Books for bedtime! Here’s our selection of great books to read to children at bedtime, with a selection of stories and poems by Jill Murphy, Allan Ahlberg, Maurice Sendak, Michael Rosen, Martin Waddell, Fiona Watt, Claire Freedman, and more.
Bedtime story books for children aged 0-11 – our recommendations
Books for bedtime – children aged 0-3
A Great Big Cuddle by Michael Rosen. Heartwarming poems which are ideal to read and share with your child at bedtime.
Are You Sleeping? by Constanze Von Kitzing. A lion who is desperate to find friends to play with before it’s time for sleep. Can he find anyone before his mum calls him?
I Love You To The Moon And Back by Tim Warnes. Perfect for shared reading at the end of a busy day. A great book to reread.There’s a Tiger on the Train by Mariesa Dulak and Rebecca Cobb
Join a boy and his dad as they take a train journey to the seaside in this joyous illustrated picture book from Mariesa Dulak and Rebecca Cobb. In the carriage, they meet a menagerie of unlikely animal passengers, from a tiger in a top hat to crocodiles with beach gear and – our favourite – hippos with sweetie tins. Through wonderful illustrations and playful rhymes, this charming book encourages imagination and also gently reminds parents to put down their phones and cherish precious moments with their children. With a classic feel, heartwarming message and captivating characters, ‘There’s a Tiger on the Train’ is a surefire bedtime story hit.
Monkey Bedtime by Alex English
With rhyming couplets, onomatopoeic verbs and an outrageous storyline, we follow a little boy’s bedtime routine as it degenerates into monkey business. Bedtime is sidetracked by real baboons, howler monkeys, capuchins, a shrieking mandrill and more! The lipstick-toting gibbon is definitely a highlight and the next time you run out of toothpaste, just blame the marmoset. A cracking bedtime story that children will want to read again and again.
Goodnight Sun by Eoin McLaughlin
Goodnight Sun is a vibrant and energetic bedtime book by Eoin McLaughlin with bold artwork by Morag Hood. Follow the cheeky sun as it tries everything to avoid going to bed! With energetic and giggle-worthy bursts of story, it creatively encourages children to settle down for the night.
Sweet Dreams, Peter! by Beatrix Potter. Follow each animal as they fall asleep. Timeless and charming.
Tickle My Ears (Little Rabbit) by Jorg Muhle. A good book to reinforce bedtime routines.
Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney. A wonderful and catchy rhyming story.Group Hug by Jean Reidy and Joey Chou
Told in catchy rhyming verse, a charming friendly slug cheers everyone up by giving them a hug. Including a lonely beetle, a grumpy mouse, an out-of-sorts skunk, a smelly squirrel and a beaver with work-life balance issues, the slug manages to spread joy and warmth through group hugs. The bright vibrant illustrations will be useful to discuss in circle time with children in nursery and EYFS classrooms. It will also make for a soothing bedtime story for the under 4s.
That’s not my teddy by Fiona Watt. Part of a series of similar books which are ideal to promote sensory awareness.
Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury. Great for counting and repetition.
Peepo by Janet Ahlberg and Allan Ahlberg. A classic to read again and again, and ideal for actions.
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. A lullaby of a bedtime story that is perfect to read to toddlers.
Say Goodnight: A First Book for Babies by Helen Oxenbury. Wonderful illustrations – this book is great to share.
Yawn by Sally Symes and Nick Sharratt. Interactive and infectiously catchy. A bedtime hit.Ten Little Dogs by Ruth Brown
A fun counting story about an ever-decreasing number of dogs. With detailed illustrations that will prompt preschool children to ask questions and predict what will happen next, the 10 dogs are reduced to just one as each one is distracted or embroiled in an adventure. There’s a satisfying and happy ending which makes this book a good bedtime read.
Books for bedtime – children aged 3-5
Owl Babies by Martin Waddell. A great book to reassure small children that parents are always close by.
Close Your Eyes by Kate Banks. Highly imaginative with great illustrations to encourage children to dream and sleep.
