You know how important it is to establish a bedtime routine with your little one. Parenting experts recommend starting as soon as possible. This creates a link between the routine and falling asleep.
Establishing a routine is easier said than done, but bedtime story books can help. Sleepy time stories are a wonderful way to settle your baby for the night. What’s more, reading together fosters family bonding and supports brain development.
What bedtime books should you read?
There are so many great books that illustrate bedtime routines. As a former preschool teacher and librarian, I’ve read too many picture books to count. For this post, I’ve whittled the list down to 15 books.
Let’s dive in.
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Bedtime Story Books
A good bedtime story makes your child feel calm, secure, and ready to nod off by the time you finish reading. IF your little one even makes it to the end, of course.
Here are 15 bedtime story books to help you build a nightly routine with your child. And it’s only a start. With so many good books available, you’re sure to find something both of you will enjoy reading – over and over again!
1. Bedtime Blessings for Your Baby
Bedtime Blessings for Your Baby is the perfect book for a new mom who wants to speak truth over her baby. It also makes a wonderful baby shower gift to commemorate a new life. The entire book is a prompt for nighttime prayers and naptime snuggles.
- Title: Bedtime Blessings for Your Baby
- Author / Illustrator: DaySpring
- Ages: Mom and baby
- Format: Hardcover (embroidery cloth)
- Pages: 56
- Publisher: DaySpring
- Copyright: 2019
- ISBN-10: 1684086116
- ISBN-13: 978-1684086115
🎁 GIFT IDEA – Pair the book with a plush security blanket like this baby blessings snuggler.
2. A Book of Sleep
A Book of Sleep is a cute little bedtime book with dreamy artwork and soothing text. The story follows a little owl on a nighttime journey through a sleepy animal kingdom.
- Title: A Book of Sleep
- Author / Illustrator: Il Sung Na
- Ages: 1 to 3 years
- Formats: Digital, Hardcover, Board book
- Pages: 24
- Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
- Copyright: 2009
- ISBN-10: 0375862234
- ISBN-13: 978-0375862236
🎁 GIFT IDEA – This owl toddler night light / white noise sound machine is a nice companion gift to this book.
3. Going to Bed Book
The Going to Bed Book is a fun bedtime story book with silly rhymes and animal characters. It will grab your child’s attention and plant the idea of a nighttime routine.
- Title: Going to Bed Book
- Author / Illustrator: Sandra Boynton
- Ages: 1 to 4 years
- Formats: Hardcover, Board book
- Pages: 14
- Publisher: Little Simon
- Copyright: 2004
- ISBN-10: 0689861141
- ISBN-13: 978-0689861147
🎁 GIFT IDEA – For even more fun, get the book-and-blankie set – the board book with a coordinating blanket.
4. Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site
Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site is “truck book meets bedtime story.” That’s how Maria Russo, a children’s book editor for The New York Times, described it. Fun pictures and clever rhymes help your truck-loving child settle down for the night.
- Title: Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site
- Author: Sherri Duskey Rinker
- Illustrator: Tom Lichtenheld
- Ages: 2 to 3 years
- Formats: Digital, Audio, Hardcover, Paperback
- Pages: 32
- Publisher: Chronicle Books
- Copyright: 2011
- ISBN-10: 0811877825
- ISBN-13: 978-0811877824
🎁 GIFT IDEA – Improve your child’s memory with this flip-the-card style matching game. Or escalate the fun with this interactive sound book.
5. Goodnight, Gorilla
Goodnight, Gorilla is a must-have for bedtimes and gifting events. In this toddler favorite, it’s bedtime at the zoo, and all the animals are going to sleep. Or are they? Follow the zookeeper as he ends the day, and see who gets the last laugh.
- Title: Goodnight, Gorilla
- Author / Illustrator: Peggy Rathmann
- Ages: 1 to 3 years
- Formats: Digital, Audio, Hardcover, Paperback, Board
- Pages: 40
- Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
- Copyright: 1994
- ISBN-10: 0399224459
- ISBN-13: 978-0399224454
🎁 GIFT IDEA – Pair the book with a baby gorilla stuffed animal to care for and snuggle. Includes a toy pacifier, baby bottle, and cloth diaper.
6. Goodnight, Little One, God Loves You
Goodnight, Little One, God Loves You has animal moms saying goodnight to their babies. Comfort your child every night as you unwind, with the reassuring message of God’s love.
- Title: Goodnight, Little One, God Loves You
- Author: Bonnie Jensen
- Illustrator: Hannah Skelton
- Ages: 3 to 6 years
- Formats: Hardcover
- Pages: 24
- Publisher: DaySpring
- Copyright: 2020
- ISBN-10: 1644546620
- ISBN-13: 978-1644546628
🎁 GIFT IDEA – Pair this book with a Woodland Friends or Friendly Forest baby blanket.
7. Goodnight Train
The Goodnight Train is a fantasy of lyrical words and magical pictures. It follows the journey of a special train’s trip to the dreamland station. The journey continues in The Goodnight Train Rolls On and Santa and the Goodnight Train.
- Title: The Goodnight Train
- Author: June Sobel
- Illustrator: Laura Huliska-Beith
- Ages: 1 to 3 years
- Formats: Digital, Hardcover, Paperback, Board book
- Pages: 32
- Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
- Copyright: 2006
- ISBN-10: 0152054367
- ISBN-13: 978-0152054366
🎁 GIFT IDEA – Pair the book (or set) with a choo choo train personalized baby blanket.
