Why We Love It:

The Going-To-Bed Book

What happens when it is time for a batch of zany animals to go to bed on the boat? This short, rhyming book describes the animal’s bedtime routines. The regular meter of the poem ensures that your child will eventually be able to chant along with this funny, yet soothing bedtime story.

Why We Love It:

Get your child to chant the …”But the bear snores on,” while you read the rhyming words about all of the animals who party on while bear hibernates. Enjoy what happens when bear finally wakes up and finds all of the animals in his cave!

Why We Love It:

Settling down for the night can be challenging for many young children including Llama llama.  After a story and kisses, Mama Llama  leaves little llama to sleep.  The separation proves too much for little llama whose imagination goes wild when mama does not immediately appear when called.  Young children will identify with little llama’s dilemma and find reassurance knowing that “ Mama Llama’s always near, even if she’s not right here.” The soothing rhythm and clever rhymes make this a hit and a favorite to recite.

Why We Love It:

Why We Love It

The lush, detailed and colorful pictures set the perfect tone for this gloriously illustrated bedtime story. Each night Grandfather Twilight goes for an evening walk. Taking a single pearl from an endless strand, he walks to the sea where the pearl becomes a full moon. Twilight drapes over the world and Grandfather Twilight returns home to sleep. Language is descriptive but short, allowing the soft colors and rich imagery to lull the listener into gentle slumber.

Why We Love It:

Why We Love It

Read this simple rhyming story to your truck-loving child at bedtime. A variety of construction vehicles get ready to stop work so they can be ready for another day of construction fun. Detailed illustrations perfectly capture the mood and truck fun in this delightful bedtime story perfect for toddlers and preschool age children.

Why We Love It:

Why We Love It

With just ten minutes until bedtime, a child entertains her family of pet hamsters, each rodent wearing a numbered shirt. Unknown to the humans, a bedtime tour has been advertised online at www.hamstertours.com. In the story, hamsters arrive by the dozens to witness human bedtime rituals. In the end, everyone completes their pre-bedtime routines and enjoys a well-deserved sleep. After reading, visit this real website (www.hamstertours.com) which is filled with engaging activities perfect for daytime fun. Peggy Rathman fans will recognize Officer Gloria and familiar characters in other books by this talented author/illustrator.

Why We Love It:

Why We Love It

There’s a reason why the Sunday Times of London called this “the most perfect children’s book ever written or illustrated.” Full page illustrations show Big Bear trying to read by the fire while Little Bear, unable to sleep, is afraid of the dark. Big Bear lights lanterns and does his best to soothe Little Bear. Ultimately they cuddle outside where Little Bear falls asleep under a sky full with the moon and twinkling stars.

Why We Love It:

Why We Love It

Papa just wants to read his little chicken a bedtime story without interruptions. Chicken pipes in to save each story’s characters from dangerous or silly behaviors. When Papa convinces her to tell her own story, she writes a tale of a chicken putting her papa to bed which leaves papa snoring. Soon both characters are cuddled together sleeping peacefully in this story sure to be enjoyed by both reluctant sleepers and their parents.

Why We Love It:

Why We Love It

This soothing bedtime lullaby has beautiful watercolor illustrations with rhyming couplets on double page spreads. Each shows a mother or father gently lulling their youngster to sleep. Familiar animals are cozy and gently loved in this sweet bedtime book perfect for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and their parents.

Why We Love It:

Why We Love It

A new take on the “I’m not sleepy” theme features a pajama-wearing bus driver who tries and tries to get the pigeon to go to sleep. Pastel-colored pages coupled with Willem’s simple but super-entertaining pictures make familiar pre-bedtime antics consistently funny. Parents and children will recognize the many ways that the pigeon tries to stay awake.

Why We Love It:

Why We Love It

Colorful full page illustrations with delightful rhyming text describe the bedtime antics of ten misbehaving dinosaurs. Human dinosaur parents of different ages, body types and races are shown in the book. Their reactions to the misbehaving dinosaurs make for a silly, funny and satisfying bedtime read. By story’s end, each dino becomes compliant, loving and bedtime-ready. As an added bonus, children will enjoy finding the dinosaur’s name hidden on every page.

Why We Love It:

Why We Love It

Since 1947, generations of children have been soothed to sleep by this classic bedtime tale of a bunny saying goodnight to objects in his room including “a quiet old lady whispering hush”. The language is soothing and slow with a rhyming pattern that makes the story so appealing to young children. In addition, there is a small mouse hiding on each page which is great fun for older babies and toddlers.

Why We Love It:

Why We Love It

Lyrical, rhyming text and luminous illustrations are perfectly paired in this magical bedtime tale. Sleeping children are drawn in black and white while their dream adventures are in dark, rich brush-stroked colors. Each child’s dream animal takes them on a colorful and magical journey in this beauty of a bedtime story.