By Amy Mann
WCPL Children’s Services

WARSAW — Valentine’s Day is once again upon us. The word “love” in the English language is difficult to define. It possesses a variety of related but distinct meanings in different contexts. Children, though, seem to know innately of what love consists. For a young child love involves warm feelings, and caring for, being cared for and identifying with a person or, in some cases, an inanimate object.

Warsaw Community Public Library has in its public catalog 1.475 listings for books about love just for the younger set; those in second grade and below. Ninety of those are board books for our tiniest visitors. “Love You Always” by prolific author Eileen Spinelli is available in both board book form and as a picture book. It focuses on family members who love the reader no matter what, and for all time. Who wouldn’t want to read a book like that?

Since friendship and love can both be marked by wanting the best for the other person, maybe we should add books about friendship to our list. Considering the different categories in our young children’s collection, that would add nearly 1,800 books to our “love list”. That also includes our holiday books. Valentine’s Day books, for example, may be found in our holiday section along the wall, under the beach mural.

Stories reach some hearts more effectively than lessons and lectures. Come in and choose some great books to enjoy with your little ones at home, and enrich your lives together.

While you’re reading, don’t forget that participating in our Winter Reading Program can earn tangible rewards for you and your young ones. The program ends when February does, so be sure to register if you haven’t already. Information can be found on the WCPL website at warsawlibrary.org.