Our Favorite Bedtime Books

After my post on our favorite Montessori-friendly books for toddlers, I’ve received requests to share our favorite bedtime stories as well. Although we read throughout the day, bedtime is my favorite, snuggliest time to read together. If I’m doing bedtime with both kids, I read to them together; otherwise, I’ll read to each before their kiss goodnight. It’s been a part of our bedtime ritual since birth for both, and I don’t like to think about the day that changes. There is something so sweet about bedtime books and the words or lullabies that begin to drift your little (and maybe you too!) on off to sleep. Each of these nine books are durable board books that have treated us well the past 2.3 years! :)

Sweet Dreams Lullaby - This has always been my favorite and hardly a night goes by it’s not in our rotation. I love the colorful imagery and the words flow poetically. It’s such a sweet bedtime lullaby. Although it’s on the longer side, D has always enjoyed this one all the way through, and now S too.

Time for Bed - This is another sweet rhyming lullaby, with lots of repetition which babies and toddlers love. Each page is a wish goodnight for a different little animal. I also love the tiny size of this board book - perfect for a baby!

Beditme - This is a great book as you establish a bedtime routine. It is a simple step by step story of how one family prepares for sleep. My favorite part is how it talks about the importance and joy of sleep and how it helps your little one grow and learn!

Bedtime

A Celebration of the Seasons - I stumbled upon this one at the bookstore and it’s become one of D’s favorites. It is full of poems which my husband and I have turned into songs as per D’s request. As the title suggests, each one is related to the four seasons, so sometimes we just read the ones for the appropriate time of year.

If Animals Kissed Goodnight - This is on the longer side for a board book but it’s so sweet! I love how it helps you imagine how each animal and their baby would kiss goodnight while teaching a bit about animals too. The best part is the sloth and her baby who just keep kissing soooooo slow. ;)

Sleepy Bee - This is the shortest and simplest of the books, but it was just always D’s favorite as a baby! We got it at the Sleepy Bee Cafe in Cincinnati visiting my husband’s family so it brings us fond memories as well. A short bedtime story of a bumbebee’s day.

Sweet Dreams Lullaby

Counting Kisses - This always bring a smile to both of my kids’ faces when we read it at night. And I love getting to kiss both my babies on repeat as I read this! A simple story of 1 to 10 kisses, from head to toe.

Where do I Sleep? - I already mentioned this one in my other Montessori books list, but I had to include it here, as it’s a longtime favorite bedtime story. I love the realistic, gorgeous illustrations, particularly because it features wild animals of the Pacific Northwest!

On the Night you were Born - We were gifted this book when D was born, and now I gift it to other new babies. It’s a beautiful story of the uniqueness of each child, and just how special they are to us, and to the world. The words are soothing and comforting for babies and toddlers alike.

And with that, goodnight and sleep tight!

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