Gentle stories to help children feel calm at night
Bedtime can be very sweet. It can also feel very hard.
A good bedtime story can help your child slow down, feel safe, and enjoy this time with you.
In this post I share 10 calming bedtime books for children.
These books are easy to read out loud. They have gentle pictures and soft stories.
You can find all of them on Amazon.
This post has affiliate links.
That means I may earn a small commission if you buy from my link.
It does not cost you more.
Why bedtime books help
Bedtime stories do more than fill a few minutes.
They can
10 calming bedtime books for children
You can choose all of these
or just a few to start a little bedtime basket
1. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
2. Time For Bed by Mem Fox
This story shows many baby animals getting ready to sleep.
The words have a gentle rhyme and the pictures look like soft paintings.
You see the same line again and again
so children can relax and feel the slow rhythm.
It is a lovely choice for children who enjoy animal stories.
See this on Amazon
3. The Going To Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
This book is short
fun
and still good for bedtime.
A group of animals get ready to sleep with simple steps
like washing and brushing teeth.
There is a little bit of silly fun
but it still ends with a quiet night feeling.
It is great for young children with lots of energy.
See this on Amazon
4. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
This sweet story is about a big hare and a little hare
who try to show how much they love each other.
The words are warm and kind.
The pictures are very gentle.
It is a very good book to end the day with love and hugs.
See on Amazon
5. Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Many children love trucks and machines.
This book turns that love into a calm night story.
Each truck finishes work and then goes to sleep.
The pictures use soft colors and the words rhyme in a slow way.
It helps busy children see that even big machines need rest.
See on Amazon
6. I Love You To The Moon And Back by Amelia Hepworth
This book shows a parent and child who spend the day together.
They play
cuddle
and share the message I love you.
The art is soft and warm.
t is a good story when your child needs extra comfort at night.
See on Amazon
7. The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle
This story follows a small cricket who wants to say hello.
The words are short and simple.
The art is bright but not too loud.
The slow pace is nice for bedtime
and children enjoy waiting for the cricket to finally make a sound.
Go Ahead on Amazon
8. Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tillman
This book is like a long warm hug in words.
It tells your child that your love is with them wherever they go.
The pictures are dreamy and soft.
It is good for nights when your child feels worried
or needs to hear again that they are loved and never alone.
Go ahead on Amazon
9. The Rabbit Who Wants To Fall Asleep by Carl Johan Forssen Ehrlin
This book is written to help children relax and fall asleep.
The words use special patterns to make the mind feel heavy and calm.
It is longer than most picture books
o it works best for slightly older children
or for nights when you have more time.
You read it slowly with a gentle voice.
On Amazon.............
10. Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
This story shows a little llama who feels upset when mama leaves the room.
Many children feel the same way and see themselves in the story.
The words rhyme and are fun to say.
The ending is calm and shows that mama always comes back.
It is a good way to talk about bedtime fears in a safe way.
Here you go
How to use these books at night
You do not need to read many books every night.
A simple routine is often best.
You can try this
Do your normal evening steps
wash
put on pajamas
brush teeth
Turn off bright lights and use a small lamp or night light
Let your child pick one or two bedtime books from a small basket
Sit close
read slowly
and look at the pictures together
After the last book
give a hug or kiss
say a short prayer or kind word
and then say goodnight
When you repeat the same easy steps each night
your child learns that story time means rest is coming
Final thoughts
You do not need many books to make bedtime special.
Just a small set of calm stories can make nights more peaceful.
Choose a few of these books that fit your child
order them
and make a simple bedtime basket.
Pick a few of these titles that fit your child’s personality, add them to your Amazon cart, and start building your own cozy bedtime book basket.
A good bedtime story can help your child slow down, feel safe, and enjoy this time with you.
In this post I share 10 calming bedtime books for children.
These books are easy to read out loud. They have gentle pictures and soft stories.
You can find all of them on Amazon.
This post has affiliate links.
That means I may earn a small commission if you buy from my link.
It does not cost you more.
Why bedtime books help
Bedtime stories do more than fill a few minutes.