A Brave Bear by Sean Taylor. A great storybook for bedtime for dads to read to children.All Aboard the Bedtime Bus by Karl Newson and Tim Budgen
All Aboard the Bedtime Bus by Karl Newson and Tim Budgen takes children on a calming, rhyming ride through bedtime routines. The story follows a bus full of animals as it makes stops at places like Snoozyville and Sleepy Town, guiding kids through brushing teeth, reading stories, and getting ready for bed. With simple, repetitive text and bright illustrations, this soothing tale is perfect for winding down and makes an ideal bedtime read-aloud. Read out full review.
Where Will the Sleepy Sheep Sleep? by David Metzenthen and Jonathan Bentley
With memorable droopy eyelids, sleep-deprived, sheepy illustrations and fun wordplay, ‘Where Will the Sleepy Sheep Sleep’ follows a particularly sleepy sheep searching for the perfect spot to fall asleep. There are plenty of tongue-twisting rhymes, alliteration and onomatopoeia, and this picture book bedtime story is a joy to read aloud. With plenty of repetition and opportunities for inference and prediction, it’s also a good choice for nursery classes. Highly recommended for toddlers upwards.
A Midsummer Night’s Drama: A book at bedtime for little bards! by Louie Stowell and Isobel Lundie
When Bill the Bear and his woodland friends pull off a triumphal dramatic performance at the Glade, he gets so excited he can’t sleep! But Sir Bun Bun comes up with a cunning plan to help him drift off. With atmospheric and imaginative illustrations and theatrical references throughout, It’s the perfect fun bedtime story to introduce 3-6-year-old budding bards to Shakespeare.
Beep Beep Beep Time For Sleep! by Claire Freedman & Richard Smythe. If your child likes cars and machines, this might be the perfect book to help them settle to sleep.
Dave’s Cave by Frann Preston-Gannon. A funny book with lots of repetition and opportunities for voices.
Goodnight Tiger by Timothy Knapman. Ideal to reinforce end of the day routines.Stanley and Rhoda by Rosemary Wells
A classic picture book with three stories that explore getting along with siblings and friends sensitively and funnily. ‘Don’t touch it, don’t look at it’ with Dr Zuckerman is timeless. A great bedtime story.
They Say Blue by Jillian Tamaki. Good to promote discussion and imagination – great illustrations.
Let’s Join In by Shirley Hughes. Ideal to share with your child at bedtime.
Hug by Jez Alborough. A charming story about a chimp seeking out an elusive hug.Whisper on the Wind by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft
This atmospheric and moving large-format picture book blends evocative verse with spellbinding illustrations to enchant younger children. When the whisper from Ren’s dream is plucked by the wind and carried through waves, moonlight and oceans, it eventually reaches a distant sailor in this story with powerful themes of separation and reunion, family and love. A wonderful and inspiring book to read and share with KS1 classes.
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram. A timeless classic to read again and again.
On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman. Thought-provoking and ideal for discussion.
Whatever Next! by Jill Murphy. Funny and memorable – a book to return to again and again.Arlo The Lion Who Couldn’t Sleep by Catherine Rayner
Try as he might, Arlo cannot get to sleep. There’s always something stopping him – it’s either too hot, too cold, too noisy or just too hard. Then an enchanting owl speaking in rhyme shows him how. A beautiful book to share at bedtime. Destined to become a modern classic.
This Book is Not a Bedtime Story by Eoin McLaughlin and Robert Starling
This Book is Not a Bedtime Story by Eoin McLaughlin and Robert Starling. An anarchic romp of a bedtime book with bold and vibrant pictures and narrated by a self-styled ‘World’s Scariest Monster’, who is anything but. A good book for untangling nighttime fears, this story will also appeal to children who are resistant to bedtime routines.
