We have a great list of story books for bedtime. Are you looking for good bedtime stories for pajama time? We’ve got you! Here are our favorite bedtime books for young children to enjoy a good night’s sleep. We are sharing 27 children’s book for kids of all ages.
Best Bedtime Story Books
Reading a good book before sleeping is more than a great way to create healthy bedtime routines. Finding that perfect book that will become your kiddo’s new favorite book is one of the most powerful tools to make your little boy or little girl fall in love with reading.
A simple book can bring so many benefits to small children such as:
- Enhancing literacy skills
- Learning different perspectives of the world
- Sparking creativity in young readers through beautiful illustrations
- Helping kids create their own fun characters and stories
- And of course, get a good night’s sleep
We have books for every age: short stories and fairy tales for younger children, classic books with gorgeous illustrations for primary-school-aged children, and brilliant books for teens.
So enjoy our list of books for you and your kiddo’s nighttime ritual. Sweet dreams!
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Related: Looking for more story books for bedtime? Check these out!
These Are The Best Story Books For Bedtime
1. Goodnight Moon
In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. Goodnight room, goodnight moon. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown has beautiful illustrations and poetry that will be loved by readers and listeners.
2. Time for Bed
Day is done. Darkness is falling everywhere, and little ones are getting sleepy. Time for Bed by Mem Fox, with its rhythmic verse and peaceful, loving illustrations by Jane Dyer, will lull toddlers whether it’s bedtime or nap time.
3. Bear Snores On
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson and illustrations by Jane Chapman is a fun book for kids 0-6 years old. One by one, a whole host of different animals and birds find their way out of the cold and into Bear’s cave to warm up. But even after the tea has been brewed and the corn has been popped, Bear just snores on!
4. How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? is a book by Jane Yolen with illustrations by Mark Teague that shares through funny pages how dinosaurs do the same things that humans do. What if a dinosaur catches the flu? Does he whimper and whine between each “At-choo”?
5. Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site
Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker with illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld has sweet, rhyming text, which will have truck lovers of all ages begging for more.
6. How Will I Ever Sleep In This Bed?
How Will I Ever Sleep In This Bed? by Della Ross Ferreri with illustrations by Capucine Mazille is a great bedtime story for kindergarten and older. The adjustment from crib to big-kid bed can be a scary one. But with a little imagination and lots of plush toys, it won’t be so bad.
7. Kiss Good Night
Kiss Good Night by Amy Hest and illustrated by Anita Jeram is a bedtime story about bedtime. It is Sam’s bedtime. Mrs. Bear reads him a story, tucks him in, and brings him warm milk. What else does Sam need before going to sleep? Could Mrs. Bear have forgotten a kiss?
8. Goodnight, My Duckling
Goodnight, My Duckling by Nancy Tafuri is a short story for 3-5 years. The sun is setting and it’s time for Mama to lead her youngsters home. One dawdling duckling falls behind, but there’s no need for alarm. What will happen next?
9. The Going To Bed Book
The Going To Bed Book by Sandra Boynton is just right for winding down the day as a joyful, silly group of animals scrub scrub scrub in the tub, brush and brush and brush their teeth, and finally rock to sleep.
10. What! Cried Granny
What! Cried Granny is a book by Kate Lum with pictures by Adrian Johnson. It tells the story of Patrick, a kid having his first sleep-over at his grandmother’s house. But there are a series of events that keep him from going to sleep. How will they work together to solve these issues?
11. A Cinderella Story ~ Bedtime Stories for Kids
Kids will love this classic story.
If your kiddo loves more classic books, then the Cinderella Fairytale is perfect for them. Listen to Cinderella while you read along. Cinderella, the beautiful and kind-hearted daughter, sees her world turn upside down when her beloved mother dies, and her pained father remarries another woman. But things improve when she loses a glass slipper.
12. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
This is the Fairytale story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This Classic Tale is reimagined with a modern twist on what it means to be “Fair.” Listen to Snow White as you read along!