They can
- Help children move from play time to sleep time
- Make children feel close to you and safe
- Grow a love for books and stories
- Calm busy minds and bodies
- When the same simple story comes again and again
- he brain starts to learn
- Now it is story time
- Soon it will be sleep time
- How to pick a bedtime book
- When you choose a book for bedtime
- try to pick stories that are
- Gentle and peaceful
- Easy to read out loud
- Full of soft and cozy pictures
- Safe at the end with a clear goodnight feeling
- If your child starts to relax
- snuggle in
- and listen in a quiet way
- it is a good bedtime book
10 calming bedtime books for children
You can choose all of these
or just a few to start a little bedtime basket
1. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
- This is a very famous bedtime book.
- In this story we say goodnight to many small things in a quiet room.
- The words are simple and repeat many times.
- The pictures are calm and soft.
- Many small children learn the words and say them with you.
2. Time For Bed by Mem Fox
This story shows many baby animals getting ready to sleep.
The words have a gentle rhyme and the pictures look like soft paintings.
You see the same line again and again
so children can relax and feel the slow rhythm.
It is a lovely choice for children who enjoy animal stories.
See this on Amazon
3. The Going To Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
This book is short
fun
and still good for bedtime.
A group of animals get ready to sleep with simple steps
like washing and brushing teeth.
There is a little bit of silly fun
but it still ends with a quiet night feeling.
It is great for young children with lots of energy.
See this on Amazon
4. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
This sweet story is about a big hare and a little hare
who try to show how much they love each other.
The words are warm and kind.
The pictures are very gentle.
It is a very good book to end the day with love and hugs.
See on Amazon
5. Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Many children love trucks and machines.
This book turns that love into a calm night story.
Each truck finishes work and then goes to sleep.
The pictures use soft colors and the words rhyme in a slow way.
It helps busy children see that even big machines need rest.
See on Amazon
6. I Love You To The Moon And Back by Amelia Hepworth
This book shows a parent and child who spend the day together.
They play
cuddle
and share the message I love you.
The art is soft and warm.
t is a good story when your child needs extra comfort at night.
See on Amazon
7. The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle
This story follows a small cricket who wants to say hello.
The words are short and simple.
The art is bright but not too loud.
The slow pace is nice for bedtime
and children enjoy waiting for the cricket to finally make a sound.
Go Ahead on Amazon
8. Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tillman
This book is like a long warm hug in words.
It tells your child that your love is with them wherever they go.
The pictures are dreamy and soft.
It is good for nights when your child feels worried
or needs to hear again that they are loved and never alone.
Go ahead on Amazon
9. The Rabbit Who Wants To Fall Asleep by Carl Johan Forssen Ehrlin
This book is written to help children relax and fall asleep.
The words use special patterns to make the mind feel heavy and calm.
It is longer than most picture books
o it works best for slightly older children
or for nights when you have more time.
You read it slowly with a gentle voice.
On Amazon.............
10. Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
This story shows a little llama who feels upset when mama leaves the room.
Many children feel the same way and see themselves in the story.
The words rhyme and are fun to say.
The ending is calm and shows that mama always comes back.
It is a good way to talk about bedtime fears in a safe way.
Here you go
How to use these books at night
You do not need to read many books every night.
A simple routine is often best.
You can try this
Do your normal evening steps
wash
put on pajamas
brush teeth
Turn off bright lights and use a small lamp or night light
Let your child pick one or two bedtime books from a small basket
Sit close
read slowly
and look at the pictures together
After the last book
give a hug or kiss
say a short prayer or kind word
and then say goodnight
When you repeat the same easy steps each night
your child learns that story time means rest is coming
Final thoughts
You do not need many books to make bedtime special.
Just a small set of calm stories can make nights more peaceful.
Choose a few of these books that fit your child
order them
and make a simple bedtime basket.
- Then each night
- take a deep breath together
- open a book
- and let the day end in a quiet gentle way.
Pick a few of these titles that fit your child’s personality, add them to your Amazon cart, and start building your own cozy bedtime book basket.
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