The Best Bedtime Picture Books for Children

The Best Bedtime Picture Books for Children

A good bedtime story can help dial down your child’s energy level and get him ready for a good night’s sleep. Here’s a fantastic selection of bedtime picture books that you can share with your children.
Download my free library list to take with you on your next visit to the library.
Bedtime Picture Books - Picture Book Reviews from All About Reading
Bedtime for Frances
by Russell Hoban
An overactive imagination can be a problem for a young badger at bedtime. Just ask Frances. Tigers, giants, a creepy crack in the ceiling, softly blowing curtains—all of these make it difficult for Frances to close her eyes and fall asleep.
Bedtime Picture Books - Picture Book Reviews from All About Reading
Sometimes little bears (and little girls and boys) are afraid of the dark. When Little Bear can’t sleep, Big Bear finds a lantern to brighten up the dark cave. And eventually he convinces Little Bear that maybe the dark isn’t as scary as it seems!
Bedtime Picture Books - Picture Book Reviews from All About Reading
A House in the Woodsby Inga Moore
When the homes of two little pigs are accidentally broken by a too-big moose and a lumbering bear, the animals decide it’s time to build a home where they can all live together. They build a house … and develop lifelong friendships in the process.
Bedtime Picture Books - Picture Book Reviews from All About Reading
Goodnight Already!
by Jory John & Benji Davies
Bear is so tired he could sleep for months! But when he tries to get some much-needed shut-eye, his energetic next-door neighbor has other plans. Can Bear convince Duck that it’s time to say Goodnight Already?
Bedtime Picture Books - Picture Book Reviews from All About Reading
Interrupting Chicken
by David Ezra Stein
Are your story times prone to interruptions from over-excited listeners? If so, you’ll certainly relate to the patient papa in Interrupting Chicken. Maybe you can get through this adorable picture book without interruptions. Then again, maybe not.
Bedtime Picture Books - Picture Book Reviews from All About Reading
Lights Out
by Arthur Giesert
The young pig in Lights Out resists bedtime. But the piglet has a plan and his twenty-nine bedtime steps will entertain your child—and you—page by page, pulley by pulley, from the attic to the basement and back again. (Read my full review.)
Bedtime Picture Books - Picture Book Reviews from All About Reading
Good Night, Little Bear
by Patricia & Richard Scarry
This Golden Books classic bedtime story by Patricia Scarry is just about as sweet as they come. It may be time for bed, but for Little Bear that just means it’s time for a playful game of hide-and-seek with Papa Bear.
Bedtime Picture Books - Picture Book Reviews from All About Reading
Hush! A Thai Lullaby 
by Mingfong Ho
In this soothing Caldecott medal-winning bedtime story, a Mother gently hushes a squeaking mouse, a sweeping buffalo, a meowing cat, and even a shrieking elephant as her baby soundly sleeps. And before long, everyone is sleeping.
Bedtime Picture Books - Picture Book Reviews from All About Reading
I Need My Monster
by Amanda Noll
Most kids are terrified at the thought of hearing a monster under the bed, but not Ethan. He can’t sleep without his monster Gabe, but unfortunately Gabe has gone fishing. Lots of monsters offer to scare Ethan while Gabe is away, but it’s just not the same … Ethan needs hismonster.
Bedtime Picture Books - Picture Book Reviews from All About Reading
Kiss Good Night
by Amy Hest
In this endearing bedtime story, Sam’s mother tucks Sam into bed. She reads him a bedtime story, she bundles him up in his blankets, she tucks in his stuffed animal friends, and she gives him a glass of milk. But something’s missing … what could it be?
Bedtime Picture Books - Picture Book Reviews from All About Reading
Little Hoot
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
“I don’t want to go to bed!” Little Hoot wants to go to bed early, but he’s an owl, and everyone knows, owls have to stay up late. “I don’t want to stay up!” Kids and adults alike will giggle at the irony of Little Owl’s problem.
Bedtime Picture Books - Picture Book Reviews from All About Reading
Mitchell’s License
by Hallie Durand
Gentlemen, start your engines! It may be bedtime, but that doesn’t matter to Mitchell. He is ready to go! Hallie Durand’s clever picture book will drive your little one to bed along with Mitchell and his very special car.
Bedtime Picture Books - Picture Book Reviews from All About Reading
Owl Babies
by Martin Waddell
This beautiful book offers the gentle reassurance that mother is always close by. The owl babies in this stunningly illustrated story awaken to find their mother missing. Where did she go? Will she come back? But soon the anxious owls are celebrating their mother’s return … and so will you!
Bedtime Picture Books - Picture Book Reviews from All About Reading
Sleep Like a Tiger
by Mary Logue
What if you could sleep like the animals do? What if you could curl up like a cinnamon roll inside your shell like a snail? Or nestle into the warmest spot in the house like a cat? Animals know how to sleep … maybe they can teach you!
Bedtime Picture Books - Picture Book Reviews from All About Reading
Steam Train, Dream Train
by Sherri Duskey Rinker
All aboard! A nighttime crew of monkeys, elephants, camels and polar bears load up the dream train with their cargo and settle in for a sleepy journey. The gentle rhythm and rhyme will transport your little one to dream land in no time!
Bedtime Picture Books - Picture Book Reviews from All About Reading
The lilting cadence of a construction site going through its bedtime rituals will help encourage sweet motor dreams. Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site will quiet your little truck lover and get him ready for bed. (Read my full review.)

FREE Bedtime Picture Books Library List

Bedtime Picture Books Library List
Would you like to read some of my favorite bedtime picture books with your children?
Click to download our list to take to your local library.
Looking for MORE books? You can find more great library lists here!

Bedtime Picture Books Recommended by Our Readers

  • James Herriot’s Treasury for Children by James Herriot (Recommended by Melanie D. via Facebook)
  • Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans (Recommended by Helen G. via Facebook)
  • The Pigeon Needs a Bath by Mo Willems (Recommended by Kirsten S. via Facebook)
  • Bedtime, Everybody! by Mordicai Gerstein (Recommended by Kelly M. via Facebook)
  • Papa Piccolo by Carol Talley (Recommended by Kelly M. via Facebook)
  • Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey (Recommended by Kelly M. via Facebook)
  • Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner (Recommended by Amy S. via Facebook)
  • Animally by Lynn Parrish Sutton (Recommended by Kerri S. via Facebook)
  • Dr. De Soto by William Steig (Recommended by Eva G. via Facebook)
  • I’ll Love You Forever by Robert Munsch (Recommended by TamiJoy S. via Facebook)
  • Prayer for a Child by Rachel Field (Recommended by Christy B. via blog comment)
  • Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle (Recommended by Heidi J. via blog comment)
  • Cowboy Small by Lois Lenski (Recommended by Heidi J. via blog comment)
  • The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton (Recommended by Kim F. via blog comment)

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