Valentine’s Day Books to Support Speech & Language Development
Here are some of our favorite Valentine’s-themed books to read with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, plus ideas for how to use them to encourage communication at home!
The Day It Rained Hearts – Felicia Bond
This beautifully illustrated book is full of heart-shaped visuals that naturally invite conversation.
Speech & language tips:
• Label colors and shapes
• Work on describing words (big, small, shiny)
• Ask open-ended questions: “Which heart do you like?”
If You'll Be My Valentine – Cynthia Rylant
A story about friendship and connection.
Speech & language tips:
• Practice turn-taking during reading
• Model short phrases (“Be my Valentine”)
• Talk about emotions and relationships
Love, Splat – Rob Scotton
This playful story about feelings and friendship is a hit with preschoolers!
Speech & language tips:
• Expand utterances (“Sad cat” → “The cat feels sad”)
• Identify emotions
• Make predictions (“What do you think will happen next?”)
Hug Machine – Scott Campbell
A fun, repetitive book that’s great for early talkers.
Speech & language tips:
• Encourage imitation of sounds and words
• Practice action words (hug, squeeze, jump)
• Use repetition to build confidence
Reading themed books like these helps children:
Build vocabulary
❤️ Learn about emotions and social skills
❤️ Practice listening and attention
❤️ Develop early literacy foundations
Remember - your child doesn’t need to sit still or say every word for reading to “count.” Pointing, turning pages, commenting, or just listening are all meaningful forms of communication.
Hearing language in warm, connected moments is how speech develops.
If you ever have questions about your child’s communication skills, a pediatric speech-language pathologist can help guide you.
