15 Best Bedtime Stories for Toddlers and Preschoolers [Help Kids Fall Asleep Feeling Calm and Loved]
Bedtime can be madness. Trust me, five kids over here, so I know what level of catastrophic mayhem bedtime really can be. But I also know that there is a potential for bedtime to be sweet moments spent together each night. And well-chosen bedtime stories for your toddler or preschooler that help them calm down and feel loved can go a long way in helping to set that tone.
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The Bedtime Routine
If you hang out here long enough (and I hope you do!), you are sure to hear me repeatedly sing the praises of routine. A good friend often shares the following quote that explains why.
That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do-not that the nature of the thing is changed, but that our power to do is increased.
Often attributed to Emerson
There is a ton of stuff in life we just have to do. But the more consistently we do it, when we make it routine, the easier it becomes.
Related: How to Start Family Routines that Transform Chaos to Calm
Bedtime is one of those things.
We have to do bedtime. So especially if you landed here in search of bedtime help beyond the books, remember that the more consistent we are with our bedtime routine, the easier it gets.
For many, including the Littles in our household, reading a book together is part of the nightly routine.
Related: Best Bedtime Routine for Kids (5 Steps to an Easier Bedtime).
Actually, it’s my favorite part of the nightly routine. I love snuggling my kids for bedtime stories, even my older ones. In fact, research shows that positive touch is psychologically beneficial to our kids as well.
But I digress. We’re here for the books!
What Makes a Good Bedtime Story for a Toddler or Preschooler
So, I am something of a book addict. My poor family…every time we move (and we seem to do that a lot) we all recognize how fierce my addiction is when box after box of books is hauled into the moving truck and then out again. Our family has all kinds of books: early reader series, picture books, nonfiction titles, board books, and more. Of course, we have a copy of my book on the shelves too. 🙂
Our shelves are full. (Although I’m convinced there’s always room for more.) Plus, we are frequent local library visitors. All that is to say, we have a lot of options when it comes to picking bedtime stories.
But when it comes to bedtime stories for toddlers and preschoolers especially, not all books are created equal. For bedtime stories, the tone and message really matter to me.
I love to send my kids to bed calm and knowing that they are loved, so those are the two things I look for most in a bedtime story. The illustrations, the words, and especially the cadence of the story (or the rhythm it creates when read aloud) all combine to create the best bedtime stories.
Now some nights, which book we read is much less important. When the kids are already emotionally and physically ready for bed, any book will work. However, on harder nights when the kids need assistance calming down, it’s really helpful to have some go-to bedtime stories that create a peaceful atmosphere.
Over the last twelve years of parenting, I’ve found countless amazing books for bedtime. So here are some of our family’s favorite bedtime stories that will send your Littles off to sleep feeling calm and loved.
15 Best Bedtime Stories for Toddlers and Preschoolers
1. Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site
Written by Sherri Duskey Rinker, Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
Just like kids who have played rough and tumble all day, after working hard the trucks at the construction site wind down for the night. With beautiful, dusky illustrations and a soothing rhythm, this book leaves everyone with eyes half closed. I also appreciate this story because there are a lot of bedtime books about animals and babies, but it’s fun to have one about trucks.
Buy Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site on Amazon.
2. On the Night You Were Born
Written and Illustrated By Nancy Tillman
This bedtime story is a love note to your Little. It tells how on the night you were born, the world showed it’s delight because there’s only one like you. This book uses one-of-a-kind layered art and rhyming words to profess the uniqueness of each child and the wonder and magic of the night they were born. One of the most important messages I want my kids to feel is that they are loved, and that is the central purpose of Nancy Tillman’s books.
Buy Nancy Tillman’s YOU ARE LOVED Collection, including On the Night You Were Born on Amazon.
3. Ten, Nine, Eight
Written and Illustrated By Molly Bang
This gentle countdown of a father getting his child ready to sleep is an ideal wind down toward “one big girl all ready for bed.” It’s perfect in its simplicity. This book was chosen so many times at our house, that even with care, we wore out our paperback version until it ripped (and then taped it up until it ripped again!).
Buy Ten, Nine, Eight on Amazon.
4. Fish Kisses: a Bedtime Story
Written and Illustrated by Marianne Richmond
Each page of this board book shows how different animals say goodnight. “Bunnies wriggle” and “lobsters pinch.” Up until the last page, when we get to choose how we will say goodnight. (But of course, we’ve been doing them all throughout the book too!) As I mentioned, I love sending my kids off to bed knowing that they are loved. This book is the perfect excuse to express that love in silly and snuggly ways.
Buy Fish Kisses: a Bedtime Story on Amazon.
5. Dream Animals: A Bedtime Journey
Written and Illustrated by Emily Winfield Martin
This poetic bedtime book shows the friendly animals carrying children to their dreams. The pictures are whimsical and fairytale-esque with children on the backs of bears and narwhals visiting creatures of all kinds like mermaids and the circus. I like this book because it feels like the combination of reality and fantasy felt in actual good dreams.
Buy Dream Animals: A Bedtime Journey on Amazon.
6. Sleep Train
Written by Jonathon London, Illustrated by Lauren Eldridge
A little boy counts train cars instead of sheep in this story. While we see and count the different types of cars, we are slowly drawn to lowered eyes in the sleeping car. With all the starry nighttime pictures and big yawns, we can feel the sleepiness. I like this book because one can’t help but read it slower and calmer as it goes, until it feels like the next logical step is drifting off to sleep.
