Feel the Love for Good Books

Fuel your children’s passions for reading with summer camp and Valentine’s Day tales — By Conni L. Strittmatter/Baltimore County Public Library Youth & Family Engagement Manager.

 

Board Books

 

“Where Do Diggers Say I Love You?” by Brianna Caplan Sayres, illustrated by Christian Slade

Fans of “Where Do Diggers Sleep At Night?” will enjoy this Valentine’s Day-themed story. Truck lovers can imagine how their favorite vehicles would celebrate Valentine’s Day and tell their loved ones that they care.

 

Where Do Diggers Say I Love You?

 

“One Good Night ‘til Valentine’s Day” by Frank J. Berrios III, illustrated by Nneka Myers

This book details the excitement leading up to Valentine’s Day, “One Good Night ’til Valentine’s Day” shares the joy of celebrating love with your family.

 

One Good Night Til’ Valentine’s Day

 

Picture Books

 

“Laugh-Out-Loud Valentine’s Day Jokes: Lift-the-Flap” by Rob Elliott

Explore this Valentine’s Day edition of the “Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids” series, aimed for younger kids. This joke book for young children features lift-the-flap Valentine’s Day jokes and puns. The jokes are quick and fun for all ages, and they make for a great Valentine’s Day activity.

 

Laugh-Out-Loud Valentine’s Day Jokes

 

“Moon Camp” by Barry Gott

Jake does not want to go to summer camp, even summer camp on the moon! He is sure he is going to have a bad time, and at first he does. Jake gets lost, and he hears scary noises at night. But the arrival of a new friend named Sam might turn Jake’s camp experience around. “Moon Camp” is full of humor and adventure, and it makes a great story for kids who might be nervous about trying a new experience.

 

Moon Camp

 

Elementary Readers

 

“Valentine’s Day Jitters” by Julie Danneburg, illustrated by Julie Love

Discover this story about how showing someone you care about them does not involve a big party or fancy gifts. Mrs. Hartwell is anxious about having the perfect Valentine’s Day party for her students. However, her big plans seem to be going wrong. Her students ensure she knows that they feel loved and appreciated every day.

 

Valentine’s Day Jitters

 

“The Infamous Ratsos Camp Out” by Kara LaReau, illustrated by Matt Myers

Louie and Ralphie Ratso are going camping for the first time with their grandfather as their guide. It’s a lot harder than they imagined! The Big City Scouts Oath says Scouts are always able to solve problems without asking for help … but what happens when everything is to difficult to do on your own?

Middle-grade Readers

 

“Nessie Quest” by Melissa Savage

Ada Ru is forced by her parents to spend her summer break in Scotland. Her father has taken up a summer teaching position there in a small town by Loch Ness. Her mom urges her to make the best of the situation, knowing Ada Ru would much prefer to be in Disney World. While exploring, Ada Ru meets a young Scottish boy named Hamish Bean Timmy who tells her the legend of the Loch Ness Monster and recruits her in his search.

 

Nessie Quest

 

Teen Readers

 

“Love & Gelato,” “Love & Luck” and “Love & Olives” by Jenna Evans Welch

With the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, why not travel along with some great teen romance reads? Jenna Evans Welch’s books give you a dose of fizzy romance along with picturesque European travel vistas. In “Love & Gelato,” Lina travels to Tuscany to make sure her mother’s dying wish to get to know the father she barely recognizes comes true. When she uncovers her mother’s journal and meets dashing Ren, she sets off to understand all the delicious delights Italy has to offer.

Love & Gelato

 

In “Love & Luck,” the Emerald Isle is the setting as Addie is abroad for her aunt’s destination wedding. She finds a guidebook, “Ireland for the Heartbroken,” and takes off with her brother and his charming friend Rowen across country to find more than just the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. She looks to heal her strained relationship with her brother Ian.

 

Love & Luck

 

“Love & Olives” finds Liv getting a mysterious postcard from her to dad to meet him in Santorini, Greece, to uncover the lost secrets of Atlantis. Is Liv in the right place to reconnect with her father and find some romance along the way?

 

Love & Olives

 

Each of the novels can be read as a series, but they also work as a standalone title. Travel from your couch for some romance this Valentine’s Day!

 

“I Love You So Mochi” by Sarah Kuhn

Having had a falling out with her parents, Kimi Nakamura is invited by grandparents she barely knows to Kyoto, Japan, to see the city’s Cherry Blossom Festival. Soon after she arrives, Kimi meets Akira, a cute student who moonlights as a mochi mascot for a local business. This sweet rom-com explores the process of Kimi figuring out who she is, and who she wants to become, in a culture and setting that readers will want to know more about.

 

I Love You So Mochi

About Conni Strittmatter

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *