Our favourite picture books about love

The Hug

There's nothing quite like the bond between a carer and their child, and these picture books beautifully explore that unconditional love.

So whether you're cuddling with your child before bed or just want to relax with an adorable tale, we've chosen some books that are bound to make your storytime even more heartwarming than normal.

  • Ways to Say I Love You

    Author: Madeleine Cook Illustrator: Fiona Lee

    Interest level: 4-5

    ways to say i love you Madeline Cook and Fiona Lee.jpg

  • Ways to Say I Love You

    Author: Madeleine Cook Illustrator: Fiona Lee

    Interest level: 4-5

    Reading age:

    A gorgeous celebration of all the things we do with and for the people we love – from listening, to sharing, to playing together, …

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  • I Love You Like Yellow

    Author: Andrea Beaty Illustrator: Vashti Harrison

    Interest level: 4-5

    Reading age: 2+

    I Love You Like Yellow Cover

  • I Love You Like Yellow

    Author: Andrea Beaty Illustrator: Vashti Harrison

    Interest level: 4-5

    Reading age: 2+

    This beautiful book display all the ways we express of love and is accompanied by glorious illustrations.

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  • Uncle Bobby's Wedding

    Author: Sarah S Brannen & Lucia Soto

    Interest level: 4-7

    The front cover of Uncle Bobby's Wedding

  • Uncle Bobby's Wedding

    Author: Sarah S Brannen & Lucia Soto

    Interest level: 4-7

    Reading age:

    This huggable treat of a book is a gorgeous and heartfelt celebration of weddings, as Chloe learns that just because her Uncle Bob…

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  • Slug in Love

    Author: Rachel Bright Illustrator: Nadia Shireen

    Interest level: 2-5

    The front cover of Slug in Love

  • Slug in Love

    Author: Rachel Bright Illustrator: Nadia Shireen

    Interest level: 2-5

    Reading age:

    Doug is a slug in need of a hug... but no-one wants to give him a cuddle! Will Doug ever find his perfect match? A brilliantly fun…

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  • The Hug

    Author: Eoin McLaughlin Illustrator: Polly Dunbar

    Interest level: 3-5

    The Hug

  • The Hug

    Author: Eoin McLaughlin Illustrator: Polly Dunbar

    Interest level: 3-5

    Reading age:

    Tortoise and Hedgehog are both feeling sad, and they both want a hug - but Tortoise's shell is putting the animals off, and Hedgeh…

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  • Pug Hug

    Author: Zehra Hicks

    Interest level: 2-5

    Book cover of Pug Hug

  • Pug Hug

    Author: Zehra Hicks

    Interest level: 2-5

    Reading age:

    A very cute pug really wants a hug, but no-one wants to hug him! What is a pug in need of a hug to do? This simple but effective s…

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  • I Love You, Stick Insect

    Author: Chris Naylor-Ballesteros

    Interest level: 4-7

    Reading age: 5+

    I Love You Stick Insect

  • I Love You, Stick Insect

    Author: Chris Naylor-Ballesteros

    Interest level: 4-7

    Reading age: 5+

    Stick Insect has fallen in love with another stunning Stick Insect - the only problem is, it's actually a stick. Enjoy hilarious, …

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  • Simon Sock

    Author: Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet Illustrator: Nick East

    Interest level: 4-6

    Reading age: 5+

    Simon Sock

  • Simon Sock

    Author: Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet Illustrator: Nick East

    Interest level: 4-6

    Reading age: 5+

    All the socks in the draw have pairs except for Simon Sock - he's all alone. He's odd. But when there's a voice from under the che…

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  • I Love You Bunny

    Author: Alina Surnaite

    Interest level: 4-7

    Reading age: 5+

    I Love You Bunny

  • I Love You Bunny

    Author: Alina Surnaite

    Interest level: 4-7

    Reading age: 5+

    It's bedtime for Suzy, but she's scared of monsters - and things get even more scary when Bunny disappears during the night! A war…

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  • Guess How Much I Love You

    Author: Sam McBratney Illustrator: Anita Jeram

    Interest level: 0-3

    Reading age: 0-3

    Guess How Much I Love You

  • Guess How Much I Love You

    Author: Sam McBratney Illustrator: Anita Jeram

    Interest level: 0-3

    Reading age: 0-3

    This modern classic is a wonderful story about love between a child and a parent, which is never too early to share with your baby…

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  • The Boy Who Loved Everyone

    Author: Jane Porter Illustrator: Maisie Paradise Shearring

    Interest level: 3-5

    The front cover of The Boy Who Loved Everyone

  • The Boy Who Loved Everyone

    Author: Jane Porter Illustrator: Maisie Paradise Shearring

    Interest level: 3-5

    Reading age:

