20 Children’s Books Like I Love You to the Moon and Back

I Love You to the Moon and Back by Amelia Hepworth is a beautiful and simple book that illustrates a caregiver’s love for their child. The story focuses on a parent bear and their young bear, and states how they love the different parts of the day. Moments like morning time and bath time are special, and so are their adventures together.

20 Children's Books Like I Love You to the Moon and Back

Reading to young children has been proven to encourage the development of strong bonds between caregivers and children. Sweet stories like I Love You to the Moon and Back which explains the love between a grown-up and their child can bring even more comfort and love to a young one.

If you’re searching for books that are similar to I Love You to the Moon and Back, featuring gentle and love-filled stories, you’ve come to the right place. Below are 20 of the best titles to share with little ones, that will express your love for them, and will have them melting into your arms with love.  

Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

Love You Forever

This classic story about a mother who sings “I love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as you’re living, my baby you’ll be” will bring tears to a parents’ eyes and will nestle into little ones’ hearts. As the young boy grows up, his mother still sings the song to him. 

A beautiful ode to the bond between a parent and their child, remind your little one that they’ll always be your baby by sharing this book with them. 

Find the book here. 

Our Love Grows by Anna Pignataro

Our Love Grows

For a picture book with illustrations that are as beautiful as the words, pick up Anna Pignataro’s book, Our Love Grows. When Pip asks his mother when he will grow, she explains that he is growing, and that her love for him will always grow too.

Buy the book here

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn 

The Kissing Hand (The Kissing Hand Series)

When Chester Raccoon is nervous about going to school, his mom reassures him that he’ll love it once he gets there. She kisses his hand and tells him that anytime he misses home, he can press his paw to his cheek and feel her warmth and love.

A beautiful reminder that small gestures can help a child feel connected to those who love them throughout the day, this book is a great read-aloud to share with children who might be nervous about new situations. 

Find the book here

We Sang you Home by Richard Van Camp

We Sang You Home

This beautiful, simple book starts with “We sang you from a wish, we sang you from a prayer…” and lists ways that the parents in their book are grateful for their young one. 

With gorgeous illustrations by Julie Flett, little ones will feel the warmth radiating from these pages, and caregivers will relate to the love that pours through each word.

Buy the book here. 

Dear Girl,: A Celebration of Wonderful, Smart, Beautiful You! By Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Paris Rosenthal

Dear Girl,: A Celebration of Wonderful, Smart, Beautiful You!

If you’re searching for encouragement for a young little lady in your life, pick up Dear Girl.  Written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and her daughter, Paris, this open letter provides sweet inspiration for youngsters.

A perfect read-aloud to share together, or a wonderful gift, Dear Girl will give readers all of the same warm, lovey feelings that were stirred up in I Love You to the Moon and Back.

Find the book here. 

Dear Boy,: A Celebration of Cool, Compassionate, Clever You! By Jason Rosenthal and Paris Rosenthal

Dear Boy,: A Celebration of Cool, Clever, Compassionate You!

A companion to Dear Girl, this version is for the young boys in your life! An empowering, encouraging book, this open letter is perfect for sharing with youngsters.

The illustrations are whimsical, fun, and inclusive and will draw readers into each of the pieces of advice.  

Buy a copy of the book here. 

I Wish You More by Amy Krouse Rosenthal 

I Wish You More

Amy Krouse Rosenthal knows how to write a tender book, which is why she appears on this twice! I Wish You More is a lovely book to share with little ones, with lines like “I wish you more hugs than ughs,” youngsters will feel comfort and connection.  

Buy a copy of the book here.

On the Night you were Born by Nancy Tillman 

On the Night You Were Born book and CD storytime set

This lovely book celebrates the night a child was born, depicting it as a magical, delightful event that the whole world celebrated. With melodic and rhyming words, the natural rhythm of the text when read aloud is comforting. 

Gorgeous illustrations will draw your young readers in, and you will delight in reading this book over and over.  

Find the book here. 

You are my I Love You by Maryann Cuismano

You Are My I Love You

Following along with a mama bear and her cub, this gentle book is filled with loving phrases like “I am your calm place; you are my giggle.” Each of the pages beautifully captures the balance of the relationship between a youngster and a caregiver.

The rhyming words will bounce off the reader’s lips and into the hearts of youngsters, providing them calm reassurance that they are loved and special. 

Buy You are my I Love You here.

Littles and How They Grow by Kelly DiPucchio

Littles: And How They Grow

This sweet, rhyming book is perfect for caregivers and their little ones to share together. Featuring diverse families, little ones on each page capture the wonder and busyness of growing up. 

Caregivers are reminded that their little ones will grow up soon, and to cherish the moments as best they can. 

