Bedtime Books for Babies and Toddlers

October 19, 2022

One of my favorite times to read to babies and toddlers is right before naptime or bedtime. And, since little ones take at least one nap and eventually go to sleep at night, that gives us at least two reading sessions a day. Enjoy these bedtime books for babies and toddlers.

Of course, you don’t have to read a book about bedtime right before tucking little ones in for sleep. You can read a book on any topic. But, I do like to help little ones get in that wind-down mindset with these soothing stories.

Bedtime Books for Babies

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I’m Still Up by Antoinette Portis is a sweet and playful book about the moon being up and the baby still up too. (board book)

Get ready for the soothing waves to rock you to sleep in this lullaby tale set under the sea. Jane Yolen brings us Merbaby’s Lullaby. (board book)

Good Night – Buenas Noches by Meritxell Marti allows little ones to say goodnight to all the things in this bilingual book. Each item closes its eyes when you pull the tab. (board book)

Get sleepy as we say goodnight to all the animals on land and in the sea. Little ones even get to pull a tab to help some animals go to sleep. Enjoy Night Night, Little Ones by Hegarty. (board book)

The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton is a board book great for the little ones. The sun has set and now it’s time to prepare for bed. Follow the animals on the boat as they prepare for bedtime. This one was on repeat for us when my boys were little.

And, if you aren’t familiar with Sandra Boynton and her amazing books for little ones, check out this post where I share our favorite Boynton book.—> Favorite Sandra Boynton Books

I adore Mem Fox. Her board book, Time for Bed, is a sweet, soft read perfect for reading right before you tuck your child in for the night.

Bedtime Books for Toddlers

Many toddlers especially young twos will still appreciate many of the books in the baby category above. But, you can also start to venture into slightly longer reads with these books.

Baby’s First Bedtime by Tiger Tales will tire little ones out as they say goodnight to all the animals in their homes from the puppies in the kennel to the rabbits in the hutch. There are two sturdy lift-the-flaps per spread. First, children are invited to take a peek at the baby animal and then open the bigger flap to reveal the parent and babies. (board book for younger toddlers)

Night Night, Little Digger by Nicola Edwards will delight all little construction vehicle lovers with soothing rhyming text as we wish each big and little construction vehicle goodnight. There are touch-and-feel parts on each spread although some are an awkward texture and don’t add to the reading experience. (board book)

Toddlers will enjoy the illustrations in My Nap Mi Siesta by Raúl the Third which is part of the Coco Rocho series. There is so much to notice in the illustrations as we see all the different places to squeeze in a siesta. Plus, the book is bilingual. (board book)

Ever wish you could reach up into the sky and hold the moon in your hands? Well, now you can hold the moon in Our Friend Moon by Lea Redmond. The book is shaped like the moon and you turn the pages through the phases of the moon with soothing text. Perfect for bedtime. (board book)

Dream My Child by r.h. Sin is a beautiful and softly illustrated soothing story to drift off to. Dream your way around the world in this snuggly read. (picture book)

“This is a mushroom that grows in the park. This is a mushroom that glows in the dark.” Now get ready to climb into the mushroom just for you. Cuddle up in your mushroom bed. And, get ready for some mushroom dreams. Mushroom Lullaby by Kenneth Kraegel is a beautiful nighttime read. (picture book)