Bedtime stories book for babies

You can’t go wrong with a Sandra Boynton board book. Here, she imagines a boat full of friendly animals going about their bedtime routines (gotta brush those teeth!) before rocking gently to sleep.

Another Boynton favorite turns bedtime into a party complete with song and dance moves. But don’t worry, the after-party takes place in dreamland.

In this bedtime book, a tricky gorilla steals the zookeeper’s keys and lets all the animals out of their cages. When the zookeeper’s wife discovers the animals napping in her bedroom, she gently leads them home so they can all get a good night’s sleep.

The reader is entrusted with a very important and difficult job—don’t let the pigeon stay up late! The crafty pigeon will use every excuse and stall tactic, so it won’t be easy, but it will be funny.

Patient Mr. Panda reminds his animal friends to follow the steps of their bedtime routines, like taking a bath and brushing teeth. Sloth and skunk make excuses, but cheerful Lemur sticks to the plan. (Let’s all be like Lemur.)

What better way is there to say goodnight than with tons of kisses? Count down from “10 little kisses on teeny tiny toes” and learn body parts and numbers along the way with this sweet bedtime book.

Are you more of a hugger? This day in-the-life of a busy bunny is chock full of hug breaks, especially at bedtime!

Cement mixers and crane trucks have bedtimes too in this popular bedtime book about things that go.

Everyone’s favorite toddler tiger wants to play, but it’s time for bed. Dad gently moves Daniel through bath, teeth, PJ’s, story and a song until he’s too sleepy to protest anymore.

Your little one falls asleep to the sound of your loving affirmations, like “I love you like mice love cheese! I love you like vines love trees!” in this bedtime book for babies.

A little owl resists bedtime, claiming he’s not remotely tired—despite all evidence to the contrary. Sound like anyone you know?

A little boy imagines himself as a robot powering down at bedtime. It’s hard to stop jumping and beeping, but by “turning off” each body part, he can finally achieve sleep.

For littles with the wiggles, learning these gentle and poetically expressed yoga poses is a great way to settle in for bed.

A hilarious twist on the traditional bedtime story has our child narrator sending her exhausted and haggard looking parents to bed, which requires taking away their computers, magazines, TV and cell phones. “Remain calm. Do not negotiate,” she advises. Sounds familiar.

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21 Best Bedtime Books for Kids (2023 Picks)

Having a variety of books will help your child expand their horizons and save your sanity, as it (hopefully) means you won’t have to reread that same book you can’t stand hundreds of nights in a row!

We gathered input from our team of moms and experienced writers and editors. We combined our decades of nightly read-aloud experience to learn which books are appealing to each age range and which are likely to be tossed aside (or to drive you nuts while reading). We’ve shared our kids’ favorite bedtime books and polled the masses to discover some new titles.

We’ll discuss our tips for finding age-appropriate books and provide reviews of the best bedtime books for kids of all ages. These books are thought-provoking, imaginative, and enjoyable for kids and parents, and most include beautiful, engaging illustrations.

Read on for better bedtime reading!

The Best Kids Bedtime Books of 2023

Here are 21 excellent books to read to your kids at bedtime.

1. If Animals Kissed Goodnight

Crowd Favorite

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For the preschool crowd, this title is a great bedtime book option. Your preschooler will love going through the pages with you while acting out all the ways different animals kiss each other goodnight.

It uses rhyme to engage your reader, and the hand-drawn illustrations add a soft touch to this bedtime tale. We recommend reading this in a gentle voice to help your child drift off to dreamland.

2. Dream Animals: A Bedtime Journey

For the Dreamer

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If your preschooler has an active imagination, this story is a staple for them. In this book, your child gets to choose what their “dream animal” is.

It uses rhyming text to hook your bookworm, and the illustrations help your child visualize their dream animal. We like this title because after you’re done reading, you can talk about what dreams they’d like to have.

3.

Superhero Kid

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It’s never too early to introduce alternative writing styles. With this title, suitable for 1-year-olds and up, you can present comics to your child.

This reading adventure will take you and your child on a journey through the treacherous feat that is bedtime, but with Batman for support. It describes all the aspects of a regular routine — potty, brushing teeth, putting on pajamas, and more. It’s a favorite for kids who are fans of Batman and will get them excited about doing their bedtime routine.

4. Firefly, Light up the Sky

Most Interactive

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I generally like to avoid noisy books during bedtime reading, but this Eric Carle title is an exception to that rule.

