20+ Diverse Kids Books About Love

Growing up, the only kids books about love that I saw included white, heterosexual protagonists. I never once read a book with a family of color or biracial couple, like my husband and I are now.

I also grew up with parents who had an arranged marriage, so talking about finding love sometimes felt taboo. While we felt familial and parental love, seeking out other love felt very mysterious to me. Even in terms of friendship, I didn’t see it modeled very much.

It’s important to me that my kids see examples of love that look like them. I want them to see examples of various types of love they can have in their lives, even if they are different from what we have in our home. I want them to know they can show and feel and be worthy of love in many forms.

These diverse kids Valentine books include couples, families, and friends of different races, sexual orientations, gender orientations, abilities, and ways of showing love. I hope they help your kids find joy in love and reassurance that love can be an important part of their lives.

This post on diverse kids books about love contains affiliate links, but all opinions are 100% my own. That means I earn a small commission if you purchase through my link, but doesn’t change your price.

20+ Diverse Kids Books About Love: Picture Books About Love

The Case for Loving: Fight for Interracial Marriage: The Fight for Interracial Marriage

This is one of those books I want to read over and over to my kids, because I want them to know that love is worth seeking after. Love knows no bounds, and is not constrained by cultural norms. I want them to see our family in it and know that while their parents couldn’t get married before a certain time, that love was no less valid. A great one to add to your list of children’s Valentine’s Day books.

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(Here’s another picture book about the same Supreme Court case that I haven’t read yet but looks beautiful, as well!)

Full, Full, Full of Love

This darling book focuses on the love between a little boy and his grandmother, in addition to the rest of his family. One of those really delightful kids books about love and one of my favorite diverse Valentine’s books.

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I Dream of Popo

This new book has been such a special addition to our collection. A young girl and her family emigrate to the United States from Taiwan, and she leaves behind her beloved grandmother. Still, their love stays strong as they figure out ways to stay connected. I love that this kids Valentines book shows virtual connection, so common for so many now.

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Love in the Wild

This is a new one to us this year, and it’s exactly the kind of thing I want my kids to see about love. Love is something that can be shared between all people animals. Animals recognize that love sometimes goes between creatures of the same gender, and still welcome them. Really beautiful for the youngest of readers and one of our favorite kids Valentine books.

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Ritu Weds Chandni

I never saw books with people that looked like me growing up, and certainly never ones that showed any kind of marital love (and certainly not LGBTQ+ love!). This book is radically beautiful and a great addition to a list of Valentine’s Day picture books.

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I Am Love: A Book of Compassion

What does love really mean? This sweet book focuses on self-love and loving with abundance. I love that it has characters of all different colors and backgrounds. Another great one for your collection of children’s Valentine books.

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My Friend Suhana: A Story of Friendship and Cerebral Palsy

Friendship is radical love, and this book demonstrates it beautifully. I love that a mother-daughter duo writes this book, and shows how art is connective and builds love.

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Everyone Says I Love You

Perfect for globetrotting or simply globe-loving kiddos, this delightful pop-up has expressions of love from around the world.

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Love Is Powerful

LeUyen Pham’s illustrations are one of the best parts of this beautiful book about love motivating activism. A mother and daughter participate in the Women’s March in New York City in 2017 and turn their love into action. A great one to add to a set of diverse Valentine’s Day books.

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Besos for Baby

Baby loves getting kisses from everyone in the family, including the animals! This bilingual book is perfect for tiny little loves and perfect for a collection of preschool Valentine books.

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Eyes That Kiss In The Corners

Self-love is one of the most important forms of first love. This stunningly lyrical book is an anthem to uniqueness and appreciation for family history and connection.

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Love Makes A Family

Families come in lots of different and beautiful iterations. Whatever color or makeup, love is the unifying factor. I especially love that this one includes LGBT+ families.

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When Charley Met Emma

Charley isn’t sure how to react when he meets Emma, a girl with limb differences who is in a wheelchair. But they come to understand more about each other and also develop a sweet friendship. Followed up by the book Awesomely Emma (Bookshop), which focuses on Emma loving herself and knowing how great she is.

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Yaffa and Fatima: Shalom, Salaam

Two girls are neighbors and best friends. They’re also different religions – one Jewish, one Muslim. A beautiful folk tale that highlights love in friendship crossing over differences in belief.

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How Far Do You Love Me?

Another great book for kids who love learning about the world, the kids in the book “visit” places around the globe. The author draws on her Puerto Rican heritage and also her personal experience from a game she played with her own daughters. A really sweet one for a list of kids Valentine’s Day books.

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Love Is:

Parents who have cared for little ones, or little ones who have been cared for by parents will love this book of a girl who cares for a little duckling who later returns with her own ducklings.

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One Love

It’s impossible to read this book and not want to dance along to the beat that’s inspired by Bob Marley’s famous song. I love that it’s adapted to book form by one of his children!

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Homemade Love

Any child who has made a mistake and wondered whether their parents will still love them will feel reassured by this sweet and beautiful book.

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Love

Love takes many forms, and it also has ups and downs. It goes through different types of families and communities, and sometimes it grows and fades. This journey of love is a beautiful kids book about love.

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I Love You Too

Based on the lyrics from popular children’s entertainer Ziggy Marley, this book makes clear that love has no bounds and goes between family and friends. Inspired by his 3-year old daughter, the book shows children and families from many cultures. A beautiful kids Valentine book.

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Hair Love

We’re all unique and beautiful, but it can sometimes be hard to remember that. As someone who has fought with her hair over the years, I love the special connection between father and daughter that helps her appreciate her body.

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You Know How To Love

This one is a perfect and encouraging Dr. Seuss alternative, that validates that we all have love within us already! It has such special feelings of love being a unique gift we all possess and can use to uplift others, no matter their background. Another great one to add to a collection of children’s books about love.

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A Book of Love

Sometimes we all need specific ideas for how to show love, and this book is perfect. With simple, kid-friendly gestures of love, it’s a perfect one to remember what love truly is.

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I Am Enough

Doesn’t every child need to hear this? We can all love ourselves, and, in turn, love and act on behalf of others.

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The Name Jar

Love often includes loving yourself and your heritage, including your name. This beautiful story of a girl coming to appreciate her given name and her classmates supporting her is friendship and connection in action.

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