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Of all the books you read to your baby, none feel quite as urgent as bedtime stories. And yet a good bedtime book should make your baby feel calm, secure and ready to nod off — if she even makes it all the way to the end. If not, there’s always tomorrow. All these books are soothing and lovely enough to read again, and again, and again.
[Want more book recommendations for younger readers? See more Story Times for ages 2-5 here, here and here. For ages 0-2, here and here. For ages 5-10, here and here. For ages 12 and up, here.]
‘Goodnight Moon,’ by Margaret Wise Brown. Illustrated by Clement Hurd.
The one, the only, the gold standard for bedtime picture books — for excellent reasons. The repetition, the lulling rhythms, the touch of mystery (who is the old lady whispering hush?). As the story moves deeper into the night, babies tend to move closer to sleep.
‘Good Night, Gorilla,’ by Peggy Rathman
So few words, so much bedtime fun. As a zookeeper makes his rounds around the nighttime zoo, saying good night to each creature, the gorilla follows behind, letting each one out to make a parade behind him — until they all join him and his wife in their bedroom. Then it’s back to the zoo for the animals, and to bed and to sleep for the humans — and your baby.
[ Our editor recommends great bedtime books for babies and toddlers. ]
‘The Going to Bed Book,’ by Sandra Boynton
Like all of Boynton’s board books, this one is silly and upbeat, and the rhymes are so catchy, you’ll want to read it again as soon as you finish. It can help your bedtime game by planting the idea of a nightly routine — one that ends with sleep — in your little one’s mind.
[ Short and snappy books can help younger children find joy and pleasure in reading . ]
The truck book meets the bedtime story. For some little listeners, that’s enough said. But also keep in mind that this is a sweet, cooperative group of machines, who gallantly help one another out as they close down the day and get ready for bed. The rhymes are clever, and the vehicles are drawn to perfection.
Your baby and you can both feast your tired eyes on the gorgeous, dreamy art in this book — and then it will be time for baby to close them. A little owl takes us through a sleeping animal kingdom, pointing out the different ways the animals sleep.
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‘Llama Llama Red Pajama,’ by Anna Dewdney
Llama is just so relatable in this first of the sweet, essential series he stars in. Of course he doesn’t want to go to bed yet, but his wise mama makes the transition to sleepy-time smooth — and the perfect rhymes and warm, emotionally aware art help, too.
‘Ladybug Girl Says Good Night,’ by David Soman and Jacky Davis
The Ladybug Girl series fills everyday life with imagination and lovely art that pops off the page — in lots of red, of course. Ladybug Girl’s bedtime routine, which includes a stack of books demanding to be read, is both comforting and imaginative.
A nifty bedtime story with a twist, as Little Owl roams the night forest, then settles in for sleep just as the sun is rising. Pages with black backgrounds add to the interest.
