Our 18 Favorite Bedtime Books for Kids
Are you getting tired of the same bedtime books over and over again? Is your nighttime routine getting stale? If so, here are some of our favorite books that you can add to your bedtime routine! You can tell that I have a vehicle-loving little boy by the number of train and truck books included in this list. 😉Although most of these books appeal to all children, if you have a truck-loving toddler or preschooler, this list is especially for you!
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Goodnight Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
Goodnight Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle was our go-to bedtime book for a very long time. I love that it confronts a child’s fear of thunder, and how it frames thunderstorms as something useful and necessary. As the animals overcome their fear of storms with the help of their friends, so your child will learn so strategies to overcome their fear too. Plus, it has a blue truck!
Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Sherri Duskey Rinker and her Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site Series is my son’s all-time favorite series. In her debut book, Goodnight Construction Site, five different construction vehicles go to bed after a hard day’s work. We probably own six to eight of these books including the original Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site, but my son loves every one. He loves the trucks, and I love the art! This is the quintessential truck book for your truck-loving kid!
Kiss Good Night by Amy Hest
I loved reading Kiss Good Night by Amy Hest with my son because it encouraged lots of goodnight kisses. 😘Mama Bear goes through her typical bedtime routine with Little Bear, but she forgets one important step. What did she forget? A kiss of course!
Tad and Dad by David Ezra Stein
Are you looking for a father/son bedtime story? If so, then Tad and Dad by David Ezra Stein is the book for you. As Tad is growing up, he wants to learn everything from his dad. However, Dad is always tired as he’s been co-sleeping with Tad. Finally, Tad moves into his own bed, but now the Dad finds out that he can’t sleep without Tad!
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
In Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney, Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare compete to show who loves each other more. This book is especially fun one to read when your kid is little enough to sit on your lap. When the bunnies jump, I made my son jump. When they stretched out their hands, I stretched out his hands. Read Guess How Much I Love You when you want to show your child how to express their love.
Ladder and Friends Learn to Pray by Anna Cannelongo
We read Ladder and Friends Learn to Pray every night as part of our bedtime prayer routine. Ladder is going to bed after a hard day’s work. As his firefighter tucks him in, he teaches Ladder how to pray emphasizing positive character traits such as bravery and sacrifice. The pattern repeats with four more vehicle friends (Amby, Semi, and Jet) each with their own prayer and set of positive character traits. Additionally, there are “What does this mean to me?” call-out boxes to help parents have spiritual discussions with their children. Ladder and Friends Learn to Pray by Anna Cannelongo is a must have for anyone who to incorporate prayer time with their child each night! Ladder and Friends Learn to Pray will be available Summer 2026! Join the pre-order mailing list if you are looking to engage your child during bedtime prayers—especially if you have a truck-loving son. Note: There is no financial obligation at this time.
The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton was our favorite nap time book. It’s short, sweet, and silly. After all, who exercises at night on a boat right before going to bed?
Goodnight Numbers by Danica McKellar
Goodnight Numbers by Danica McKellar is a fantastic book that encourages math and counting for young kids. Each scene focuses on a part the nighttime routine from eating dinner to taking a bath to being tucked in at night. But the best part of Goodnight Numbers is searching for and counting all the different ways the numbers are represented in the book.
Llama, Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
Anna Dewdney is a master artist of language! Llama Llama Red Pajama like all her books has impeccable rhyme and meter. (Little Excavator is a particular favorite of ours.) The beauty of Llama, Llama Red Pajama is that the author simultaneously captures exactly what both we, the parent, and the child feel when we are separated at bedtime.
Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
If you have a talkative or inquisitive child, you know how hard it is to read a book without being interrupted. Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein captures that experience perfectly. It is a story about a dad trying to read his child, Little Red Chicken, a bedtime story. However, Little Red excitedly interrupts Papa at every turn so that Papa can never finish a story. Finally, Papa becomes exasperated and gives up and tells Little Red to read him a story instead.
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
What would a list of bedtime books be without Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. It is the quintessential bedtime book. Originally, my husband and I didn’t see the appeal even though we had been given two copies. But then after having a kid we realized how Goodnight Moon with its simple words and high contrasting illustrations was a definite baby and toddler favorite.
Sleep Train, Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Sleep Train, Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker is one of the most magical picture books out there! The illustrations are superb as they take you into the dream world of the Dream Train. The animals start out by loading the train with all sorts of good things like ice cream and sand and toys—all things that excite kids! I particularly love this book as it sparks my imagination as well as my child’s. Who wouldn’t want to take a ride on Dream Train?
Beep! Beep! Go to Sleep! by Todd Tarpley
If your kid loves machines and robots Beep! Beep! Go to Sleep! by Todd Tarpley would be a great book for your family. A little boy is trying to put his three little robots to bed, but they continually find a way to postpone bedtime as much as possible. Additionally, there is a cute little mouse who adds a little fun along the way. My robot, vehicle-loving kiddo really loves this book. I’m sure yours will as well.
Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night? By Brianna Caplan Sayres
If you have a truck-loving kiddo, Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night? By Brianna Caplan Sayres is another great book to add to your collection! The book goes through the bedtime routine using a series of construction trucks. The illustrations are cute and will draw your little one in. Sayres’s whole series of “Where do…?” construction books are fantastic if you have a truck kid.
The Goodnight Train by June Sobel
The Goodnight Train by June Sobel paints a dream-like fantasy of the countryside as the Goodnight Train leaves the station. Slowly the kids on the train wind down for bed in their train cars. But while the kids drift off to dreamland, the sneaky skunk is up to his shenanigans as payback for the conductor giving him a bath. The Goodnight Train is a fun, fantasy book evoking the mellow strangeness of a dream-like state.
Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late By Mo Willems
What kid doesn’t love the hilarious but obstinate pigeon? In Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late by Mo Willems, it’s up to us the readers to make sure he goes to bed on time! This is a great book for Pigeon fans. Plus, it’s a short book, if you are running behind on bedtime.
Good Night, Little Bear by Patsy by Patsy and Richard Scarry
In Good Night, Little Bear by Patsy and Richard Scarry, Father Bear is putting Little Bear to bed, but Little Bear tries to hide on Father Bear’s shoulders. Father Bear plays along, searching the house for Little Bear even tempting Little Bear to make himself known with a piece of cake. It’s a humorous tale that most of us who have little kids that hide in obvious places can relate to.
The Napping House by Don Wood
Are you looking for a fun nap time book? Try the Napping House by Don Wood. Watch as the sneaky flea causes chaos in the house while everyone is sleeping. The repetition and rhythm in the story make this book a delight along with the beautiful illustrations.
Conclusion
I hope this list has helped you find a few new books to add to your bedtime routine! What are some of your favorites? Please add them to the comments as we are always looking for new books to read!
If you are looking for more lists of favorite books, check out my posts
- The Top 15 Truck Books for Toddlers;
- Our 16 Favorite Picture Books about Giants;
- Our 11 Favorite Fire Truck Books for Young Firefighters; and
- 11 Engaging Books about Black Holes.
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