
25 Dreamy Kids Bedtime Books to Tuck Into
As the day winds down, there's nothing quite like the gentle magic of calming bedtime books to get kids ready for sleep. A well-chosen bedtime book can transform the transition to sleep from a nightly struggle into a cherished moment of connection and calm.
These relaxing picture books pair well with a goodnight song and snuggle time for a sleep routine your younger kids will love. Once they're a little older, you can move on to a few chapters of a classic read-aloud book for the nighttime ritual.
What are the go-to bedtime books that you love to read to your kids at the end of the day? Weigh in below!
Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site
A soothing bedtime story that follows various construction vehicles as they wind down after a busy day and prepare for sleep. Through gentle rhymes and warm illustrations, the book lulls young readers into a peaceful slumber alongside the hardworking trucks.
Erynn said: This gorgeously illustrated book is a must-have for every child who loves their Tonka toys and is obsessed with machines of any sort! An ideal going-to-bed book, because the machines are settling down for the night too.
The Going to Bed Book
A sleepy and melodic rhythm, paired with a silly story and adorable animal illustrations, make this one of the best bedtime books for kids.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?
A brilliantly illustrated bedtime book that shows that good little dinosaurs go right to bed. Your little dinosaurs may also like other books in this series!
Alexandra F. said: We love this one at our house, and the illustrations are the best. We spend just as much time naming all the different kinds of dinosaurs pictured in the front/back covers as we do reading (and rereading) the story!
Goodnight Moon
One of the best picture books of all time, this quintessential bedtime story by Margaret Wise Brown is a must for every young child's library. The combination of the peaceful rhythm of the words and restful illustrations signal the end of the day like no other.
Katie G. said: One of the best bedtime stories for babies! All three of my kids loved this book from Margaret Wise Brown when they were babies and toddlers. I used to read it to them every single night. Fast forward several years later and I can still recite the book from memory. Babies will love the repetitive poetic words and following the cute, little bunny as he/she says "good night" to all the things in the room. The board book size is perfect for little hands to hold and help turn the pages. Pick this one up and add it to your bedtime routine to help you little one fall fast asleep.
Where the Wild Things Are
Your mischief-making little one might just see something of himself in free-spirited Max (and get lost in the beautiful and imaginative illustrations) as he embarks upon an adventure filled with wild rumpus and meets some unforgettable creatures.
Good Night, Gorilla
This wordless bedtime story tells the tale through delightful illustrations of a gorilla who follows the zookeeper home -- and takes the whole zoo with him! You can "read" this with your babies for the pictures at first, but it turns into a great chance for an older child to explain what's going on without the use of text.
Llama Llama Red Pajama
A young llama experiences separation anxiety at bedtime, leading to a dramatic outburst until his mother reassures him. It's a rhyming tale that addresses common childhood fears about being alone at night.
Katie G. said: This is a classic tale of a baby needing the comfort of his mama. This is the first book in the rhyming series by Anna Dewdney which follows the adventures and challenges of baby llama and his mama.
Bear Snores On
A lonely bear crawls into a cave to curl up for a cold winter nap. One-by-one, different animals and birds discover his cave and wander in to escape the cold. While the animals have a party, the bear snores on.
Vanessa M. said: The rhyming text in this book is really melodic and makes it a fun book to read out loud. It is one of those books that my kids ask me to read over and over and yet I'm not sick of reading it!
Good Night, Little Bear - A Sleepy-Time Tale
A (very) short and sweet bedtime story about different animal parents putting their babies to sleep.
Jodi Hoppe Wresh said: A good bedtime story that my kids enjoyed.

Dream Animals
A soothing bedtime book with enchanting illustrations that invites children to imagine the fantastical journeys their dreams might take them on, guided by magical animal companions.

Dinosnores
Playful bedtime book by Sandra Boynton that follows a group of dinosaurs as they prepare for sleep.

Sleep Like a Tiger
A gorgeously-illustrated bedtime book that you won't mind reading over and over again, about a little girl who doesn't want to go to sleep.

The Nice Dream Truck
Fun to read aloud with beautiful illustrations and a message that will get kids looking forward to sleep, The Nice Dream Truck serves up different flavors of imaginative dream adventures.

If Animals Kissed Good Night
Sweet bedtime story imagines how different animals would kiss each other good night as they prepare for sleep.

Pajama Time!
A sing-song bedtime book that you and your kids will be quoting even on the nights that you don't read it.
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