Love, friendship, and relationships are at the heart of how young children understand the world and their place in it. Through everyday moments like playing together, sharing feelings, showing kindness, and caring for others, children begin to build relationships that help them feel safe, valued, and connected. These early experiences support empathy, communication, and a strong sense of belonging.

Books are powerful tools for nurturing these connections. Stories help children explore what love, friendship, kindness, and care can look like within families, among friends, in communities, and even in the natural world. When children see characters giving and receiving care, welcoming others, and building friendships, they gain language and confidence to practice these skills in their own lives.

Below, we’ve gathered 10 engaging books for young children that celebrate love and friendship in many forms. Each title includes a talking tip to help caregivers spark meaningful conversations and deepen connections. Together, these stories highlight the many ways love is felt, shown, and shared in everyday life, reminding children that love can be given and received in both big and small ways through words, actions, and shared experiences.

We All Love

Written & Illustrated by Julie Flett

Curl up with baby bears, ducklings, turtles and more as they show the many ways animals care for one another, just like we do!  With gentle text and beautiful illustrations, this story celebrates connection, care, and love across the natural world. Back matter includes a Cree animal glossary and letter from author Julie Flett.

Age level: 0 – 2 years

Talking Tip: Talk with your child about how the animals show care for one another. Ask, “How do we show love and care at home or with our friends?” and “How is the way animals show love the same as, or different from, how people show love?”

How We Love (a We Celebrate Book)

Written by Kati Douglas
Illustrated by Ashley Jefferson

With simple text and real-life photos, How We Love shows that love can look and feel many different ways—comforting, helpful, joyful, or giving space. A beautiful, inclusive book that invites family conversation about what love means in everyday life. You’ll also find family discussion questions appropriate for babies, toddlers and preschool age children inside!

Age level: 0 – 5 years

Talking Tip: Use the photos in the book to talk with your child about the many ways people show love. Ask questions like, “What does love look like to you?” or “How do you feel loved at home?”
Explore the family discussion questions in the back of the book to support deeper, age-appropriate conversations.

Grandma Loves Me 123

Written by Laura Gates Galvin
Illustrated by Gill Guile

A counting book featuring grandma and grandchild as they explore numbers together building early counting and number recognition while celebrating the special bond between grandparent and grandchild.  This book is also available in Spanish: Mi Abuela Me Quiere 123.

Age level: 1 – 4 years

Talking Tip: As you share Grandma Loves Me 123, point to the number symbols and count the objects together. Say the number name, trace the symbol with your finger, and count out loud while touching each object one by one. 

Heartfelt

Written by Elaine Vickers
Illustrated by Samantha Cotterill

A young girl makes and gives away paper hearts, spreading love through small acts of kindness in her community. This heartfelt story invites young readers to notice, share, and celebrate kindness every day.

Age level: 3 – 5 years

Talking Tip: In the book, the young girl describes what love and acts of kindness feel, taste, look, sound, and smell like to her. Invite your child to share how they would describe love and kindness using all five senses. For example, “Love smells like mommy’s perfume!” or “Love sounds like kind words.” 

Bros

Written by Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrated by Reggie Brown

A joyful book that celebrates Black boyhood, friendship, and the everyday moments of growing up. With rhyming text, it follows a group of young Black boys as they spend the day playing ball, crafting, gardening, reading, laughing, and simply being kids—celebrating friendship, confidence, and the freedom of childhood.

Age level: 3 – 5 years

Talking Tip: Talk with your child about their friendships by asking questions such as, “What do you like to do with your friends?” or “How do you feel when you’re with them?”

Ask who their friends are and what makes someone a good friend. These conversations help children reflect on relationships, build communication skills, and feel valued and heard.

When We Are Kind

Written by Monique Gray Smith
Illustrated by Nicole Neidhardt

This story highlights ways to be kind to families, communities, elders, the earth, and ourselves, while emphasizing that kindness is both given and received. It helps young readers build empathy, connection, and an understanding of how caring actions make a difference.

Age level: 3 – 5 years

Talking Tip: As you share When We Are Kind, pause to talk about how kindness looks at home, in your community, and toward the Earth. Ask how it feels when others are kind to us and when we are kind to others, helping children see that kindness is something we both give and receive. 

I Love My Grandpa

Written by Katrina Liu
Illustrated by Rosalia Destarisa

Mina spends a fun-filled day with her grandpa building a dog house together. This story introduces children to basic construction concepts, making it a wonderful early engineering book while beautifully highlighting the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren.

Age level: 3 – 5 years

Talking Tip: Talk about the facial expression on Mina and grandpa’s faces. Ask: “How do you think Mina feels about Grandpa?” or “How do you think Grandpa feels about Mina?” When asking, point out hugs, smiles, or caring actions in the illustrations.

Guide children to see that love can be shown in small, everyday ways, like working together.  Ask “What are some things you do to show someone you love them?” Invite children to share some fun things they recently did with Grandpa or other family members. 

Apapacho Love: A Story About Hugs from the Heart

Written by Cynthia Harmony
Illustrated by Erika Meza

When Mami is on a work trip away from home, Luna misses their daily apapachos, hugs filled with love and comfort. Through sweet moments of care from Abue (grandma), Daddy, friends, teachers, and even her puppy, Luna learns that love can be shared in many ways. This warm, reassuring story celebrates family, connection, and the enduring power of love.

Age level: 3 – 5 years

Talking Tip: Invite your child to talk about who gives them comfort when they miss someone they love and what helps them feel safe and cared for. You might wonder together about who gives them hugs when they need them, how they like to show love or kindness to others, and how love can help people feel happy or safe. You can also ask what they might do to help a friend who is feeling sad or missing someone.

How My Family Says I Love You

Written by Yvonne Sewankambo
Illustrated by Aurore McLeod

This heartwarming picture book shows all the small, everyday ways a big family says “I love you” without using the words. Through hair braiding, shared meals, hugs, stories, and playful moments, each family member shows their care in their own special way. It’s a gentle reminder that love can be expressed in many different actions.

Age level: 3 – 7 years

Talking Tip: Talk about how your family shows love and care without words. Ask, “What are some things we do to show we love each other?” or “How do you show someone you care?” to help children notice and value everyday acts of love. 

Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome

Written by Kat Khang
Illustrated by Charlene Chua

When a new student named Lin joins Amy’s class, she wants to help him feel welcome but isn’t sure how. She asks him questions and invites him to play, but Lin is quiet, shy, and doesn’t speak much. After learning more about Lin’s language, Amy realizes that kindness, curiosity, and small gestures can go a long way in building friendship and helping someone feel included.

Age level: 3 – 8 years

Talking Tip: While sharing Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome, pause at the page where Amy and her classmates say, “Welcome, Lin!” and ask, “How can you show kindness to a new classmate?” Encourage ideas like saying hello, sharing toys, or inviting someone to play.

On the page where Amy makes a banner written in Chinese, ask, “Why do you think Amy did that?” Help children notice that Amy wanted Lin to understand her message and feel welcome. Explain that some classmates may not speak English yet, but we can still be kind and be friends by smiling, waving, sharing toys, or showing them how to play so they feel included.