Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew: Valentine Day Secret
Nancy's best friend, Bess, received a not-so-loving Valentine's Day card that has her completely rattled. Follow Nancy and her crew as they piece together clues to identify the sender. A fun, action-packed Valentine's Day book for tweens full of drama and mystery.
Best Tween Books for Valentine's Day
Your tween may not be quite ready for real romance. But secret crushes, well, that's another story. Sometimes it's just admiring a cute kid from across a room. Maybe it's experiencing butterflies when seeing that special someone. Perhaps it's just a few words that are exchanged and replayed in a young tween's head over and over again.
Valentine's Day is an opportunity, and invitation, really, for these kids to reveal their true feelings- if they can muster the courage! These tween books about Valentine's Day may just help nudge them along. For younger readers, here are the best children's Valentine's Day books about this heartfelt holiday.
Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentime
Junie B. Jones is determined to figure out the identity of her secret admirer. She received a gigantic Valentine's Day card but no one signed it! Whoever sent this to her must really have a crush because it is the mushiest, gushiest card she has ever received. A beginning chapter book for the 8+ group who will enjoy Junie B's antics and big personality.
Candy Fairies: A Valentine Surprise
For young tween readers still enamored with fairies and unicorns, Candy Fairies will be a sure hit. This Valentine's Day special edition is an easy reader book has short chapters and whimsical illustrations to complement the story. Pair this sweet chapter book with a Valentine's Day treat (like a lollipop!) to give to your tween this February 14th.
The Candy Smash
The Lemonade War is a best-selling series amongst tween readers. A group of fourth grade classmates navigate the trials and tribulations of friendship, competition and secret crushes. While some kids believe privacy should be guarded, the class reports has other plans and embarks on a mission to uncover the truth behind some candy hearts mysteriously left on a desk. Fast-paced reading even the most reluctant tween reader will devour this Valentine's Day.
Sweet Treats & Secret Crushes
A sweet Valentine's Day book for tween girls! Three best friends unite to deliver cheer to all of their lonely neighbors. They all navigate the challenges of teenage friendships and secret crushes. A fast-paced, fun, easy read against the backdrop of New York City.
Valentine Princess
A light, easy Valentine's Day read for tween and teens who are fans of the Princess Diary series. This is novella, the fourth in the series, features the first Valentine's Day Mia and Michael celebrate as a couple. All of these books are written in the form of diary entries, welcoming readers into the innermost thoughts of the princesss. An uplifting, popular series for tween readers who want to get lost in a fantasy life of tiaras and romance for awhile.
Fancy Clancy: Secret Admirer
Fancy Nancy has grown up in a series of easy-reader chapter books. In this Valentine's Day edition, Nancy and her best friend, Bree, take it upon themselves to play matchmaker. When their efforts come up short, they begin to wonder if love can really conquer all. A wonderful book for girls who loved reading about Nancy's antics in picture books and are ready for the next reading level.
Totally Crushed
A red vs. pink carnation causes all kinds of upheaval in this sweet Valentine's Day book for tween girls. Annabel finds herself in a dilemma when she receives a red (= love) carnation from her guy friend, Sam. Not only does she not share the same romantic feelings for him, but her best friend Phoebe does! How can Annabel get herself out of this mess? Lots of girls will relate to the carnation drama.
Geronimo Stilton: Valentine's Day Disaster
A highly recommended Valentine's Day book for the 8-10+ independent reading group. Geronimo has been busy delivering a huge pile of cards to all of his friends. He returns home, excitedly opens his mailbox, but finds it empty. This is the worst Valentine's Day ever! Lots of laughs and fast-paced adventure in this fun non-romantic Valentine's Day book.
Katie Kazoo Switcheroo: Love Stinks!
Meet Katie Kazoo, a feisty fourth grader who wants absolutely nothing to do with all the lovey-dovey, mushy-gushy Valentine's Day nonsense. But despite her efforts to avoid the holiday, a big switcheroo occurs, and she finds herself in charge of making the custom candy hearts at the local candy store. Now Katie has an chance to manipulate all the sickeningly sweet Valentine's Day notes. Will she ruin the day for everyone else? Little readers will get a kick out of Katie's antics.
Four Stupid Cupids
Love is in the air and four little cupids are determined to play matchmaker. In a small town where everyone knows everyone, they create chaos with their bows and arrows. A funny Valentine's Day book for tween readers who will enjoy the silly shenanigans of kids meddling in love.
Oh, Valentine, We've Lost Our Minds!
So many of the tween Valentine's Day books appeal to girl, but here is a good one that boys will enjoy, too! Dan Gutman is a master of humor that appeals to the beginning reader crowd, and his My Weird School series is especially popular! A new foreign exchange student has joined the school and he's competing for the attention of a female classmate. A thumb-war between the two boys fighting for Andrea's heart creates lots of weird, crazy fun! Lots of Valentine's Day puzzles and games fill the pages at the end of this sweet book.
Cam Jansen: The Valentine Baby Mystery
For tween readers ready to delve into chapter books, Cam Jansen is a great series. Cam is a super-sleuth of sorts and she tackles a new mystery in every book. For Valentine's Day, she spends the afternoon in the hospital as her mother waiting for her mother to give birth to her new baby sibling. When something valuable goes missing, Cam is determined to get to the bottom of it before the baby arrives. Lots of fun and excitement following Cam as she follows the clues to finally solve the case.
