One of the nice (and simple) ways to celebrate Valentine's Day with young children is to share a children's book about love and/or Valentine's Day with them. For little ones, I have several Valentine's Day board books to recommend. For children who are a little older, I have a dozen recommendations, including several books for beginning readers, a book of poetry and a number of picture books, including my old favorite, Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch. I have added a new favorite to my list of children's Valentine's Day books. It's Snowy Valentine, pictured to the left. Do you have a favorite children's Valentine's Day book? If so, click on "Comments" below and share your recommendation.

(Cover art courtesy of HarperCollins)

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While English author Philip Pullman is most well-known for his popular and controversial fantasy trilogy, His Dark Materials, he is also the author of a number of other books, including the Sally Lockhart Victorian mysteries that are popular with teens. Read teen librarian Jennifer Kendall's article to learn more about Philip Pullman and his controversial books. Then, read her review of the first book in the Sally Lockhart series, The Ruby in the Smoke. If you and/or your kids have read The Golden Compass or any of the other books in the His Dark Materials trilogy, share your opinions at Readers Respond.

(Cover art courtesy of Random House)

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With the closing of libraries across England, Julia Donaldson, the 2011-2013 Children's Laureate in the UK, and author of such popular children's books as The Gruffalo, has written Library Poem in support of all that libraries have to offer. I love libraries and appreciate the fact that we can all not only find great resources, but save money at the public library. What do you like the most about your local public library? Please click on "Comments" below and post a message about your library.

(Cover art courtesy of Penguin Putnam)

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You'll find numerous books related to February events on my February 2012 Calendar of Chilldren's Books. There are children's books related to National African American History Month (also known as Black History Month), Valentine's Day and Library Lovers' Month. The birthdays of Langston Hughes, Wilhelm Carl Grimm and Jane Yolen are in February. There's Groundhog Day. Check out my February 2012 Calendar of Children's Books for recommended children's books for February. For books about winter weather (We haven't had much, have you?), see Children's Books About Winter and Snow. Do you have other children's books related to February events to recommend? If so, click on "Comments" below and post a message. Thanks.

(Cover art courtesy of Simon & Schuster)

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