Bedtime stories are the perfect end to a little one’s day.  For most of my children’s lives, bedtime stories have been an important part of our bedtime routine.  Gathering a (small) pile of books and reading together for a few minutes before saying goodnight can create a rhythm of peaceful connection at the end of the day.  

If the idea of adding something to the rush to bedtime seems overwhelming, don’t overthink it and don’t overcomplicate it!  In my experience, bedtime storytime works best when it’s just a few good stories before tucking my little ones into bed.  One way I’ve simplified this is to let each child choose one (short) story to read.  I also like to have a children’s Bible or Bible story book that we read each night.  

Here are a few of my favorite bedtime stories for toddlers and preschoolers (and above!) to help you get started or add to your bedtime story choices! 

The Bedtime Story Book List

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Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Goodnight Moon is a classic bedtime story by Margaret Brown.  My mother read this story to me and my siblings and now my kids enjoyed reading it with me!  Goodnight Moon goes through the room of a little bunny, naming the various objects and then saying goodnight to each of them.  An enjoyable read for toddlers, there is also a little mouse that can be found on each page for an added element of search-and-find fun. 

Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann

Goodnight Gorilla is an adorable picture book that leaves plenty of room for imagination!  The zookeeper says goodnight to each of the animals, locking their cages for the night and closing down the zoo.  However, unbeknownst to him, the mischievous gorilla follows behind him, letting all the animals out of their cages.  I find this bedtime story to be a lot of fun for little ones because there are limited words.  The pictures tell the story and kids find it fun to fill in the blanks that the words don’t say.  

If Animals Kissed Goodnight by Ann Whitford Paul

If Animals Kissed Goodnight is such a cute story!  Kids will enjoy reading about how each parent and child pair of animals would kiss goodnight….if animals kissed goodnight!  Throughout the book, the sloth mother and child slowly get closer and closer to their own goodnight kiss.  This is really a sweet story to end the day with your little one. 

Five Little Monkeys by Eileen Christelow

Mother Monkey tucks her five monkeys into bed, but they don’t go to sleep!  A classic children’s story and song, Five Little Monkeys follows the little monkeys as they jump on their bed and one-by-one fall off and bump their heads!  I like this story because even younger kids can join in the storytelling after a few repetitions. 

Ten in the Bed by Penny Dale

Another classic story and song bedtime book, Ten in the Bed is a fun way to end the day!   The little one starts with ten stuffed friends in his bed, but they roll over and one-by-one the animals fall out of the bed.  It’s all fun until the little one gets lonely in bed all by himself!  Then all his friends jump back into the bed and they all go to sleep.  Kids love repetition, and Ten in the Bed has plenty of it!  My kids and I love telling this story together, as well as looking at the beautiful illustrations and seeing what the animals are up to when they are out of bed. 

Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown

This cute, rhythmic, farmyard story is a good one for young ones with a shorter attention span. The story tells about all the animals on the farm (including animal sounds for those kids who like to crow like a rooster and meow like a cat!). Big Red Barn closes with the animals going into the barn and the farmyard closing down for the night. A simple story with fun pictures, this is a great one for animal lovers and kids who love to look closely at the details in illustrations.

God Bless You and Goodnight by Hannah C. Hall

This is one of my personal favorite bedtime stories. For a period of time, we would read this book to our kids every night as they cuddled up in bed. With adorable illustrations and cute rhyming text, God Bless You and Goodnight is both fun and sweet. Different parent and child animal pairs walk through each step of getting ready for bed, ending with “God bless you and goodnight!” This story can be a beautiful and loving end to a child’s day. 

Thank You God for Blessing Me by Max Lucado

Little Hermie thanks God for all his blessings and then goes to sleep. A short and sweet board book by Max Lucado, Thank You God for Blessing Me is a great story for little ones who are just learning to pray.  The pictures are cute and the text on each page is brief.  We’ve been reading this story in our home for years. 

I Love You This Much by Lynn Hodges

Although not technically a bedtime story, I love this adorable book about a bear mother and her cub.  I think bedtime can be the perfect time to remind our children how much we love them – reassuring them that, in spite of all the craziness and difficulties the day may have held, our love for them does not change.  I’m all about filling my children’s love tanks and this book fits the bill.  Mother bear tells her cub how much she loves her throughout all of the ups and downs of life, always ending with a little rhyme “I love you this much!”  

Good Night, Dora! by Nickelodeon Publishing

I’ll admit it, Dora the Explorer has never been one of my favorite cartoon characters, but with a little girl I couldn’t avoid Dora forever!  That said, Good Night, Dora! is a cute, simple story with lift-the-flaps.  My kids love to lift the flaps – from the youngest to the oldest!  This story includes both English and Spanish goodnight greetings to the various animals so it would be a good book for bilingual families. 

Let’s Get Reading!

While bedtime can sometimes be a mad rush to the end of the day, I find that bedtime stories can bring a little bit of peace and connection to end the day.  The stories on this list have been favorites for me and my little ones and I’m confident that they will make a valuable addition to your bedtime reading shelf!  Happy Reading!