    Dimitri is new at nursery, and no matter how many people (and trees) he says 'I love you' to, no one says it back. Dimitri starts …

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  • Words and Your Heart

    Author: Kate Jane Neal

    Interest level: 4-7

    Reading age: 5+

    Words and Your Heart

  • Words and Your Heart

    Author: Kate Jane Neal

    Interest level: 4-7

    Reading age: 5+

    A clear and simple book all about the power of words to affect how we feel that is perfect for young children just starting to nav…

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  • A Brave Bear

    Author: Sean Taylor Illustrator: Emily Hughes

    Interest level: 3-5

    A Brave Bear

  • A Brave Bear

    Author: Sean Taylor Illustrator: Emily Hughes

    Interest level: 3-5

    Reading age:

    A book for families, for dads and for illustration fans, this is in the same territory as the phenomenally successful Guess How Mu…

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  • Love is

    Author: Diane Adams Illustrator: Claire Keane

    Interest level: 4-7

    Reading age: 5+

    Love is

  • Love is

    Author: Diane Adams Illustrator: Claire Keane

    Interest level: 4-7

    Reading age: 5+

    A little girl cares for a duckling just as a parent would care for a baby. But also, as the duckling grows, the little girl comes …

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  • I'll Love You Always

    Author: Mark Sperring Illustrator: Alison Brown

    Interest level: 2-5

    I'll Love You Always

  • I'll Love You Always

    Author: Mark Sperring Illustrator: Alison Brown

    Interest level: 2-5

    Reading age:

    This is a perfect bedtime book about the everlasting bond of love between a little mouse and her mummy or daddy.

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  • L is For Love

    Author: Atinuke Illustrator: Angela Brooksbank

    Interest level: 2-3

    L is For Love

  • L is For Love

    Author: Atinuke Illustrator: Angela Brooksbank

    Interest level: 2-3

    Reading age:

    L is for Love and L is for Lemons... A warm and joyful picture book which follows one family as they journey to the bustling …

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  • Love Grows Everywhere

    Author: Barry Timms Illustrator: Tisha Lee

    Interest level: 3-5

    Love Grows Everywhere

  • Love Grows Everywhere

    Author: Barry Timms Illustrator: Tisha Lee

    Interest level: 3-5

    Reading age:

    This charming book celebrates the many ways love grows and how it helps make the world better and brighter.

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  • I Love You, Baby

    Author: Claire Freedman Illustrator: Judi Abbot

    Interest level: 1-5

    I Love You, Baby

  • I Love You, Baby

    Author: Claire Freedman Illustrator: Judi Abbot

    Interest level: 1-5

    Reading age:

    This celebration of the love a parent has for their child is perfect for cuddles, as all sorts of baby animals learn that they wil…

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  • I Love You

    Author: Clemency Pearce Illustrator: Rosalind Beardshaw

    Interest level: 1-4

    I Love You

  • I Love You

    Author: Clemency Pearce Illustrator: Rosalind Beardshaw

    Interest level: 1-4

    Reading age:

    This beautifully illustrated book about forest animals shares a very important lesson: that those three little words can make a hu…

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  • Love...

    Author: Emma Dodd

    Interest level: 2-5

    Love...

  • Love...

    Author: Emma Dodd

    Interest level: 2-5

    Reading age:

    Perfect for sharing at bedtime, this beautifully illustrated story about love follows a baby bunny and parent rabbit as they spend…

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  • Love You Hoo

    Author: Rachel Bright

    Interest level: 2-5

    Love You Hoo

  • Love You Hoo

    Author: Rachel Bright

    Interest level: 2-5

    Reading age:

    Big Owl snuggles up for a bedtime cuddle with Little Hoo in this heartwarming story about the unconditional love and support betwe…

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  • Zeki Loves Daddy

    Author: Anna McQuinn Illustrator: Ruth Hearson

    Zeki Loves Daddy

  • Zeki Loves Daddy

    Author: Anna McQuinn Illustrator: Ruth Hearson

    Interest level:

    Reading age:

    An ideal gentle step-up from a board book, this sweet story about daily life with Daddy and Zeki is filled with love, play and snu…

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  • Zeki Loves Mummy

    Author: Anna McQuinn Illustrator: Ruth Hearson

    Interest level: 2-3

    Zeki Loves Mummy

  • Zeki Loves Mummy

    Author: Anna McQuinn Illustrator: Ruth Hearson

    Interest level: 2-3

    Reading age:

    Somewhere between a board book and a picture book, this is ideal for two to three year olds who will enjoy the rhyming text and sw…

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