This Post contains affiliate links, for more information see my disclosure policy.
Best Bedtime Stories
I created this bedtime stories list based on our interests, things we’re learning about (36 Picture Books that Teach Life Skills) & classic bedtime stories.
Here is a list of our favorites BEDTIME STORIES
(ages 2-7, in alphabetical order):
Printable list includes bold and italicized books marked as best reads for ages 2-4
100+ Best Bedtime Stories (ages 2-7) printable list
The Snail Who Forgot the Mail: Teach your kids patience at bedtime by Sigal Adler
is a fun rhyming book that teaches the importance of patience (instead of losing your temper).
“You’re not my monster!” by Sigal Adler
Another fun book by Adler. This one may help your little monster lover enjoy bedtime routine just a little.
Goodnight Thomas, by Rev. W Awdry
A classic bedtime story in our house.
A Bedtime for Bear by Bonny Becker
Beautiful illustrations and funny story that touches on insomnia and whether you prefer to sleep with someone else or alone.
The Bearnstain Bears In The Dark by Stan and Jan Berenstain
I remember this book from my childhood and it was passed down to my son (although not from me). It is a great book to help kids who are learning to enjoy reading or are afraid of the dark. Two very unrelated topics…
The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
Sandra Boynton is one of my favorite board book authors! This is a must have for your home library and for helping toddles deal with bedtime routine.
Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton
Barnyard Dance! By Sandra Boynton
Pajama Time! By Sandra Boynton
Where do Diggers Sleep at Night? By Brianna Caplan Sayres
I am NOT Sleepy and I Will Not Go To Bed by Lauren Child
Goodnight Baseball by Michael Dahl
Goodnight Hockey by Michael Dahl
Putting the Monkeys to Bed by Gennifer Choldenko
Night, Knight by Owen Davey
Llama Llama Night-Night by Anna Dewdney
Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey RInker
Goodnight Already by Jory John and Benji Davies
Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go to Sleep by Joyce Dunbar
Bedtime (baby touch and feel)
The Bedtime Book by Mary Engelbreit
Your Baby’s First Word Will Be Dada by Jimmy Fallon
Time for Bed by Mem Fox
Good Night Fire Engines by Adam Gamble
Good Night Race Cars (Good Night Our World) by Adam Gamble
Good Night Yoga: a Pose- by-Pose Bedtime Story by Mariam Gates
Princesses Wear Pants by Savannah Guthrie
Where’s Waldo by Martin Handford
Where’s Waldo? The Fantastic Journey by Martin Handford
Where’s Waldo Now? By Martin Handford
Where’s Waldo 30th Anniversary Edition by Martin Handford
Bedtime for Bear by Brett Helquist
Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
My Bedtime: by Amanda Hembrow
Kiss Good Night
Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban
Sleepyheads by Sandra J. Howatt
Good Night Owl
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Big Enough for a Bed (Sesame Street) by Apple Jordan
Goodnight, Little Monster
Magical Animals at Bedtime: Tales of Guidance and Inspiration for you to read with your child to comfort and enlighten
Bedtime for Mommy by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Nap a Roo by Kristy Kurjan
The Big Bed by Bunmi Laditan
(PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE)
Buddah at Bedtime: Tales of Love and Wisdom for You to Read with your Child to Enchat, Enlighten and Inspire
Just Go to Bed (Little Critter) by Mercer Mayer
There’s a Nightmare in my Closet by Mercer Mayer
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
Goodnight, Numbers by Danica McKellar
Love you Forever by Robert Munsch
First Words by Thomas Nelson
Bedtime Math: A Fun Excuse to Stay Up LAte (Bedtime Math Series) by Laura Overdeck
Night-Night Farm, Touch and Feel by Amy Parker
Nighty-Night by Lesli Patrecelli
First 100 Words by Roger Priddy
First 100 Board Book (set of 3) by Roger Priddy
First 100 Words Life-the-Flap by Roger Priddy
First 100 Animals by Roger Priddy
Bright Baby Colors
ABC & Numbers First Words by Roger Priddy
First 100 Trucks and Things that Go by Roger Priddy
Shhh! This Book is Sleeping by Cedric Ramadier
Good Night Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
Good Night, Curious George, Touch and Feel
Sweet Dreams, Curious George
Curious George Storybook Collection
My Mom Loves Me by Marianne Richmond
Goodnight Pirate by Michelle Robinson
Goodnight Tractor by Michelle Robinson
The Bunnies Are Not in Their Beds by Marisabina Russo
Best Storybook Ever by Richard Scarry
Richard Scarry’s Best Word Book Ever by Richard Scarry
Baby Touch and Feel: First Words by DK
Where the Wild Things Are by Maruice Sendak
In The Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book by Dr. Seuss
