This is a list of 20 of our favorite bedtime stories. We hope that you enjoy them as much as we do! To read our thoughts about what characteristics make up a great bedtime story head on over to my “What Makes a Great Bedtime Story” post.
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20 Bedtime Stories for Little Sleepy-Heads
“Goodnight Everyone” by Chris Haughton- The forest is coming on nighttime and all the little forest animals are sleepy. Even fun-loving Little Bear eventually realizes that he is sleepy too and that bedtime might be nice.
“Sleep Like a Tiger” by Mary Logue and Pamela Zagarenski- A book about a king and a queen helping their royal child fall asleep by telling them how animals sleep.
“Sleep Tight Farm” by Eugenie Doyle and Becca Stadtlander- A bedtime story about how a farm prepares for the winter season.
“Guess How Much I love you” by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram- Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare express their love to each other by saying they love each other more than different things such as the distance to the moon and back.
“Before I Wake Up…” by Britta Teckentrup- An exploration of the world of dreams through a small child and their beloved stuffed animal who is their companion in sleep.
“When The World is Dreaming” by Rita Gray and Kenard Pak- Delightful read about imaginative musings on what animals may dream about when they go to sleep.
“A Moon of My Own” by Jennifer Rustgi and Ashley White- A little girl expresses her love to the moon and how it seems to follow her everywhere she goes.
“The Moon Inside” by Sandra V. Feder and Aimee Sicuro- A little girl overcomes her fear of the dark by discovering the beauty of the moon and nighttime.
“Almost a Full Moon” by Hawksley Workman and Jensine Eckwall- A story that uses soup as a metaphor for love and acceptance with beautiful rhyme and rhythm.
“Go to Sleep Monster” by Kevin Cornell- The story of two children who decide to get to the bottom of the question about whether or not there is a monster under the bed and how to help it sleep.
“Good Night Little Billy Bob” by Pauline Oud- Great book about bedtime routines for toddlers.
“Just Go to Bed!” by Mercer Meyer- Little Critter does not want to go to bed, but eventually realizes that it may not be such a bad idea after all.
“You Belong Here” by M. H. Clark and Isabelle Arsenault- A sentimental book about how everything belongs where they are and how your child belongs with you.
“If You Want to See a Whale” by Julie Fogliano and Erin E. Stead- A fanciful book that “instructs” children on “proper” whale watching. It is very calm and soothing.
“What a Wonderful World” by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss- They lyrics to the famous celebratory song with bright illustrations. It’s great to sing along with as a lullaby.
“On the Night You Were Born” by Nancy Tillman- A tribute to your child on the love you have for them and the joy you felt the night they were born.
“When the World is Ready for Bed” by Gillian Shields and Anna Currey- A story about the world preparing for night and bedtime.
“Goodnight Gorilla” by Peggy Rathmann- A board book with very few words about a gorilla and zoo animals who want to follow the zookeeper to bed.
“The Quiet Book” by Deborah Underwood and Renata Liwska- This book details many different types of quiet that exist and is very soothing.
“The House in the Night” by Susan Marie Swanson- A beautiful and simple story about a house in the night and a child sleeping in it.
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