I love how Valentine’s Day—any day, really—provides plenty of opportunities to build on a child’s love of books. “Kids Heart Authors” day, happening today in bookstores throughout the country, is a testament to that, making the most of the celebration by bringing kids together with the books and authors they love.

In lieu of such incredible opportunity (no “Kids Heart Authors” events near us, unfortunately), our library books do a pretty good job of satisfying our book hunger and keeping us connected through reading: Valentine’s Day, by Clyde Robert Bulla let us know that most scholars believe that this “love-focused day leapt gleefully from the Roman holiday Lupercalia, a festival celebrated more than 2,000 years ago to mark the beginning of spring,” and told us how the tradition spread to other countries. Barbara Samuels’ Happy Valentine’s Day, Dolores, allowed us to bask in the deliciously complicated glow of sisterly love; Valentine’s Day, by Anne and Lizzy Rockwell, brought us close to a group of students making valentine’s for a classmate who is visiting family in Japan, and our favorite of the four books, Gilbert Oscar Twyman’s Stoneheart: The Real Valentine’s Day Story, introduced us to a two-year old girl who transforms a gloomy kingdom into a land of happy and loving people. Oh the power of children and the power of books …

For more reads about this special celebration see here and here. Happy Valentine’s Day to all!

It all began with a Twitter and spread across the country in no time! Author Mitali Perkins put her idea on techology that some of us have yet to understand and from New England to the Pacific Northwest, independent bookstores, children’s authors, illustrators, and the young readers who love them are coming together on February 14 in a grand celebration.

It’s happening in New England, in New York (both in the city and across the state), in Seattle, (where, in independent Northwest style, they’ve rechristened the celebration Kids Heart Books), and in Los Angeles. By the time this post goes up, heaven only knows how many more bookstores, and writers, and illustrators–in how many more cities–will have joined this absolutely amazing union that brings together all facets of the kidlit world!

Among the number of authors and illustrators who will be flocking to their neighborhood bookstores are Grace Lin,  Karen Cushman, Kevin Hawkes, Cynthia Lord, David Yoo, Jamie Hogan (illustrator of Rickshaw Girl) and Mitali Perkins. In New England alone, over 160 authors and illustrators are turning out to meet their readers in their favorite bookstores.

Is this happening in your town? In your neighborhood bookstore? It’s not too late. Join the party that was started with Mitali’s Twitter, or help to start one–there are still 11 more days until February 14.  Make it possible for a child–or you yourself–to  heart an author–or an illustrator–and their books on Valentine’s Day!