Best Books for Bedtime

The bedtime book is a ritual and a negotiation. These picks are calibrated for the wind-down — rhythmic language, soothing illustrations, and stories that end with a gentle pull toward sleep.

912 books

Cover of Rotten Ralph Helps Out
Rotten Ralph
Rotten Ralph Helps Out
Jack Gantos
Ages 3–7
Cover of Creepy Carrots!
Creepy Tales #1
Creepy Carrots!
Aaron Reynolds
Ages 3–7
Cover of Curious George Goes to School
Curious George
Curious George Goes to School
Margret Rey, H. A. Rey
Ages 4–11
Cover of I Stink!
I Stink!
Kate McMullan
Ages 2–5
Cover of If You Take a Mouse to School
If You Give... #4
If You Take a Mouse to School
Laura Numeroff
Ages 3–7
Cover of Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons
Pete the Cat #2
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons
Eric Litwin
Ages 3–7
Cover of Pinkalicious: Flower Girl
Pinkalicious
Pinkalicious: Flower Girl
Victoria Kann
Ages 3–7
Cover of Curious George Makes Pancakes
Curious George Makes Pancakes
Hans Augusto Rey
Ages 3–7
Cover of Where Is Little Fish?
Where Is Little Fish?
Lucy Cousins
Ages 0–3
Cover of Dr. Seuss's Book of Colors
Dr. Seuss's Book of Colors
Dr. Seuss, Dr Seuss
Ages 3–7
Cover of Michael Bird-Boy
Michael Bird-Boy
Tomie dePaola, dePaola
Ages 3–7
Cover of Clifford at the Circus
Clifford
Clifford at the Circus
Norman Bridwell
Ages 3–7
Cover of Drawn Inward
Drawn Inward
Daniel Nayeri
Ages 3–7
Cover of Queen Esther
Queen Esther
Tomie dePaola, dePaola
Ages 3–7
Cover of All the Places to Love
All the Places to Love
Patricia MacLachlan
Ages 3–7
Cover of Curious George and the Dump Truck
Curious George #1
Curious George and the Dump Truck
H. A. Rey, Margret Rey
Ages 3–7
Cover of Happy Halloween, Biscuit!
Biscuit
Happy Halloween, Biscuit!
Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Ages 0–3
Cover of Pinkalicious: Eggstraordinary Easter
Pinkalicious
Pinkalicious: Eggstraordinary Easter
Victoria Kann
Ages 3–7
Cover of The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster!
The Pigeon #10
The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster!
Mo Willems
Ages 3–7
Cover of The Dumb Bunnies' Easter
The Dumb Bunnies #3
The Dumb Bunnies' Easter
Dav Pilkey
Ages 3–7
Cover of The Dumb Bunnies
The Dumb Bunnies
Dav Pilkey
Ages 3–7
Cover of I Wish You More
I Wish You More
Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Ages 3–7
Cover of My Very Big Little World
SugarLoaf Book #1
My Very Big Little World
Peter H. Reynolds
Ages 3–7
Cover of Nate the Great & the Sticky Case
Nate the Great Series
Nate the Great & the Sticky Case
Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Ages 3–7