Books for Kids - Bedtime

Enjoy this list of bedtime stories to help your toddlers or preschoolers get ready for bed.

Updated May 22, 2023
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Teddy bedtime
Birkett, Georgie
Paper Book
Teddies play, teddies jump, teddies sing and laugh . . . and then it's time for bed!Wonderfully colourful artwork and a jaunty rhyming text ensure that this will be a firm bedtime favourite!Praise for SHARE!'A heartwarming picture book (with) delightful illustrations. There's just the right balance...
Monkey bedtime
English, Alex
Paper Book
Suddenly I heard an EEK, a TAP TAP on the pane. A tiny little monkey face was peering through the rain. I'm sure my mom won't mind, I thought. He's really very small. One tiny pygmy marmoset could do no harm at all. . . When a little boy...
Baby bedtime
Fox, Mem
Paper Book
A lullaby to babies everywhere, Baby Bedtime is a lyrical tribute to the love inspired by the little people in our lives.This enchanting read-aloud story combines the talents of Australia's premier picture-book writer, Mem Fox, author of Possum Magic and Where is the Green Sheep?, and acclaimed...
Bedtime for Frances
Hoban, Russell.
Paper Book
This beloved classic bedtime book continues to spark giggles and is a perfect read-aloud at bedtime. It may be bedtime for Frances, but before Frances can sleep, she needs a glass of milk, a kiss from Father, one from Mother, her teddy bear, her doll, another kiss from Father, and another...
A bedtime for Bear
Becker, Bonny.
Paper Book
"Denton's ink and watercolor illustrations ably express the dry humor of Becker's dialogue and personifications, which make this a bedtime standout." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) Bear must have absolute quiet when he goes to bed. But the effervescent...
Bedtime for Little Bulldozer
Broach, Elise
Paper Book
Little Bulldozer struggles to fall asleep in Bedtime for Little Bulldozer, a sweet and clever bedtime picture book by New York Times bestselling author Elise Broach with illustrations by Barry E. Jackson. Falling asleep isn't always easy, especially for a loud...
Little Owl's bedtime
Gliori, Debi
Paper Book
_______________ From the author of the bestselling No Matter What comes another irresistible Little Owl story, perfect for wakeful little night owls struggling to get to sleep. Little Owl doesn't want to go to bed . . . His pillow...
Dino pajama party : a bedtime book
Wallmark, Laurie
Paper Book
Join the dinos for a bash before bedtime! Much like us, dinosaurs love to have fun. Dinosaurs from all around gather together to play instruments, dance, and sing before bedtime. But soon the dinosaurs grow tired and need their rest. This is a book that's sure to have kids...
What! cried Granny : an almost bedtime story
Lum, Kate.
Paper Book
Taken to delightfully silly extremes, this wickedly daffy stalling-at-bedtime romp contains scenes that exhausted adults will recognize and every "almost"-ready-for-bed kid will wish for. Full color.
Will you help me fall asleep?
Kang, Anna
Paper Book
Good night like this
Murphy, Mary
Paper Book
From the creator of A Kiss Like This and Say Hello Like This, comes a third Like This novelty title - a gorgeous exploration of the many ways animals snuggle down to sleep, and the perfect read-aloud for parents and babies to share at bedtime.The perfect bedtime read, snuggle down with this adorable...
Twenty yawns
Smiley, Jane
Paper Book
A Huffington Post Best Children's Book of the Year From Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley and Caldecott Honor artist Lauren Castillo. As her mom reads a bedtime story, Lucy drifts off. But later, she awakens in a dark, still room, and everything looks mysterious. How...
Dinosaur vs. bedtime
Shea, Bob.
Paper Book
Fans of No, David! will love this not-quite-ready-for-bedtime book that launched a top-selling series--by favorite funny man Bob Shea! Roaaaar! Roaaaar! This little dinosaur usually wins everything, and nothing can stop him--not talking grownups...
The bear in my bed
Wan, Joyce
Paper Book
The Bear in My Bed, featuring Joyce Wan's sweet text and signature bold, graphic art, is a hilarious take on bedtime routines, sure to make sleepy little ones smile! When a little boy goes into his room for bedtime, he finds out that his bed is already occupied--by a...
