For Valentine’s Day: books of love

February 11, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

Hearts and Cupids hanging in all the stores remind you that it’s almost that time of year when you’ll either need to buy flowers and chocolate, or you’ll expect them. Yep, it’s Valentine’s Day and you’re twitterpated.

But who says Valentine’s Day gifts have to be edible or floral? How about some books about love for the one you love?

FOR THE LITTLEST READER

If your love is under 3 feet tall, you’re in luck! There are lots of books with an “I Love You” theme for moms, dads, grandparents, even friends, to give to the smallest readers this V-Day. Look for the classic “Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch and Sheila McGraw, or “Grandma Loves You” by Helen Foster James and Petra Brown, or “Mama, Do You Love Me?” by Barbara M. Joosse and Barbara Lavallee. There are even quite a few “Daddy Loves You” books out there. And if that’s too mushy for your little reader, you can always find “I Love …” books for kids who love dogs, dinosaurs, and all kinds of things.

FOR OLDER VALENTINES

There aren’t a lot of romantic-type books out there for later grade-schoolers (which is maybe a good thing!), but you will find lots of books on Valentine’s Day. Look for V-Day joke books (which will appeal to both boys and girls). You’ll find books that explain why we do the things we do on Valentine’s Day and how the holiday began. Try “It’s Valentine’s Day” by Jack Prelutsky and Marilyn Hafner, which is filled with poems. You might even find a Valentine’s Day version of your child’s favorite series.

If all else fails, throw yourself at the mercy of a librarian or bookseller with this age group. He or she can help.

FOR TEEN VALENTINES

When you’re 12 and up, romance is right up there with air and food as necessities. The good news is young adult sections of bookstores and libraries are brimming with puppy-love (and serious!) romances that are appropriate for the teen girl in your life, and finding the book you want to give is just a matter of picking the book you think she’ll swoon over. Try poetry, maybe the Emily Dickinson kind; teens aren’t too young for that. Try a self-help book on boys. Or try a teen romance novel. But choose carefully — if she’s a vampire-loving kind of girl, an adventure-romance won’t work at all.

For teen boys, you might try “Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Book of Love.” It’s a Valentine’s Day book without looking like a Valentine’s Day book.

FOR GROWN-UPS

Here’s where the fun comes in.

For the grown-up who loves romance, you’ve got lots of choices. You’ll find shelves and shelves of big-boy-meets-big-girl stuff, but — trust me — you’re better off knowing who she reads and what she likes before you choose. If she goes for a touch of reality (rather than pure fantasy-type novels) you might try “What They Did for Love” by the Editors of Reader’s Digest. It’s filled with stories of real people and the things they did for their amours.

The analytical lover will want to read “Love 2.0” by Barbara L. Fredrickson, Ph.D. It’s a book on how to get more love by understanding it better. And “Love Sense” by Dr. Sue Johnson will help along those same, scientific lines. Why do you love and how? It’s in here.

If you’re looking for something … well, a little racier, there are lots of adult romances available. Try one of those steamy fiction books, and read it together. Or try “Partners in Passion: A Guide to Great Sex, Emotional Intimacy and Long-Term Love” by Mark A. Michaels and Patricia Johnson. Or, again, you could throw yourself at the mercy of your local bookseller — and stop blushing!

Finally, if someone you know is out of love, this is a difficult time. So why not give her “Loves Me … Not: How to Survive (and Thrive!) in the Face of Unrequited Love” by Samara O’Shea. It’s a book that will help her cope during this time when everyone else seems to be attached.

Ahhhhh. Don’t you just love books?