Goodnight Moon
a children's book following a young bunny getting ready for bed.
Expert-Recommended Bedtime Stories for Kids
Expert Verified By: Nicole Johnson, Pediatric Sleep Consultant 
Bedtime stories for kids might make a nice bookend to their day, but Dr. Christopher Allen, a board-certified sleep medicine physician, pediatric neurologist, and advisor for Aeroflow Sleep, says bedtime stories can do much more than delight little ones with sweet rhymes and fun illustrations.
The Benefits of Reading Bedtime Stories for Kids
First, Allen notes that bedtime stories can do some pretty heavy lifting to create a comforting bedtime routine — do it consistently, and they’ll eventually signal your child that it’s time to go to sleep. Pulling the covers back a little further, Allen tells us calming bedtime stories can relax your child and prepare their mind and body for sleep, ultimately leading to better sleep quality. (1) Finally, he adds that bedtime stories can strengthen the emotional bond between a parent and child, stimulate your child’s imagination, and help develop their language and literacy skills early on.
Bedtime Stories for Kids: The Experts Weigh In
While bedtime stories are highly beneficial for children’s development and sleep, Allen says choosing age-appropriate, calming content is important, especially for younger children. Ahead, we checked in with some experts on their recommendations for the best bedtime stories for kids.
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Age: Baby – 3 years
Length: 32 pages
In this classic by Margaret Wise Brown, a young bunny gets ready for bed in a room full of interesting things. Goodnight Moon follows the bunny as he says goodnight to various objects and creatures in the “great green room” before drifting off to sleep.
Natalie Nevares, pediatric sleep coach and founder of Mommywise, says she loves it
because “Besides being a great story with gorgeous illustrations and a soothing cadence, Goodnight Moon encourages early reading. It’s simple enough for the little ones to remember and easy enough for early readers to recognize the words with the pictures.”
Goodnight Moon was first published in 1948, but this soothing tale by Margaret Wise Brown was a late bloomer. It took 25 years to make it onto the shelves of the New York Public Library. (2)
The Going To Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
Age: 1 – 3 years
Length: 16 pages
The Going To Bed Book
A children's book about animal friends getting ready for bed as the sun goes down.
This bedtime classic follows a diverse group of animal friends as they go through their bedtime routine. Little readers can follow along as they bathe, brush, and “scrub, scrub, scrub.”
These guys even do some light exercise — if we didn’t know any better, we’d say it looks like they’re practicing good sleep hygiene.
Christine Brown, founder of Bella Luna Family, loves and recommends The Going To Bed Book
because “It’s entertaining and easy to read, with simple and rhythmic writing.” Brown adds that as a bonus, “It’s a short book, which is ideal for exhausted parents who are ready to say ‘good night.”
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
Age: 3 – 7 years
Length: 40 pages
The Invisible String
a children's book where a mother teaches her children that they're always connected, even when they're apart.
In this heartwarming and relatable contemporary classic, a mother reassures her children that they’re always connected, even when they’re apart — courtesy of an invisible string. And if you haven’t guessed it, that invisible string is love.
Registered NICU Nurse and founder of Sleep Like a Baby Consulting Debbie Gerken says she loves The Invisible String so much that she gifts it to her client families when they graduate from sleep coaching. Gerken tells us, “Bedtime can be difficult for many children depending on their age. It marks the start of a long stretch of time when children are separated from the ones they love. And for some kids, separation or bedtime anxiety and fears can pop up ahead of bedtime, making the process difficult for everyone.”
Gerken says that the story is great for bedtime because it allows kids to visualize the “invisible string” that connects them to their loved ones. Ultimately, it can provide comfort and reassurance during those long overnight separations. And like most of the books on our list, Gerken adds, “The Invisible String has a tranquil message that supports a calming wind down at the end of the day.”
The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood
Age: 1- 4 years
Length: 32 pages
The Quiet Book
a children's book that explores "the many kinds of quiet."
To help kids prepare for sleep, this delightful board book takes little readers through the “many kinds of quiet — the first one awake quiet, the first snowfall quiet, or thinking of a good reason you were drawing on the wall quiet.” And if all goes as planned, your little one should be “sound asleep quiet” by the end.
Brittany Sheehan, a pediatric sleep consultant and founder of Brittany Sheehan Sleep, says, “The Quiet Book is about winding down, and I love that it ends with a child going to sleep, which sets a nice tone for bedtime.”
Sleep Tight, Little One by Maggie Fischer
Age: Baby – 2 years
Length: 12 pages
Sleep Tight, Little One
A children's book following animal friends as they get ready for bed in the jungle.