Goodnight, good dog
Ray, Mary Lyn
Paper Book
It's time to say goodnight. But what if a dog isn't sleepy? Intimate and accessible, this young dog story captures how a reluctant pup warms to bedtime in a way that children will recognize immediately--and find as reassuring as their own beds.   
Back to bed, Ed!
Braun, Sebastien.
Paper Book
A beautifully illustrated and reassuring bedtime story Ed loves bedtime. He plays games with Dad, splashes in the bath and has stories with Mum. Yes, Ed loves going to bed, but Ed HATES staying in bed! Night after night he tiptoes down the hall and climbs into Mum and Dad's bed. Mum and...
Sleepy Sheepy
Cummins, Lucy Ruth
Paper Book
From critically acclaimed author Lucy Ruth Cummins and Pete Oswald, New York Times bestselling illustrator of The Sour Grape, comes a rhyming bedtime tale featuring brand new picture book character Sleepy Sheepy, a sheep who is definitely NOT sleepy! Sleepy...
Sleepy, oh so sleepy
Fleming, Denise
Paper Book
Baby animals are going to sleep one by one, but the tiny human baby is the most special of all. Denise Fleming's knack for understanding the preschool set shines through in this gentle good-night story, illustrated with her signature pulp paintings. Take a colorful look at all the tired...
Tomorrow most likely
Eggers, Dave
Paper Book
"Highly recommended . . . an outstanding storytime selection." - School Library Journal, starred review A bright new take on bedtime books: Rather than focusing on going to bed -- and what kid wants to think about going to bed? -- this book explores all of the dreamy,...
Goodnight already!
John, Jory.
Paper Book
*An E. B. White Read-Aloud Honor Book* A hilarious bedtime book from the award-winning creators of I Love You Already!, Come Home Already!, and All Right Already! Bear is exhausted. All he wants is to go to sleep. Duck is wide awake. All he wants is to hang out . . . with...
Touch the brightest star
Matheson, Christie
Paper Book
What happens while you're asleep With lush, beautiful watercolors and cut-paper collage, Christie Matheson reveals the magic of the nighttime sky using the same kinds of toddler-perfect interactive elements as her acclaimed Tap the Magic Tree. Wave good-bye to the sun, gently press...
Sweet dreamers
Simler, Isabelle
Paper Book
A gorgeous bedtime book from an award-winning creator From the celebrated creator of Plume and The Blue Hour comes another enchanting animal book. Countless cozy animals are settling in for the night, but they all sleep in different ways. A bat...
Goodnight moon
Brown, Margaret Wise
Paper Book
In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. "Goodnight room, goodnight moon." And to all the familiar things in the softly lit room--to the picture of the three little bears sitting on chairs, to the clocks and his socks, to the mittens and the kittens, to everything one by one-...
Sleepy ABC
Brown, Margaret Wise
Paper Book
When nightime approaches, all the world is ready for sleep. The small kitten yawns at the hearth, the lambs in the field close their eyes, and a young child waits for a goodnight kiss. Margaret Wise Brown's tender rhymes and Esphyr Slobodkina's patchwork-quilt motif artwork gently and lovingly...
The big bed
Laditan, Bunmi
Paper Book
From Bunmi Laditan, the creator of the Honest Toddler blog, The Big Bed is a humorous picture book about a girl who doesn't want to sleep in her little bed, so she presents her dad with his own bed--a camping cot!--in order to move herself into her parents' big bed in his place. A twist on...
Don't blink!
Rosenthal, Amy Krouse.
Paper Book
This interactive book may seem to be on your side, reluctant sleeper -- but it's truly a bedtime book in disguise! New from New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Amy Krouse Rosenthal and David Roberts! Here's how it works: if you can avoid getting to the end of...
Baby, sleepy baby
Atinuke
Paper Book
Bear can't sleep
Wilson, Karma
Paper Book
Bear's many animal friends try to help him get to sleep in time for winter hibernation in this companion story to Bear Snores On. It's winter, and deep in the forest, Bear should be fast asleep. But when his friends come by to check on him, they realize that Bear is still...

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