Bedtime is such a sweet, special time of day. It’s the time of day where everything else gets put aside. The focus is you and your child. One of my favorite things to do is read at bedtime. So of course, you need some bedtime story books.
These are my best bedtime books for every age that I could find. These will be bedtime the best bedtime story books for 2 year olds all the way up to he best bedtime story books for 5 year-olds. So put away your toys and buckle down for some snuggles and reading with your kiddo.
Age: Older toddler, preschool
Style: Soft cover
Details: This book was suggested to me by my kids’ dad and I like it. Monster was obsessed with this book for awhile as well. 10 Minutes to Bed Little Unicorn follows a little unicorn who is supposed to be getting ready for bed but isn’t tired yet. So she goes off on an adventure with just ten minutes ticking down.
Age: Preschool and Kindergarten
Style: Hard Cover
Details: Even though All the Awake Animals is an A-Z bedtime book I put it under preschool and kindergarten because I think that’s the age that will appreciate it the most. Each page is alliterative of whatever letter it is on but the illustrations are striking and beautifully done.
Age: Infant and Toddler
Style: Board Book
Details: I love a good book that includes silliness and then winds down at the end. Anything that ends with sleep counts as a bedtime book to me. Sprinkle rated this as their 2nd favorite book when they were a toddler. It has fun rhymes and repetition and the sound affects are perfect for your child to partake in.
Age: Infant and Toddler
Style: Board Book
Details: You had to know I can’t make a book list without including at least one Sandra Boynton Book. The Going to Bed Book meets that criteria for me. All the steps for getting ready for bed.
Age: Toddler
Style: Soft cover
Details: This sweet book is perfect for those toddler years when your child is obsessed with farm animals. We tuck in not just a human, but all the animals on the farm and how they go to sleep. Going to Sleep on the Farm is another one of those books where I really love the illustrations. The whole book is calming so there is no up and then down feel to it.
Age: Preschool
Style: Hard cover
Details: I don’t know about you, but we Love construction vehicles at my house. So when we found Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site I (and my children) was thrilled. We tuck in each of the construction vehicles after their long day of work on the construction site.
Age: Infant and toddler
Style: Board book
Details: Join the zookeeper as he first says Goodnight Gorilla and then to all the other animals in the zoo. This classic has so much to see in each of the simple illustrations, don’t be surprised if your child reads it well into their older years.
Age: Older Toddler, Young Preschool
Style: Hard cover
Details: In Goodnight Little Bear, you will say goodnight to all of the forest animals to help you wind down.
Age: Infant and toddler
Style: Board book
Details: My favorite going to bed book, Goodnight Moon offers simple pictures, simple phrases, and a soothing end to your day.
Age: Kindergarten
Style: Hard cover
Details: Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls might be a little advanced for some children. It’s full of stories of real life people who made change in the world. I think there are 3 or 4 volumes of this book now as well. I have only ready the first two with my children, so I can’t speak to others. Each book is full of short stories and details about real women who have lived and made a difference in this world.
Age: Infant and Toddler
Style: Board Book
Details: I really enjoy books with animals in them. I find them to be really cute and when bedtime is involved it makes me even happier. I Love You to the Moon and Back is about love and all the special moments shared each day.
Age: Preschool
Style: Soft Cover
Details: I like this book because it has those words that are replaced with pictures. I find that exciting for young preschoolers. Every sleeping farm animal is woken up and there is pure chaos. But the farmer tells them to go back to sleep, Inside a Barn in the Country.
Age: Toddler, Preschooler
Style: Hard Cover
Details: I will admit that Kitty Cat Lullaby is Sprinkle’s favorite book, not mine. I read it to the tune of Hush a Bye Baby. It’s cute, especially if your kiddo is into cats.
Age: Toddler and Preschool
Style: Soft cover
Details: I remember loving Love You Forever from when I was a child. This soft, lilting rhythm of the book makes it enjoyable to read. I often would read the book, then pick up my own child to rock back and forth, back and forth and sing to as well. They loved when I tied it all together.
Age: Infant and Toddler
Style: Board Book
Details: I find this book soothing and cute. Night Night Dino-Snores is a simple board book for your little ones. More importantly though, I really like that it is a touch and feel book. The simple textures give your child something to engage with even as they settle down.
Age: Toddler
Style: Hard cover
Details: Night Night Elmo is a lift the lap book. It goes through each step of getting ready for bed, including teeth and hugs goodnight.
Age: Preschool
Style: Soft cover
Details: I wanted this book to be for toddlers but honestly it is just a little bit too long for most toddlers. On the Night You Were Born is a lovely, soothing book and each page depicts evening settings that are soothing.
Age: Preschool
Style: Soft Cover
Details: If your child is at all scared of things that go bump in the night, Otto the Guard Octopus is a great book. It rhymes and is cute. My kiddos were never afraid of the dark but we still enjoyed this book anyway.
Age: Toddler
Style: Board Book
Details: I will warn you, do not let Pajama Time be the very last book you read before bed. I enjoy this book because it’s cute and fun. I find it hard to read in a soft, soothing voice though. It’s a little exciting, so just don’t plan to end with it.
Age: Preschool
Style: Hard Cover
Details: Take Heart My Child is a like a love story to your child. There is love to your child from you and also some self love built in. The images are beautiful and while it isn’t a traditional bedtime book it is a soothing book, which is why it makes the bedtime list.
Age: Preschool
Style: Soft Cover
Details: Little Wilma is trying to go to sleep at night but can’t. So she asks her big brother for help. Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go to Sleep is a sweet book filled with happiness.
Age: Preschool
Style: Hard cover
Details: I will admit I tend to stay away from “character” books, such as Thomas the train. Thomas and the Shooting Star managed to scrape by on my list because I liked the premise. Thomas isn’t tired and goes to chase a shooting star. It’s a little long at times, but preschoolers seem to enjoy it well enough.
Age: Infant and Toddler
Style: Board Book
Details: I absolutely adore Mem Fox as an author. This beautiful, simple book, Time for Bed, has lovely animal illustrations on every page. Perfect for tucking your little one into bed.
Age: Preschool and toddler
Style: Soft cover and board book
Details: Where the Wild Things Are is a classic at this point. I find it fun because we have all had moments of losing our cool and going off to bed. A wild rumpus before bed can often be just what we need and then it all winds down with sailing back home and calming down. I’ve only read the soft cover version but I understand there is a board book version of it now as well.