This set includes a book and an interactive flashlight that makes bug sounds. The book is a pop-up style, which is perfect for preschoolers, although kids as young as 18 months might enjoy it.

Have your child press the appropriate buttons on the flashlight, helping them follow along while you read. They’ll also love holding the flashlight and shining it on the firefly in the book. They’ll discover which bugs are hiding in the shadows, keeping even the busiest kids entertained during storytime.

This is a fun book to read in the dark, as the flashlight adds an extra element of adventure.

5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Most Fantastical Read

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Picture books are fine until you realize your child has graduated to more challenging books. The Harry Potter series is a must-have for any child aged 9 years and above.

If you aren’t familiar with Harry, he’s a young boy who lives with some not-so-nice relatives. He finds out that he is not only a wizard but a famous one with a complicated family history. The series takes the reader along with Harry and his friends as they navigate school and save the mystical world.

6. Don’t Let The Pigeon Stay Up Late

Best for Beginning Readers

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This is one of the many pigeon-themed books by Mo Willems. This book is great for bedtime because it gives your child the responsibility of ensuring the pigeon goes right to bed and doesn’t dilly-dally.

Throughout the story, the pigeon tries to talk his way out of going to bed but eventually gives up the battle and falls asleep. This title is best for older preschoolers and early elementary.

7. The Runaway Bunny

A Multi-Generational Favorite

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This title was first published in 1942 and hasn’t gone out of print since. That goes to show just how well-loved it is by generations, both young and old.

The story follows a mother and a baby bunny. Baby bunny proclaims he will run away, but his mother assures him she will be there, no matter what. We recommend this book for children ages 4 and up.

8. Guess How Much I Love You

For Daddy-and-Me Storytime

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In this story, Little Nutbrown Hare and his dad take turns debating how much they love each other. Despite how much Little Nutbrown thinks he loves his dad, his dad wins the argument as he drifts off to sleep.

This preschool tale is perfect for the nights when daddy is in charge of bedtime. The story attests to a parent’s unconditional love for their child.

9. Llama Llama Red Pajama

Rhyme Time

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This one is full of llama drama as the baby llama gets worried every time his mama llama leaves his room at night. When he hollers for her, she returns and reassures him that everything will be alright and that it’s time to sleep.

The story’s catchy rhyme makes this one an easy contender for your preschooler’s favorite bedtime read.

10. Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief

Most Adventurous

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Your 10-year-old will love delving into the Percy Jackson series. Percy is a dyslexic boy who struggles to fit in. As he comes to find out, he’s actually a demigod.

Percy ends up at a camp for other half-bloods, where he meets the children of other Greek gods and goddesses. The series has five books and another spin-off series, so your child will be able to enjoy this world throughout their preteen years and beyond.

11. Goodnight, Moon

Best Classic for Babies

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In this book, we’re taken through the little bunny’s bedtime routine while he says “goodnight” to everything in his room.

This one is a classic for any baby, toddler, or child up to preschool age. The soothing words and simple story are perfect for lulling your child right to sleep. The gentle illustrations add a nice touch as well.

12. What Do You Do With An Idea?

Inspire the Little Dreamer

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Is your young reader quite the inventive force? In this award-winning story, a child has an idea but lacks the confidence to act on it. As the story progresses, so does the child’s confidence until, eventually, the idea turns into something brilliant.

This title is recommended for children aged 5 to 8 and is sure to inspire your thinker to dream up a concept or two.

13. Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book

Witty Rhymes for Beddy-Time

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If you’re a family of Seuss lovers, you’ll want this book in your collection. The story uses a witty writing style to encourage sleepy time for any kid aged 5 and up.

The rhyming tale revolves around Van Vleck, a small bug who yawns and sets off a chain reaction. As the story progresses, Van’s friends get sleepy until it eventually reaches your child.

Be careful, though, this may just lull you to sleep too!

14. Magic Treehouse Boxed Set

Best for Independent Readers

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This series follows two siblings as they go on out-of-this-world adventures every time they step inside their treehouse.

The set we chose contains the first four books to get your child started on the series. With these books, your reader will get to journey with dinosaurs, meet a knight, wake up to mummies, and go on a pirate adventure.

The books are recommended for children aged 6 to 8 years old. The stories are so exciting your child won’t even realize they’re learning animal facts, history, and more as you read. We also love that each book in this series has a nonfiction fact tracker companion book you can purchase to dive deeper into the story’s subject matter.

15. 365 Bedtime Stories & Rhymes

A Story for Every Occasion

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If you want variety but don’t want a ton of different books, this one will be a lifesaver. It comes with enough stories and rhymes to last a full year of bedtime reading. The beautiful cover will definitely stand out on your child’s bookshelf.