13. The Frog Prince: The Princess and the Frog
This is the tale of the Frog Prince, a Grimm’s Fairy Tale. Disney’s adaptation is titled, The Princess and the Frog. Once upon a time, there was a Princess. Many wanted to marry her, but it seemed they looked at her without really seeing her at all.
14. Aladdin and the Magic Lamp from The Arabian Nights
Aladdin and the Magic Lamp from the Arabian Nights is the classic story of the young boy Aladdin who is tricked by an evil wizard to go inside the cave that holds a great treasure and there is an old lamp that he needs to bring to him.
15. The Snow Queen Fairy Tale Story
The Snow Queen Fairy Tale Story centers on the struggle between good and evil as experienced by Gerda and her friend, Kai. She takes Kai back to this palace after he has fallen victim to the splinters of the troll-mirror.
16. If Animals Kissed Good Night
If Animals Kissed Good Night by Ann Whitford Paul with pictures by David Walker is simply lovely. If animals kissed good night like we do… how would they do it? Across the animal kingdom, every creature would share love in a unique way.
17. Dream Animals: A Bedtime Journey
Dream Animals: A Bedtime Journey by Emily Winfield Martin has a perfect nighttime rhyme and gorgeous illustrations. Little ones won’t mind closing their eyes once they learn what wonders await in their dreams.
18. Firefly, Light up the Sky
Firefly, Light up the Sky by Eric Carle is a beautiful pop-up and sound book. Use the flashlight to create shadows and sounds and create your own adventures!
19. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling is a story about Harry, an ordinary child with a miserable life. All that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place…
20. The Runaway Bunny
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown with pictures by Clement Hurd is a book about a small rabbit, who wants to run away. His mother, however, tells him that “if you run away, I will run after you”…
21. Guess How Much I Love You
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney with illustrations by Anita Jeram follows the story of two hares, Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare. It has a great life lesson about what love is and especially reminds your children of our unconditional love as parents.
22. Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief
Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is a classic story for teens. Mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking out of the pages of twelve-year-old Percy Jackson’s textbooks and into his life. But that’s not all…
23. Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book
Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book centers on the activity of sleep as readers follow the journey of many different characters preparing to slip into a deep slumber. It’s a bedtime story about bedtime!
24. The Nose of All Noses
The Nose of All Noses by Meera Ganapathi is the story of Zahra’s Dadima who has an unusually large nose that picks up scents that others cannot even imagine. Zahra wants a super nose too. Find out what happens when they embark on an adventure to train for a super nose.
25. A Hug Is Enough
A Hug Is Enough by Andrea Kaczmarek is a short story for toddlers, kindergarteners, and older kids. Leah is trying to think of the best present in the world for her mother. her whole family is here to help her think of the perfect gift!
26. Some Mummies
Some Mummies is a beautiful book by Jade Maitre that always starts a conversation with kids. Some mommies help us, and some mommies love us. What does your mommy do?
27. A Day At The Carnival
A Day At The Carnival by Syamphay Fengsavanh is a simple story about Little Mouse, Littler Mouse, and Tiny Mouse and their wonderful day at a carnival. This story can be read in 5 minutes and is suitable for kids ages 4-6 years old.
Want more reading activities for kids of all ages?
- Promote reading with this DIY book tracker bookmark printable and decorate however you want.
- We have tons of reading comprehension worksheets for your back-to-school.
- It’s the perfect time for reading! Here are fun summer reading club ideas for kids.
- Let’s create a reading corner for our babies and toddlers (yes, it’s never too young for promoting a healthy love of reading).
- It’s important to learn about National Book Readers Day!
- Check out these early reading resources to get started on the right foot.
- What about this fun frog story?
- Check out this list of 82 must read rhyming books!
- Check out these fun and awesome storytelling ideas.
Which storybooks for bedtime were your kids’ favorites?
Love it!
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