Five Ways to Do Valentines Day Differently

Whether you celebrate Valentines, Pal-entines, Gal-entines or anti-Valentines-Day, some of the most beautiful messages of love can be found in children's books and illustrations. And they remind us that love takes a variety of forms; it can mean love for a partner, friends,  family, or your own sweet self!

Here are some of our favourite ways to celebrate Valentines Day a little differently.

Show your best friend they're the Piglet to your Pooh

It's one of the most touching friendships in all of literature, the bumbling bear and his squeaky soulmate Piglet! Piglet and Pooh are always there for each other, through thick and thin. 

We have lots of Winnie-the-Pooh prints and books to remind your best friend or sweetheart what they mean to you. 

Learn from the Moomins unconditional love for eachother

There are so many lovely relationships in the Moomins books, from Moominpappa and Moominmamma's solid partnership, to Snorkmaiden and Moomintroll's mutual adoration. 

All types of relationships are represented; the inseparable and secretive Thingumy and Bob are said to be based on a relationship Tove Jansson had with a woman at a time when homosexuality was still deemed illegal in Finland.

The Moomin books  and prints are whimsical and sentimental, without being schmaltzy. They are a beautiful gift to express any kind of love and affection to someone you care for. 

Remind a sibling of the childhood you shared

People often come to us to find things to remind their siblings of a shared childhood. Do you remember what books you shared with your brothers and sisters?

Shirley Hughes and Roald Dahl are among the names that bring our customers back to those childhood Sundays, spent reading and messing around with a sibling. 

Get this print here.

Introduce a little one to the joy of reading

Reading is one of the greatest gifts to give a child and one of the most magical ways to bond. Show a child in your life that you love them by sharing a book you loved as a kid,  or choose a story just for them from our range of contemporary picture books and children's classics. 

Celebrate your individuality and independence!

Valentines day saturates us all with messages that being in a couple is the only thing worth celebrating, but being independent and true to yourself is worth celebrating too!

Some of our favourite books are about individuality and independence: like Rufus, the bat who paints himself to stand out from the crowd. Or Witchfairy, the little girl who wants to live life on her own terms. 

See in store for more of our favourite selections for Valentines Day.