Dinosaur Vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea
Sleepy ABCs by Margaret Wise Brown
The Sleepy Little Alphabet by Judy Sierra
Goodnight Train by June Sobel
Little Owl 1,2,3 by Divya Srinivasan
Little Owl Colors by Divya Srinivasan
Little Owl’s Night by Divya Srinivasan
Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na
The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson
How do Dinosaurs say Goodnight? By Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
Little Quack’s Bedtime by Lauren Thompson
On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman
It’s time to Sleep, My Love by Nancy Tillman
Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tillman
The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood
Bedtime (Toddler Tools) by Elizabeth Verdick
Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber
Can’t You Sleep, Little Bear by Martin Wadell
Bear Snores on by Karma Wilson
Dream Animals: A Bedtime Journey by Emily Winfield Martin
GoodNight Songs: Illustrated by Twelve Award-Winning Picture Book Artists by Margaret Wise Brown
The Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
If Animals Kissed Good Night by Ann Witford Paul
The Napping House by Audrey Wood
Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters
How do Dinosaurs go to sleep?
BEST Bedtime Stories for Infants:
Night, Night Forrest Friends by Annie Bach
Baby Animals: Touch and Feel
Things that Go indestructibles
Cars and Trucks and Things that Go Richard Scarry
Baby Loves Summer by Karen Katz
Beach Baby
Baby Faces
Baby Babble
Baby Peek-a-Boo
Baby Touch and Feel Colors and Shapes
Best Chapter Books: ages 8- Tweens
Bedtime stories are not just for younger kids! These books can be read independently (depending on reading level and interest) but all are suitable for read alouds, especially for multi-age audiences. For example if you’re reading with younger children and your tween decides to join. My personal favorite is Shel Silverstein’s books & The Stinky Cheese Man by Jon Scieszka. Kids of ALL ages LOVE these because they’re silly.
Roald Dahl
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Witches
Kate Decamillo will forever be one of my favorite authors!
Miraculous journey of Edward Tulane
Because of Winn Dixie
The Tale of Desperaux
Mary Pope Osborne:
The Magic Tree House Series
Rick Riordan;
Percy Jackson Series
Children’s Classics:
Shel Silverstein: Poetry is an excellent choice for bedtime reading! It offers a different genre that some kids (who are already readers) may not choose on their own.
Where the Sidewalk Ends
A Light in the Attic
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
The Secret Garden by Francess Hodgesen Burnett
Jon Scieszka:
The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales-This is a silly take for school age kids (who have already read/ heard the classics like the Gingerbread man). It’s fun to have another take on a classic story and bonus points if it’s silly too.
J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter Series
The Chocolate Touch
How to find more book ideas?
~Try a Google Search: “third grade (or whatever grade/age) chapter books” or “third grade graphic novels (for a chapter book series or type of books)
~Search for recommended reading list by grade level online or check your local library (many libraries have a summer reading program with printed booklists you can take home). “Third grade core lit”. Sometimes local libraries have a pre-printed list of book recommendations from local teachers ESPECIALLY in the summer.
Tips for Reading Bedtime Stories:
Set a routine & respect it!
Example: we read 2 short (or one long) story nearly every night. If you travel make sure to bring two books and we read what you can, when we can. If there is time we briefly discuss the story (we average a weekly book talk).
Involve your child:
Do a Picture walk- “read” the pictures and try to guess what is going to happen on each page (if its a short story 5-10 double sided pages).
Ask them questions:
- What do you notice (about a picture)
- What do you think about that?
- Why do you think he/she did that?
Or talk about what you notice/wonder about the pictures.
Accept whatever level of participation they are able to provide.
*for infants and toddlers just focus on vocabulary (you can mix it up and practice identifying names or motioning when there are action words but remember to speak in simple sentences).
Make it engaging!
Do the voices (if it is enjoyable for you give characters different voices) OR If not model confident reading (even if you really don’t feel that way).
Read with expression! Use inflection & tone, pause at the commas and stop at the periods say an ALL CAPS word LOUD or SpOoKy or whatever fits into the storyline).
