Our Favorite Bedtime Books to Read Aloud

Reading bedtime books is a special and timeless parent-child ritual. These picture books have been some of our favorite bedtime books over the years. They range from simple and soothing rhymes to stories of love. There are even a few bedtime books meant to make kids laugh and giggle before sinking into happy and sweet dreams.

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MORE: See all our book lists indexed here.

Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang

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This is one of my absolute favorite board books. I loved reading it to both my boys at night time and I can still recite it from memory. I even included it in my list of toddler books I'll miss reading. A young girl counts items in her room as she gets ready for bed. "10 small toes all soft and warm. 9 soft friends in a quiet room," all the way down to "1 big girl all ready for bed." Also available in Spanish.

Good Night Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann

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This book can be found on many lists of the best toddler books and for good reason! This board book offers humor, whimsy, a chance for kids to be “in the know” as they watch the gorilla sneak behind the zookeeper’s back. There is not a lot of text, but there is a lot of fun.

Time for Bed's Story by Monica Arnaldo

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Prepare to have your old notions bedtime stories tossed out the window with this wacky picture book. It's Bed's turn to tell his story. He sees everything, and he knows what you all really think of bedtime. But while this is truly a hilariously quirky bedtime book with an original narrative voice, it is also full of endearing sentiment.

Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Jean Jullien

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A melodramatic owl is on the prowl. He is hungry, but being a wise owl he is a master of disguise and knows just how to catch his prey. To catch a bunny, he disguises himself as a carrot. For a pigeon, he becomes an ornamental bird bath. He doesn't seem to have much luck, but no matter! He is undeterred and when he finally gets his dinner (I won't give it away!) the world can sleep again. I absolutely adore the wry, ridiculous humor of this book. I could hardly contain my laughter, which of course made my sons love it even more because apparently when mama laughs, life is hilarious.

I Dare You Not to Yawn by Helene Boudreau, illustrated by Serge Bloch

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Everyone knows the infectious power of a yawn. Just try not to yawn when someone mentions it! (I bet you are yawning right now!) Fortunately, the narrator has all sorts of tricks to keep from yawning, thus avoiding bedtime. This is a fun bedtime book and my sons and I like to see who can hold out from yawning the longest before the book is done. So far they have won every time.

No Go Sleep! by Kate Feiffer, illustrated by Jules Feiffer

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This bedtime book is great fun, but I can't be held responsible if your child echos "No Go Sleep!" when you have finished reading. Every child can relate to and every parent will recognize the protagonist of this book who announces at each turn that he is not interested in going to sleep. Until, that is, he does.

The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton

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This is another book worth owning because you will read it again and again and again. It is nearly impossible to get bored of Sandra Boynton's swinging, rhythmic text and the part in which the animals exercise after they have already gotten ready for bed is a pretty accurate depiction of what happens in our house! Also available in Spanish.

The Maggie B. by Irene Haas

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I loved this book as a child, with its gorgeous watercolors and the story of an imaginary, self-sufficient day on a boat out at sea. It’s one of my favorite quiet classics, and a perfect bedtime book.

Hush! A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho, illustrated by Holly Meade

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I have this title on so many book lists! After a mom puts her baby to sleep in a hammock she has to hush the sounds around her. Author Minfong Ho writes each animal's onomatopoetic sound and I like that they are unusual to English speakers. For example, the lizard says "tuk-ghaa", the pig says, "uut-uut." The gentle, rhythmic text creates such a lovely lullaby.

Don't Wake the Dragon (series) by Bianca Schulze, illustrated by Samara Hardy

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In this interactive bedtime book, readers will need to make sure the dragon doesn't wake up! Kids will be prompted to shush the inhabitants of a noisy castle, and rock the dragon into a deep slumber. If you're lucky, your little one will also start to nod off.

MORE: Interactive Books for Kids

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Mark Teague

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I will never get rid of my copy of this book. Partly because every page is covered in tape from being so well handled and loved by my son. I read this book every night for about two years! It has an honored spot on our shelf.

In the Sky at Nighttime by Laura Deal, illustrated by Tamara Campeau

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Repeating the phrase, "In the sky at nighttime..." the lyrical narration describes a wintery night in a far northern village, including the northern lights. This gentle bedtime story will send your kids off into a deep slumber. Dreamy. Be sure to check out the other books on our list of books about the Northern Lights.

Itsy Mitsy Runs Away by Elanna Allen

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Itsy Mitsy hates bedtime so much she decides to run away to where there is never any bedtime. Only... She doesn't want to leave all her favorite belongings behind, including her house. Clever illustrations add to the fun.

Duck in the Fridge by Jeff Mack

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If you love reading aloud, Mack's amusing bedtime book offers plenty of opportunities to speak in silly voices, yuck it up at so-bad-they-are-good puns, nod knowingly at the dramatic irony, and laugh at the ending twist. It all starts out when a boy asks his father why he always reads Mother Goose at bedtime and dad explains it all had to do with finding a duck in the fridge...

The Dark by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Jon Klassen

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Laszlo is afraid of the dark. It usually lives in the basement, although it also lurks in closets and behind the shower curtain. Every morning Laszlo says hello to the dark, hoping that the dark would stop visiting his bedroom at night. One night the dark speaks to Laszlo and leads him to the cure for his fear.

MORE: 51 Must Read Picture Books for Kids