The Best Bedtime Stories for Babies and Toddlers
by Dena McMurdie
It’s never too early to start reading to your child, and slipping a book or two in before your little one nods off is a great way to establish a bedtime routine and a regular reading habit. There are lots of beautiful books for babies and toddlers. Start exploring some of the best with these ten titles.
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For Something Sweet and Snuggly:
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Love Makes a Family
Available from:This bright and cheerful board book celebrates family in all its myriad forms. Whether a family is intergenerational, led by a single parent, or lives in two different households, the most important component of family is l-o-v-e.
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Lullabies and Poems for Children
Available from:As Diana Secker Larson writes in her introduction, lullabies are the first poems most children hear, even before they understand language. This delightful collection of lullabies and lyrics from around the world and across history is perfect for lulling little ones to sleep.
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Llama Llama Red Pajama
Available from:In Anna Dewdney’s classic, a nervous llama has trouble going to sleep, but thank goodness he has a kind and loving mama who can make everything right.
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Love Always Everywhere
Love can be expressed in many ways. You can find it in a hug, a pet, or a kind gesture. This warm picture book shows children the different forms love can take.
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I Love You Just Like This!
Kids love Elmo, and so does his mommy. This sweet book uses the well-known characters from Sesame Street to express the beautiful love that exists between a parent and child.
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For Exploring New Concepts:
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B Is for Bedtime! (Sesame Street)
Available from:Elmo and his little cousin get ready for bedtime in this interactive lift-the-flap board book that explores concepts of the alphabet, routine, family, and more. You can never go wrong with a Sesame Street read!
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Kindness Counts 123
Available from:What better avenue to explore counting than everyday acts of kindness? With Kindness Counts 123, babies and toddlers will learn to count backward from ten while they also consider all the ways there are to show compassion and empathy.
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Duck and Goose Colors
Toddlers love this feathered duo. Duck and Goose point out the colors in everything from Duck's feet and Goose's beak to an inchworm and some grapes.
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The Nice Book
Available from:Learn about sharing, staring, and what to do when you have a disagreement. Funny and sweet, this book teaches manners to the very young.
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Just for Fun:
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10 Minutes till Bedtime
Available from:A little boy's pet hamster directs a horde of hamster day-trippers to participate in the boy's bedtime routine. There are very few words, but the pictures are so detailed and hilarious that you'll want to spend a long time on each page.
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The Wizard of Oz
Available from:The Penguin Bedtime Classics series is a total delight. Follow Dorothy’s adventures as she’s swept away to Oz and befriends a scarecrow, a tinman, and a not-so-cowardly lion — all with the adorable, reimagined Toto at her side. Other classics in the series include Jack and the Beanstalk and The Three Little Pigs.
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Dream Animals
Available from:Full of rhyming verses and whimsical illustrations, this enchanting board book invites young readers to imagine their dream animal and where it might take them. It’s the ultimate bedtime read to usher your little one off to sweet dreams.
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Rock-a-Bye Romp
In Linda Ashman's new take on a classic rhyme, Baby's tumble out of the treetops doesn't end in disaster. Instead, Baby goes on an adventure that leads back into the safety of Mama's arms.
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Can You Say It, Too? Hoot! Hoot!
Available from:With big flaps to lift and bright illustrations, this sturdy board book is perfect for kids that are discovering their voices and are ready to explore with their fingers.
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2016 and updated in 2020.