just in case you don't, it's the story of Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare explaining how much they love each other.

"I love you as high as I can reach," said Little Nutbrown Hare.  "I love you as high as I can reach," said Big Nutbrown Hare. That is very high, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. I wish I had arms like that."


Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boyton

This is one that we sing (and snuggle to), but I don't know what the tune is...we sort of made up our own version of what it should sound like.

"Ooo! Snuggle Puppy of mine! Everything about you is especially fine! I love what you are. I love what you do. Fuzzy little Snuggle Puppy, I love you."


I Love You, Little One by Nancy Tafuri

When Juliet was a toddler, she wouldn't sit still while I read the words to this one, but she would look at the pictures. We would talk and point to the animal mother and baby pairs together. Now, she likes to hear the words.

"Deep in the woods by the sandy riverbank, a little deer asks, "Do you love me, Mama?" And Mama Deer says, "Yes, little one, I love you as the river loves you, full and singing before you, giving you cool water to drink. I love you as the river loves you, forever and ever and always."

What are your favorite "I Love You" books to read with your baby? I'd love to hear your suggestions.

I'm linking up with Kelly's Korner today!