7. Goodnight Moon
Written by Margaret Wise Brown, Illustrated by Clement Hurd
I know, this is on every bedtime book list ever made, but it’s a classic for a reason. There is something magical about that bunny whispering hush and the idea of wishing goodnight to everything everywhere. My toddler loves saying “Goodnight window” each night as we check for deer in the front yard and close the blinds. Goodnight world!
8. Little Owl’s Day
Written and Illustrated by Divya Srinivasan
In this charming story, Little Owl wakes up to experience the day. He sees the forest in a whole new way. Eventually the sun sets, dusk fades, and he heads home tired and fighting sleep. One thing I appreciate about this book is how the unique illustration style helps show the beauty and detail of the world around us. Experiencing natural wonder is one way my kids and I feel Divine love.
Buy Little Owl’s Day on Amazon.
9. Sleep (Baby Faces)
Written and Photographed by Roberta Grobel Intrater
This is a perfect bedtime book for toddlers and infants, but even my preschooler still appreciates it. The words are a very simple rhyme, and the power is in the pictures of baby faces, ready for sleep. Children love seeing other babies. This book is short and sweet, ideal for the nights when bedtime is a little later than hoped for. My favorite part is probably watching my toddler scrunch his whole face to squeeze his eyes shut following “You close your eyes, just like this.”
Buy Sleep (Baby Faces) on Amazon.
10. Llama Llama Red Pajama
Written and Illustrated by Anna Dewdney
I’m typically not a big fan of bedtime books where the main character doesn’t want to go to bed. I might be digging too deep here, but I almost feel they’re reinforcing bad behavior. You know what I mean? That being said, we love Llama. And in this book, Llama doesn’t have anything against going to bed in general, but feels a bit nervous after Mama Llama leaves. I think most kids feel that way at times. This book was a gift from my mom, and I love the reassurance for my kids that “Mama Llama loves you so. Mama Llama’s always near, even if she’s not right here.”
Buy Llama Llama Red Pajama on Amazon.
11. I Love You, Stinky Face
Written by Lisa Mccourt, Illustrated by Cyd Moore
As mom and son snuggle up for their bedtime story, the son wonders if Mama would still love him if he were a big scary ape, an alligator with sharp teeth, and a number of other less-than-desirable creatures. Shown through words and detailed illustrations, Mama reassures that she would find ways to take care of him in any form, such as packing him a lunch of bugs or buying him a bigger toothbrush. And most importantly, she loves him, even if he is a smelly skunk named Stinky Face. I love this book because it makes us giggle (and we all need to laugh!), but it still manages to end on a calm note.
Buy I Love You, Stinky Face on Amazon.
12. Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Softly Book
Based on and inspired by Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book
Follow a yawn as it spreads from creature to creature. And of course, these aren’t any old normal creatures; these are Seussean creatures. This board book version is much shorter for the younger crowd and has soft things for little fingers to touch. It comes to a calming close when “Ninety-nine zillion, nine trillion and two creatures are sleeping! So…how about you?” Our favorite creatures are the ones “asleep out in Foona-Lagoona.” You know, the “two very nice Foona-Lagoona Baboona.”
Buy Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Softly Book on Amazon.
13. Good Night, Gorilla
Written and Illustrated by Peggy Rathman
With no words beyond a few speech bubbles, this story follows a mischievous gorilla. As the zookeeper says goodnight, the gorilla quietly unlocks cages. My preschoolers have enjoyed “reading” this book to us. We all love the moment when the zookeeper’s wife wakes up to a grinning gorilla in her bed.
Buy Good Night, Gorilla on Amazon.
14. If Animals Kissed Good Night
Written by Ann Whitford Paul, Illustrated by David Walker
Follow the animals as they all kiss goodnight in rhyming, sing-song ways. The sky slowly darkens through this book until all is quiet and still. Again, this is a great excuse to snuggle and love on my Littles. (And my preschooler LOVES the sloth.)
Buy If Animals Kissed Good Night on Amazon.
15. Love you Forever
Written by Robert Munsch, Illustrated by Sheila McGraw
This story follows a baby into adulthood. All along the way his mother is rocking and telling him how she will love him forever, until one day when the mother is too old to rock. The rocking motion is soothing, and honestly, the words usually bring tears to my eyes. This is one of my favorite baby shower gifts. It’s also one of my favorite stories to read with my kids because that is the truth I want them to know, “I’ll love you forever.”
Buy Love You Forever on Amazon.
Bedtime Blessings
I hope this list of bedtime stories for your toddler or preschooler helps you find great books to send your kids to bed feeling calm and loved.
Many nights we read two books: my Little chooses one and I choose one. This is fun because then they get what they want, and I can still pick a book that will be calming, soothing, and peaceful.
These nights snuggling and reading are some of the ultimate joys of parenting. I am finding that these kids are growing up way too fast, and all I can do is soak up every moment we have together.
So, yes, while some nights bedtime will continue to feel like a disaster, I also hope these books and all you choose to do to create a fun and peaceful evening routine will combine to bring you a ton of joy.
Wishing you all the best bedtime blessings!
Love, Marielle
I’m always looking for new story ideas. Remember, book addict here! So, what did I miss? Which other books are your favorites for bedtime? Please share in the comments!
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