Find a copy of the book here. 

Baby Love by Angela DiTerlizzi

Baby Love

This delightful book captures parents’ adoration for their new baby and their perfect little self (for books you can read to your one-year-old, follow here). Though the parents are exhausted, their days are filled with caring for their sweet little one, and the phrase “yes, it must be baby love” repeats over and over.

Providing parents a wonderful opportunity to shower their child with kisses, the words in this book are as adorable as the illustrations. 

Buy your copy here

You are my Sunshine by Jimmie Davis

You Are My Sunshine

This eye-catching board book is a beautiful adaptation of the song “You are my Sunshine,” and is perfect for singing or reading to your little one. Kids will love the shimmering illustrations and will adore being their parents’ sunshine.

Buy a copy of the book here. 

Bunny Roo, I Love You by Melissa Marr

Bunny Roo, I Love You

A sweet ode from a mother to her little one, Bunny Roo, I Love You is the story of a mother speaking to her baby. She describes how the baby reminded her of little animals, and how she always knew she loved her baby. 

This creative book features various baby animals, and will capture the imaginations of youngsters, as they melt into the reassuring and whimsical words. 

Find the book here. 

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

Guess How Much I Love You

This is a sweet story about Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare showing how much they love each other.  Statements like “I love you as high as I can hop” will encourage readers to share how much they love each other. 

Buy the book here. 

Love Is…by Diane Adams

Love Is: (Illustrated Story Book about Caring for Others, Book About Love for Parents and Children, Rhyming Picture Book)

Told as a story about a young girl taking care of a baby duck, this simple yet beautiful story draws parallels between how young ones are cared for by their grownups. The story focuses on both the amazing and the challenging parts about growing up, as the duckling gets ready to leave the nest.

The metaphor of a duckling leaving the nest will not be lost on parents, who will see their child on each page. Youngsters will adore the young girl and her duckling, and will beg for this lovely tale to be read to them over and over. 

Find the book here. 

Two Hands to Love You by Diane Adams

Two Hands to Love You

With simple illustrations, and gentle promises, Two Hands to Love You reassures youngsters that even though the world is a new place, their grownup will guide them through with love and grace.  

A lovely, simple book to read with I Love You to the Moon and Back, this will be a new favorite for the little ones in your life. 

Buy Two Hands to Love You here. 

Love by Matt de la Peña

Love

A gorgeous and deep picture book that explores what love is, Matt de la Peña is a master in capturing the joy and heartbreak that love elicits from us all. On each page, love is described as different scents, sounds, experiences and feelings. 

With stunning illustrations and lyrical words, Love will snuggle into your heart; you and your young readers will long to share this book together over and over again. 

Buy the book here.

The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin

The Wonderful Things You Will Be

A delightful, encouraging book that celebrates all the wonderful things a child will be, this is a perfect book to share with a young one. 

Drawing on the same love that I Love You to the Moon and Back does, caregivers will love cuddling up to youngsters and dreaming of their futures together. 

Find a copy of the book here. 

If I Could Keep you Little by Marianne Richmond

If I Could Keep You Little...

Caregivers everywhere will empathize with this sweet book, told from the point of view of a mother. As she lists off all the reasons why she would want to keep her child little, she counters each with something to look forward to as they grow. 

A gentle reminder for everyone that each phase of childhood holds precious moments, this book is filled with love and will be welcomed by readers who enjoy I Love You to the Moon and Back.

Buy the book here. 

I’ve Loved you Since Forever by Hoda Kotb

I've Loved You Since Forever

For a read alike that’s similar to I Love You to the Moon and Back, pick up Hoda Kotb’s book I’ve Loved You Since Forever. With simple text that expresses how much a little one is loved, children will delight in hearing this read aloud. 

Each page features baby animals with their grown ups, and the cuteness nearly spills off the pages. A sweet, simple story that will inspire cuddles and hugs.

Find a copy of the book here. 

FAQ:

What other books has the author of I Love You to the Moon and Back written?

Amelia Hepworth has written several other children’s books including I Love You, Forever and a Day, Bedtime for Duckling, and What Are Unicorns Made Of?

What genre is I Love You to the Moon and Back?

The genre of the book is considered to be children’s fiction.

What other books has the illustrator of I Love You to the Moon and Back illustrated?

Tim Warnes has illustrated several other books including I Love You as Big as the World, Boris Goes Camping, and Scaredy Mouse.

Is I Love You to the Moon and Back part of a series?

There are other books that are similar to I Love You to the Moon and Back, but it is not part of a series.

Where did the phrase I love you to the moon and back come from?

The phrase came from the book Guess How Much I Love You, when Little Nutbrown Hare says “I love you to the moon.”

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Amy Reddy