8. Hush Little Polar Bear
Hush Little Polar Bear tells of a baby polar bear that travels from one magical place to another. Lush and lovely pictures suit the lulling, rhyming text to make a perfect bedtime story book.
- Title: Hush Little Polar Bear
- Author / Illustrator: Jeff Mack
- Ages: 1 to 3 years
- Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Board book
- Pages: 36
- Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
- Copyright: 2013
- ISBN-13: 9781596439450
🎁 GIFT IDEA – This plush polar bear cub makes a wonderful companion gift to the book.
9. If Animals Kissed Goodnight
If Animals Kissed Good Night has soft-color renderings and rhyming text. It explores what would happen if animal parents and their babies kissed Good Night like we do.
- Title: If Animals Kissed Good Night
- Author: Ann Whitford Paul
- Illutrator: David Walker
- Ages: Baby to 3 years
- Formats: Audio, Paperback, Board book
- Pages: 34
- Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
- Copyright: 2014
- ISBN-10: 0374300216
- ISBN-13: 978-0374300210
🎁 GIFT IDEA – Pair the book with a plush animal baby like this cute elephant toy.
10. If I Were a Kangaroo
If I Were a Kangaroo is a bedtime tale with rhyming verse and soft illustrations. It imagines the bedtime rituals of different animals – whales, otters, gorillas, and more.
- Title: If I Were a Kangaroo
- Author: Mylisa Larsen
- Illustrator: Anna Raff
- Ages: Baby to 3 years
- Formats: Digital, Hardcover, Paperback
- Pages: 32
- Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
- Copyright: 2017
- ISBN-10: 0451469585
- ISBN-13: 978-0451469588
🎁 GIFT IDEA – Complete the theme with this mommy kangaroo and her little joey.
11. Llama Llama Red Pajama
Llama Llama Red Pajama gives a fresh twist to a familiar nighttime ritual. Little Llama doesn’t want to go to bed, but his Mama makes the transition to sleep smooth and seamless. See also: Llama Llama Nighty-Night.
- Title: Llama Llama Red Pajama
- Author / Illustrator: Anna Dewdne
- Ages: 2 to 5 years
- Binding: Digital, Audio, Hardcover, Paperback, Board book
- Pages: 40
- Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
- Copyright: 2014
- ISBN-10: 0451469909
- ISBN-13: 978-0451469908
🎁 GIFT IDEA – Pair the book with this plush talking Llama Llama that plays phrases from the book.
12. Little Owl’s Night
Little Owl’s Night is a bedtime story with a twist. A little owl roams the forest watching his friends enjoy the night. Could the daytime be as wonderful? As Mama Owl describes daytime, the sun comes up and Little Owl falls asleep.
- Title: Little Owl’s Night
- Author / Illustrator: Divya Srinivasan
- Ages: 1 to 3 years
- Formats: Digital, Hardcover, Paperback, Board book
- Pages: 32
- Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
- Copyright: 2011
- ISBN-13: 978-0670012954
🎁 GIFT IDEA – This huggable baby owl is a nice complement to the book. It’s great for bedtime or take-on-the-go play.
13. Recipe for Bedtime
A Recipe for Bedtime walks your baby step-by-step through the bedtime routine. He’ll tuck in and drift off to sleep in no time.
- Title: A Recipe for Bedtime
- Author: Peter Bentley
- Illustrator: Sarah Massini
- Ages: Preschool
- Formats: Digital, Hardcover, Paperback
- Pages: 32
- Publisher: G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
- Copyright: 2016
- ISBN-10: 039917625X
- ISBN-13: 978-0399176258
🎁 GIFT IDEA – Pair the book with this soft minky blanket with a cute animal design and dotted fabric backing.
14. Sweet Dreams, Pout-Pout Fish
Sweet Dreams, Pout-Pout Fish introduces young guppies to the series. In this book, drowsy Mr. Fish gets ready for his cozy seaweed bed. Toddlers love swimming along with him as he turns their little frowns into sleepy smiles.
- Title: Sweat Dreams, Pout-Pout Fish
- Author: Deborah Diesen
- Illustrator: Dan Hanna
- Ages: 1-3 years
- Formats: Digital, Board book
- Pages: 12
- Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
- Copyright: 2015
- ISBN-10: 0374380104
- ISBN-13: 978-0374380106
🎁 GIFT IDEA – Pair the book with this cuddly stuffed doll based on the Pout-Pout Fish series.
15. Tucked in the Barn
Tucked in the Barn is perfect for your bedtime snuggle and reading routine. Sleepy little farm babies going to their beds tell an endearing and funny bedtime story.
- Title: Tucked in the Barn
- Author: Agnes Green
- Illustrator: Natalia Vetrova
- Ages: 2-5 years
- Formats: Digital, Hardcover Paperback
- Pages: 19
- Publisher: April Tale Books
- Copyright: 2019
- ISBN-13: 9781532377983
🎁 GIFT IDEA – These talking farm animals in a barn carrier are a fun complement to the book.
Wrapping It Up
There you have it – 15 bedtime story books to tuck in your baby at night. May they help you build a nighttime routine that will settle your child for sleep. And give you enjoyment as you spend time together and build memories. ◻️
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Now It’s Your Turn
Thank you for reading my post. Now it’s YOUR turn to chime in. What are your favorite bedtime story books? How else do you build a nightly routine with your child?
Let’s fill the comments with friendly conversation. Scroll down to leave a reply, ask a question, or say just hello. And if you liked this post, please give it a share.
Blessings, Annette
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