Veg Patch Party by Clare Foges and Al Murphy
From the author of Bathroom Boogie and Kitchen Disco, Veg Patch Party follows the lives of peas, carrots, potatoes, leeks, and cauliflowers as they break out of the earth when no one is looking to set up Veg Stock – a colourful music festival featuring ‘The Chips’, ‘The Pumpkins’ and ‘The Red Hot Chillis’ and ‘DJ Brussel Sprout’. The artwork is almost as loud as the music, partying and thunder & lightning storyline. This will definitely appeal to festival-loving parents, and children under five will love the anarchic rhyming storyline.
Honey for You Honey for Me: A First Book of Nursery Rhymes by Michael Rosen and Chris Riddell
A wonderful collection of catchy nursery rhymes to read and share with younger children. On every page, there are sounds to explore, clever typography and use of colour, vibrant illustrations to examine, and fun language that children will remember, mimic and use to develop their own wordplay. Highly recommended.
The Night the Reindeer Saved Christmas by Raj Kaur Khaira
Reindeer Saved Christmas by Raj Kaur Khaira is a lively and funny Christmas adventure with a diverse range of characters. When Santa’s sleigh suffers rocket failure, Mrs Claus has a clever idea, and soon enough all the creatures of the North Pole lend a hand to help. With expressive and detailed illustrations, this is a lovely Christmas bedtime story to share with children under 5.
Books for bedtime – children aged 5+
The Night Knights by Gideon Sterer. A story about chivalrous knights who protect children from monsters.
Silver by Walter de la Mare. A dreamy and evocative poem for a perfect day’s end.
Peace At Last by Jill Murphy. Noises, actions, voices, illustrations – possibly your child’s next favourite bedtime story.The Faber Book of Bedtime Stories by Sarah McIntyre
This diverse collection of new stories from cultures around the world features contributions from a stellar cast of contemporary authors including Aisha Bushby, Kieran Larwood, Emma Carroll, Lou Kuenzler and Natasha Farrant. Each tale promotes a sense of warmth, wisdom and positivity. A substantial hardback, The Faber Book of Bedtime Stories is beautifully presented with colourful illustrations to share and discuss. It’s the perfect gift for 6-8-year-olds and their parents.
While You’re Sleeping by Mick Jackson and John Broadley
While You’re Sleeping by Mick Jackson and John Broadley. A mesmerizing illustrated hardback story that will sweep your child into a nocturnal world – exploring the lives of people who work through the night. With a combination of black and white woodcut style designs and highly engaging comic-book illustrations, this is a great book to read to 5-9-year-olds.
5 Minute Really True Stories for Bedtime by Britannica Books
A cracking collection of true stories to read to your child at bedtime. There are 30 fascinating highly illustrated pieces that are ideal to share or read to children who prefer facts to fiction. These include: ‘Remarkable hibernators’, ‘Fly me to the moon’, ‘Lullabies around the world’, ‘King Tut’s beds’, and ‘The great sleep escape’. Highly recommended.
Fearless Fairy Tales by Konnie Huq and James Kay
These are bedtime stories for independent-minded children! 17 well-known tales have been re-imagined and loosely intertwined for the 2020s, including Trumplestiltskin, a farting president who lives in a house full of mirrors, Rap-Unzel – a long-haired talent show star with rhymes, and Jack and the baked-beanstalk. This book is great fun and a perfect bedtime read to share with 7-11-year-olds.
Can’t You Sleep, Little Bear? by Martin Waddell. Beautifully illustrated, this is a modern classic and perfect at the end of a long day.
The Last Noo-Noo by Jill Murphy. Funny and reassuring – a good book to read to children in unfamiliar places.
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. A classic story about overcoming fears. Great for shared reading.To order all the books in this list, or to bulk order class sets of books, click here.
How about a celebrity reading a bedtime story to your child? CBeebies has a collection of free bedtime story videos here.
For more top picks and new books, why not read our Books for EYFS, our Year 1 reading list, our books for KS1 or our Book of the month page?
For even more suggestions and books for bedtime, see our daily new book recommendations on our Facebook page and our Twitter Feed.
