My picture book favorites for this Valentine’s Day celebrate the love that is shared between friends, the love of a mother and child, and the invisible bond that connects us to those we love.

“Click, Clack, Moo: I LOVE YOU!” written by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Betsy Lewin (Copyright 2017, Atheneum Books for Young Readers) is a glittering fun read that will have you laughing out loud as Little Duck and the other animals on the farm welcome a surprise visitor to their Valentine’s Day dance.

“The Kissing Hand” written by Audrey Penn and illustrated by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak (Copyright 1993, Scholastic Inc. by arrangement with Child Welfare League of America, Inc.) is a timeless story that brings the bond between mother and child full circle as they carry the warmth and reassurance of each other’s love in the palms of their hands.

“The Invisible String” written by Patrice Karst and illustrated by Geoff Stevenson (Copyright 2000, DeVorss & Company) uses a simple conversation between a mother and her children to explain the unbreakable connection that exists between people who love each other.