Treasuries like this allow you and your child to choose as many or as few stories and rhymes as you’d like to read. This one is recommended for children ages 4 and up.

16. Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You

Spreading Love

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There’s a reason Nancy Tillman has made this list twice. Her writing and illustrations are not only guaranteed to make you shed a tear, but they’re perfect for settling down your children.

In this title, Tillman emphasizes the power of a parent’s love. It starts out with the narrator (you) telling your child you wanted them more than they’ll ever know.

The entire book is a reassurance for children that our love will be there for them, even if they can’t see us. This book is a beautiful read for all ages but is recommended for children ages 4 and up.

17. Charlotte’s Web

For the Animal Lover

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In this book, we follow the story of Wilbur, a runt piglet who was rescued from an untimely death by a little girl. Charlotte, a barn spider, works to ensure the pig remains safe as they become good friends.

This classic is an essential pick for your chapter book reader. It’s recommended for children ages 8 and up or any child who is confident in their reading. However, this is also a good one to read aloud to your younger child as an extended read.

18. It’s Time to Sleep, My Love

Beautiful Illustrations

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You can’t go wrong with any book that is written or illustrated by Nancy Tillman. This title, in particular, made our list because the language used helps soothe children to a peaceful sleep.

Throughout the story, the whole world around your child is slowly settling down for the night until, eventually, it’s your child’s turn. We recommend this book for toddlers and preschoolers because of its soothing rhyme.

19. Steam Train, Dream Train

Boarding the Snooze Train

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If your child loves anything to do with trains, this title is the one for them. The dream train pulls into the station, and the animals take turns loading up the train with their goods.

This is a big hit with preschoolers because of its use of animals as characters and the rhyming quality of the text. We like this book as a read-aloud option because you can add your own locomotive sound effects as well as other animal sounds.

20. The Giver

Best Extended Read

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For those of you with older readers, this book is a must-have. Recommended for ages 11 and above, it has several hidden messages your reader will pick up on and appreciate.

This dystopian read follows Jonas, a 12-year-old boy who lives in a world void of color and strong emotion. He’s assigned to be the “Receiver of Memory” where he learns the good and the bad of the world’s past.

This proves to be a challenge for him. The reader is taken on a journey with Jonas as he navigates this newfound responsibility.

21. Hans Christian Andersen’s Complete Fairy Tales

Fairy Tale Classic

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This fairy tale compilation is a favorite of parents and children alike. It contains Hans Christian Andersen’s famous titles, including “The Ugly Duckling,” “The Red Shoes,” “Thumbelina,” and more.

These stories are recommended starting at age 8, but they can make great read-aloud stories until your younger child is ready to read on their own.

It has a beautiful cover design, and the content is chock full of classical tales, perfect for any bookshelf. It also comes with a built-in ribbon bookmark, so your reader will always remember where they left off.

Bedtime Reading by Age

Depending on your child’s age, there are different ways to approach bedtime reading. With younger children, reading out loud together is most beneficial. As your child gets older and more confident, they may become more inclined to read the story to you.

Babies and Toddlers

When reading to your baby and toddler, we suggest books that have calming language and rhyme to lull your little one to sleep ⁽¹⁾.

Once they’re able, let them start choosing their own bedtime storybook. This will help foster independence, and they’ll feel important this way.

Preschoolers

Preschool is a good time to start introducing different styles of writing, like fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and comics. If you want to encourage your child’s literacy skills, shut the lights off and come up with your own tales together.

Be on the lookout for books with relatable characters. Your preschooler will enjoy mimicking them and the character’s bedtime routine.

Elementary & Older

Just because your child is reading on their own now (or is close to it), doesn’t mean you should give up on reading together. It will help them develop their reading skills and allows them to hear stories from different perspectives ⁽²⁾.

For lower elementary, books with easy-to-follow storylines are suitable. As they grow, starter chapter books and series are good to have on hand.

Older kids also can appreciate an author’s craft more. This allows for deeper conversations which, in turn, helps further develop your parent-child bond.

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Bedtime stories for children. ⭐😴 Read online with pictures.

In this section we have collected interesting works from all over the world that are suitable for reading before bed. You can read bedtime stories online and completely free. These small instructive and kind stories will help children calm down after a stormy day and tune in to rest.
In bedtime stories you will not find cruelty and frightening characters. Only light plots and pleasant characters.
At the bottom of each fairy tale there is a hint for which age it is intended.