Cake Pop Crush
Ok, so this tween romance book is not exactly about Valentine's Day, but we think it's a fun holiday read anyway! It's about a girl and boy who work in competing bakeries across the street from each other. Emotions are heated when these two tweens, who may just have secret crushes on each other, engage in a cake pop bakeoff to save the reputations of their respective bakeries. Age appropriate reading material for the 11+ reading group who will enjoy the trials and tribulations of young love.
Juliet, the Valentine Fairy
Juliet loves making Valentine's Day a magical time for her friends. But Jack Frost messes with her plans by stealing the secret objects that she needs to deliver her loving touch. Juliet desperately needs the help of her fairy friends to recover these objects, but for some reason they don't seem to be able to assist. Julie solve this problem before Valentine's Day is ruined!
Addie and the King of Hearts
A sweet, coming-of-age novel about a thirteen year old girl who experiences her first crush. The year is 1949 and Addie is fiercely independent with big plans to move to New York City. She wants to leave her small Nebraska town and make a life for herself as an artist. With Valentine's Day around the corner, all the people around her are getting mushy and exchanging gifts. Addie doesn't pay attention to any of this nonsense until a new, very handsome teacher shows up at school. Addie has butterflies in her stomach and suddenly cares about her appearance. And maybe she finally understands what all the Valentine's Day hype is about.
Rachel's Valentine Crush
Rachel and Brody have sung together in their church choir for years. And during all this time, Rachel had a secret crush on this handsome, talented singer. So when Brody's career takes off and he becomes an overnight pop sensation, Rachel is left behind wondering if she will ever have a chance to share her feelings with him. When Brody releases a new song, the lyrics sound like they were written for Rachel. Maybe, just maybe, this secret crush was mutual.
Valentine's Duh
A fun middle-grade novel about Valentine's Day chaos that fills hallways of Cherry Avenue Middle School. There are lots of intersecting storylines at play in this fast-paced read. At the center, a Austin and Sophie aim to win a Cutest Couple contest, but some others are out to ruin their chances. To make matters even more complicated, Austin is tapped to be the school's love doctor and matchmaker. Lots of romances are waiting to bloom if only the stars would align on this holiday of love.
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Give a Gift of Valentine's Day Books for Tweens
Valentine's Day is the most loving holiday of the year. No matter your stage or situation in life, a day filled with roses, chocolates, and teddy bears hugging plush little hearts is one that can and should be embraced. Tween books about Valentine's Day are great gifts for bookworms who may just enjoy a little lighthearted reading about secret crushes, budding romances, and the emotional angst of young teens experiencing love for the first time.
Sweet Facts About Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day as we celebrate it, in real life and in books, has an interesting history. Here are some facts about this special day when we celebrate love.
Valentine's Day Fact 1: Conversation Hearts Were Originally Medicine
We can thank a pharmacist from the 1800s for candy conversation hearts. He simplified the process for making lozenges but quickly shifted his focus to candy, specifically Necco wafers. By the early 1900s, the heart shaped wafers took form with sweet words pressed into them. Today, more than 8 billion conversation hearts are produced every year.
Valentine's Day Fact 2: A Box of Chocolates is a Time-Honored Gift
The very first box of Valentine's Day chocolates was introduced by Richard Cadbury in 1868, according to history.com. This traditional gift can be shared with just about anybody you love. The heart-shaped box is filled with a variety of chocolates that will satisfy every sweet tooth. Surveys indicate that caramels are the favorite, followed by chocolate-covered nuts, chocolate-filled, cream-filled, and coconut.
Valentine's Day Fact 3: We Have the Birds to Thank
The associated of Valentine's Day with love and romance began in the Middle Ages. It developed from a belief in England and France that birds begin their mating season on February 14th. In other words, lovebirds are actually birds!
Valentine's Day Fact 4: A Crafty Lady Turned Cards into a Business
A woman named Esther A. Howland is credited with the first mass-produced Valentine's Day cards in the US. In the 1840s, she became known as the "Mother of the American Valentine" when she created elaborate cards with lace and ribbon. This business model blossomed into an enormous industry that produces 145 million Valentine's Day cards each year.
Valentine's Day Fact 5: A Booming Month of Proposals
It should come as no surprise that Valentine's Day is a popular choice for marriage proposals. Some surveys estimate as many as 6 million people get engaged on this day for lovers! Jewelers around the world enjoy a lucrative month in February.
Valentine's Day Fact 6: Romantic Dinners Out
Restaurant owners benefit from the second busiest day of the year, second only to Mother's Day. Going out for a romantic dinner on Valentine's Day is a tradition shared by millions of couples. So you better make your reservation early if you want to celebrate this romantic holiday at your favorite eatery.
Valentine's Day Fact 7: Americans Open Their Wallets
According to the National Retail Federation, love is expensive! American spend in excess of $20 billion (with a B) every single year for Valentine's Day. That's a lot of chocolate!
Valentine's Day Fact 8: Valentine's Day Roses Travel Far
Those beautiful bouquets of Valentine's Day roses have journeyed from afar, despite their fresh, vibrant appearance. About 60% of roses are produced in California, but the rest come from South America.
