My favorite part of the day is reading to my children before bed. My oft-exuberant children succumb to their sleepiness and curl up beside me on the couch. The concerns of the day are forgotten as we begin to read. These six snuggly bedtime books are my favorites for establishing a cozy, loving bedtime reading routine with babies and toddlers. What are your favorite bedtime books for young children?
Where Does the Brown Bear Go? by Nicki Weiss. Dreamlike imagery and repetitive verse lull children to sleep. I love reading these well chosen words out loud. Ages 0+
Daddy Kisses by Anne Gutman & Georg Hallensleben. Describes daddy animals showing affection for their young. I love showering my children with kisses as I read this book. Ages 0+
Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton. An affectionate little love song. I love Boynton’s humorous twist. Ages 0+
Mi Amor Por Ti (My Love for You) by Susan Roth. Describes how vast a parent’s love is for a child. I love reading this poem in Spanish. Ages 0+
Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang. A countdown to bedtime from ten to one. I love the quiet affection between father and daughter depicted in the illustrations. Ages 0+
Time for Bed by Mem Fox. Animal parents urge their children to go to bed. I love imagining animal parents everywhere putting their children to bed at the same time that I am putting my children to bed. Ages 0+
Thanks for this list! My brother told me about your website. My favorite books for my girls are “Goodnight Moon” (of course), “Pajama Time,” and “Hush Little Baby” by Sylvia Long. It’s the one that promises things like show you a humming bird, sing you a lullaby, show you a lightning bug, listen to the crickets, watch the moon, etc. instead of the material stuff. I love it and I love to sing it. We also have the “Daddy Kisses” and “Mommy Hugs.”
Hi, Rachael! Thanks so much to you and your brother! I hadn’t heard of Sylvia Long’s version of Hush Little Baby.
Love those Anne Gutman books. So bright and colorful for babies.