The best Bedtime picture books for parents and teachers, sorted by grade. Read alouds from our channel come first.
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Calm, cozy stories for winding down.
36 books · 17 with a read aloud on our channel
Gerald is cranky and wants a nap, but Piggie isn't helping. Funny and relatable for tired families.
As the sun sets, the crane, cement mixer, dump truck, and friends finish their work and drift off to sleep. A dreamy rhyming bedtime pick for kids who love trucks.
The Pigeon tries every trick to stay up past bedtime. Sound familiar?
Sam has his story, his tuck in, and his warm milk, but he still won't sleep until Mrs. Bear gives him his kiss. A cozy bedtime ritual book for little ones.
Max sails off to be king of the wild things and comes home to a warm supper. A true classic about big feelings and being loved.
A sleepy baby gets kiss after kiss from the whole family, counted out from ten all the way down to one as bedtime nears. A sweet counting game to share at the end of the day.
Harold draws his whole adventure with one purple crayon. A timeless classic about imagination.
A sneaky gorilla steals the zookeeper's keys and lets all the animals follow him home to bed. A nearly wordless bedtime classic full of little details to spot.
The bedtime classic that's been settling kids down for generations. Soft, rhythmic, and perfect for the last book of the night.
Baby Llama panics when Mama goes downstairs after tucking him in, until she reminds him she's always close by. A rhyming bedtime comfort for kids who hate being left alone.
A storm scares the animals, and Little Blue Truck keeps them safe. A cozy bedtime read.
A mother sings the same lullaby to her son at every age, and when she grows old, he sings it back to her. Have tissues ready for this tender classic.
Ethan's monster takes a night off, and none of the substitutes are scary enough. A hilarious bedtime read that takes the fear out of monsters.
Granny, a child, a dog, a cat, and a mouse are all piled up and snoozing, until one wakeful flea sets off a chain reaction. A cumulative bedtime treat with gorgeous art.
Ethan helps his little sister find her own bedtime monster. Funny and sweet for new big siblings.
Frances the badger keeps finding reasons to get out of bed, from a tiger in the room to a crack in the ceiling. A funny, timeless classic for kids who stall at bedtime.
How Ethan first met his under the bed monster. Funny and a great way to make bedtime less scary.
Do dinosaurs slam their tails and pout at bedtime? This rhyming romp shows the silly ways they might, then the sweet way they really do. Toddlers adore the giant dinos.
A child asks if Mom would still love them as a monster or a skunk. A sweet, silly bedtime favorite about unconditional love.
Little Red Chicken can't stop jumping into Papa's bedtime stories to warn Hansel, Gretel, and Little Red Riding Hood. A Caldecott Honor book that is pure bedtime giggles.
A loud, silly awake time book that winks its way into being a bedtime story. Sneaky fun for kids who fight bedtime.
The mice and geese want monster movies, ice cream, anything but sleep, and tired Bruce must settle them down. Every parent who has battled bedtime stalling will laugh in recognition.
Jackson can't sleep with all the noise, so he finds a kind solution. A gentle, funny bedtime read.
Jim is determined to stay awake all night at a jungle slumber party, even as his friends drift off one by one. A giggly, gentle way to talk about why sleep matters.
A child looks for the monster under the bed, and it's cozy, not scary. Great for kids nervous at bedtime.
A rhyming goodnight to birds, trees, flowers, and bees that you can read or sing. A calm, peaceful way to end the day.
Bear just wants to sleep, but Duck wants to hang out. A hilarious bedtime read every tired parent will appreciate.
Peanut is too excited to sleep, so a friendly whale takes her on a calming trip to the Sleepy Sea. A lovely way to teach belly breathing at bedtime.
Lullaby Bunny's job is singing kids to sleep, but he keeps dozing off first. A funny bedtime story kids love.
A board book built around bedtime words gives toddlers easy sounds to practice as they wind down. A sweet way to fold early speech into the bedtime routine.
A hungry kitten mistakes the full moon for a bowl of milk and keeps trying to reach it. The gorgeous black and white art and gentle humor make it a perfect bedtime read.
Little SPOT helps kids wind down and get ready for a restful night. A calming choice for bedtime routines and kids who fight sleep.
Sleeping through winter, Old Bear dreams of being a cub again as flowers, berries, and leaves change around him. A soothing, colorful journey through the seasons for little ones.
Tiny and Pointy plan a backyard campout, but without nightlights the dark feels scary, so Tiny hatches a plan. A sweet, gentle story about facing fears together.
In gentle rhyme, a parent dreams about who their little one will grow up to be: brave, kind, clever, or bold. It's a tender bedtime read that may leave you a little teary.
Nameless the Rock ends up stuck in a bedtime book. Silly, interactive fun for the last read of the night.