Children's fairy tales are that part of childhood that stays with us forever, even when childhood is gone. This is a magical world that is wide open in front of the baby, and acquaintance with it begins with a short and sweet bedtime story.

There is no strict age limit in reading fairy tales to a child. Reading for a child is primarily an opportunity for emotional intimacy with an adult. Even if not a word is clear yet, the familiar timbre of the voice, the measured rhythm soothe the baby and stimulate its development. That is why psychologists recommend reading bedtime stories even to babies. The main condition: the process should bring pleasure to both the adult and the baby.

A bedtime story read by a parent is a powerful stimulus for the child's development, the child's wide opportunities in the following areas: imagination; fantasy; creative thinking; speech skills; emotional development; the ability to find a way out of problem situations.

Unlike cartoons, a fairy tale does not present the child with ready-made images and the world invented by the artist, but invites him to think, think out and imagine what is not in the illustrations.

Simply put, we read to children at night and at the same time unleash their creative potential. The next step is the first children's tests of themselves as an author and artist, but that will come later. And now such familiar and at the same time amazing short bedtime stories come to the aid of parents.

It often happens that every day a child asks for the hundredth time to read a familiar fairy tale to him, not wanting to listen to any others.

It's not worth arguing and trying to read something new - a bedtime story exists just to lull and give pleasant dreams. So, it should be: short; calm; kind; without dynamic details in the plot, but with a happy ending.

Repeated repetition of the same situation (a familiar room, a favorite blanket and a soft toy, next to it is a mother reading a familiar fairy tale) turns into a kind of ritual for the baby, which has a calming effect. It helps relieve the emotional stress that has accumulated over a long day.

The Short Bedtime Stories section presents famous works by Russian and foreign authors that have become favorites for children all over the world.

Magic little men created by Astrid Lindgren, Donald Bisset's kind tigers, Sergei Kozlov's inseparable Hedgehog and Bear cub - these and other characters are looking forward to meeting young readers.

Here you will also find folk tales and illustrated works by Vladimir Suteev. Kids will be delighted with simple instructive stories and colorful pictures created by a real Master.

The free short bedtime stories presented on our site are so diverse that sometimes it can be difficult to find the right one. To help parents, we have developed a convenient search engine that allows you to view the parameters of a fairy tale without opening it: age of readers; reading time; short description; popularity indicator; illustration.

Bedtime story: the best books and songs to put your baby to bed

Education

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evgenyatamanenko/Getty Images/iStockphoto

However, not every modern mother can boast even a small set of lullabies and fairy tales. And not every dad can easily and quickly navigate the choice of the right book for his child in the store.

Each child's age requires its own approach: if a lullaby is enough for babies, then older children sometimes need to use a good example with an interesting story to tell about the need to close their eyes every night. To help you, lulling the sleepless, this selection.

Martin Waddell "Why aren't you sleeping?"

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Polyandria publishing house

“Why are you not sleeping?” - the answer to this question, which occupies all the parents in the world, is trying to find dad Big Bear. He, in no way manages to persuade the Bear cub to fall asleep. And what does he not do, responding to the complaints of his son, who is afraid of the dark!

The author of this fairy tale is a two-time winner of the Smarties awards, the Kurt Maeschler Prize, and the G. Kh. Andersen. A kind and touching story of the relationship between an adult and a child is beautifully illustrated by watercolor drawings by the artist Barbara Firth. For illustrations for this book at 19In 1988, she received the Kate Greenway Medal, Britain's most prestigious award for illustrators. And in 2013, the British newspaper The Times called the book “Why are you not sleeping?” "the most perfect children's picture book ever written." This book, which has already become a classic of "sleep" books, is itself like a lullaby.

Jonathan Allen "I'm not sleepy!"

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Klever publishing house

How often children stubbornly deny the obvious! And what should unfortunate parents do in this case? Especially when it comes to something as important as sleep. With children's stubbornness, which psychologists call "meaningless" and which peaks at the age of about 2. 5 years, all moms and dads face. In the pursuit of self-affirmation and self-manifestation as a person, the baby, at such moments, does not agree even with what is completely clear and understandable to him. And the task of wise parents is to understand this and help the baby get out of the situation without blaming him. Here, for example, is how the father of the little Owl, who is desperately struggling with sleep, did it. He knows the secret of how to put his son to bed!

Jonathan Allen's Naughty Owl continues his journey through the books in the series. And again he is stubborn, and again it is not clear from what. Maybe he really doesn't want to sleep?

The author devoted a whole series of books to children's denials: "I'm not Santa Claus!", "I'm not cute!". And they are all about a very nice little owlet. The entire Owlet series is kind and funny stories, ideal for reading at night, when the baby needs to calm down and tune in to rest. Children recognize themselves in a little stubborn, which allows them to look at what is happening from the side and, perhaps, change for the better.

Andrey Usachev “The Lullaby Book”

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Ripol Classic Publishing House

Not only children, but also dinosaurs from the distant past of the Earth, sun lunatics in open space sweetly fall asleep to the lullabies from this book on golden leaves in the autumn forest... Thanks to the wonderful illustrations of the outstanding artist Igor Oleinikov, all of them will see beautiful and kind fairy tales in their dreams.

And the verses from the "Lullaby Book" are not only "sleepy", but simply good verses. Deeply lyrical, setting in a single glorious mood, adults and children, both of them like them, touching hearts with sincerity and kindness. And sadness.

The author of the book is one of the most famous modern Russian children's writers and poets, winner of the Book of the Year award. Part of the proceeds from the sale of the book is directed to the Regional Charitable Public Organization "Center for Curative Pedagogics".

"Lullabies for the whole family": Flavian-Press, Dreamsong.ru

This is a collection of famous and not so famous lullabies, collected and performed by Natalia Faustova. The book includes the beloved “Lullaby of the Bear”, “A cricket sings behind the stove”, forgotten folk tunes “Kupalinka” and “Lullaby of Arina Rodionovna”, as well as “Star” and “Sleep, my boy” written especially for this project to the words of V Bryusova.

The book and CD appeared thanks to the efforts of the singer and photo artist Natalia Faustova, who performs songs here. Illustrator Anna Silivochnik created a whole world of magic and fantasy on the pages of the book. Heroes, patterns, details - all this can be considered endlessly. And, of course, the distinguishing feature of the book is the accompanying disc. He will always come to the aid of moms and dads who are tired of reading aloud. For current and future parents, "Lullabies" can become part of a tradition that is inherited and that first, but very solid "bridge" connecting the whole family, helping not to lose touch with the child after many years.

Tove Appelgren "Good night, Vesta Linnea!" What to do if you toss and turn all night long and have terrible dreams? What if at the most desperate moment you want to snuggle up to your mother, but it is forbidden to climb into your parent's bed? A Finnish girl with an unusual name is looking for answers to these and other questions that are relevant for any child. Vesta-Linne seems to see a well witch in the dark, and she is very scared. But one day the place in the parental bed is occupied by her younger sister. It is then that Vesta-Linnea realizes that she is now an older sister and must learn to cope with her fears herself.

The stories from the life of Vesta-Linnea have become a practical guide for children and parents around the world, they help resolve conflicts that arise in any family and at first glance seem unsolvable.

Tove Appelgren is a Finnish writer and theater director who gained wide popularity with the publication of a series of books about the little girl Veste-Linne. In 2008, The Black Thoughts of Vesta-Linnea was nominated for the title of the best children's book in Finland. In 2010, the writer was nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Prize.

"Lullaby Tales"

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"Ripol Classic" Publishing House

For the little ones, those who can't read by themselves yet, but have already learned to listen attentively to their parents while lying in bed, here are collected as many as 365 fairy tales. For every night of the year! Every season, every month has its own fairy tales. A short story should just be enough for a kid to close his eyes and imagine ... An unusual crow or an ostrich with a breeze, a pig, an ice cream lover or a lamb on a carousel ... And many, many more fabulous little animals, with which it’s not at all scary to find yourself in a dream.

Mervy Lindman Brave Little Memuli

Photo

MD Media publishing house

There are such glorious books that you just don't want to let go of your hands. Because the worst mood after reading them disappears, and the world around becomes brighter.

Poor Memuli is afraid of everything in the world, especially at night... For example, she is afraid to go to the toilet, because a green crocodile may be hiding in the toilet bowl, she is afraid of bath foam, darkness and even strawberry jelly. As well as the things moving around in her room in the dark and the fluffy dust crawling out from under the bed.

But there is a mother nearby and one has only to snuggle closer to her, wrapping arms and legs around her, all fears recede. “The brave one is the one who, despite the fear, still goes forward,” says Memuli's mother. And Memuli believes her.

The book about little Memuli is drawn and written by the same author, the wonderful Finnish artist Mervi Lindman. And maybe that's why her characters turned out so lively and charming. Looking at the illustrations, each time you can come up with your own text. Which, by the way, is what some kids do.

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