This charming board book follows animal friends in the jungle as they prepare for bedtime. Not only is it a sweet story, but tiny readers will love the touch-and-feel elements.
Clinical Psychologist Holly Batchelder says she loves Sleep Tight, Little One because it’s soothing, fun to read aloud, and offers a calming rhythm that helps kids unwind before bed. Batchelder adds, “The gentle, repetitive language and comforting themes in this book can help toddlers feel secure and ready to drift off, making it perfect for bedtime.”
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Age: 1 – 3 years
Length: 26 pages
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
A children's book following a caterpillar who eats and eats until he's not a caterpillar anymore.
This beautifully illustrated modern classic is the story of a very hungry caterpillar who eats and eats until he’s not a caterpillar anymore — he’s a beautiful butterfly.
Jessi Gholami, a licensed PCIT therapist, clinical social worker, and senior editor at Start Here Parents, says, “This Eric Carle classic has all the right ingredients as far as bedtime stories for kids go. It’s an engaging storyline that captivates their attention without feeling frantic or overstimulating.” She compares The Very Hungry Caterpillar to a guided meditation, which makes it perfect for winding down little brains and bodies.
Gholami adds, “The transformation from a munchy caterpillar to a soaring butterfly is such a beautiful teaching moment, too. You can naturally weave in those bigger concepts around change, growth, and patience.” She notes those concepts are pretty heavy stuff for little minds, but The Very Hungry Caterpillar delivers them in bite-sized pieces (see what we did there) with its “disarming simplicity.”
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Age: 2 – 6 years
Length: 61 pages
The Cat In The Hat
A children's book following the adventures of a beloved book character.
While this Dr. Suess classic is perfect for a “cold, cold, wet day,” it’s a fantastic bedtime adventure, too. Jen Jones, educator, literacy expert, and founder of Hello Literacy, Inc., says, “The Cat in the Hat is great for bedtime because its rhythmic and repetitive text helps young children develop phonemic awareness and early reading skills. The playful language and whimsical illustrations also capture little imaginations, making it an engaging and enjoyable read.”
Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne
Age: 5 – 8 years
Length: 80 pages
Dinosaurs Before Dark
A children's chapter book following time-traveling Jack and Annie into the prehistoric past.
In this installment of the Magic Treehouse Series, the tree house sends Jack and Annie on an adventure into the prehistoric past. The pair must find their way home, but they must do it before dark — if they want to avoid being a dinosaur’s dinner.
Jones loves Dinosaurs Before Dark because the book “introduces children to historical and scientific concepts in a fun and adventurous way.” She adds, “The storyline is captivating but not overly stimulating, making it perfect for winding down before bed.”
How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers
Age: 2 – 4 years
Length: 32 pages
How To Catch a Star
A children's book about a boy determined to catch a star.
Children’s book author Michelle Nott says, “How to Catch a Star is a lovely story (with simple, child-like illustrations) about a boy who sets out to catch a star. After many attempts, he (and little readers, too) wonder if he ever will.” Nott says, “The endearing twist at the end will lull anyone into a sweet dream.”
All the Places We Call Home by Patrice Gopo
Age: 5 – 7 years
Length: 32 pages
All The Places We Call Home
A children's book exploring the concepts of identity and home.
Nott also recommends All the Places We Call Home. She says, “The lyrical text and collage-like illustrations inspire a precious moment between reader and child while following the story of a young girl and mother recalling memories of where they are from and where they will revisit, even if only in their dreams for now.”
The Knight Who Was Afraid of the Dark by Barbara Shook Hazen
Age: 4 – 8 years
Length: 32 pages
The Knight Who Was Afraid Of The Dark
A children's book about a knight conquering his fear of the dark in a creative way.
In this beautifully illustrated book, a knight overcomes his fear of the dark with a creative solution. Karen Gross, award-winning author and educational consultant, says The Knight Who Was Afraid of the Dark makes a great bedtime story for several reasons. First, it shows an adult (the Knight) who’s struggling, messaging that kids are not the only ones who are scared of the dark. Second, Gross says, “This book allows us to see that we can solve our problems creatively and that those who care about us will appreciate our effort, even if everything does not go as planned.”
Selma by Jutta Bauer
Age: 4 – 8 years
Length: 56 pages
Selma
A children's book about a sheep looking after her children.
Selma is the story of a sheep caring for what matters most — her children. While it’s a simple, comforting bedtime story for kids, the adults who read it may also be reminded to appreciate what truly matters.
Gross tells us, “Selma is a charming story, and its gift as a bedtime story is that it is filled with repetition.” While the book is technically for the 4 – 8-year age group, Gross notes that the rhythm and repetition will also appeal to younger kids. Beyond its soothing cadence, Gross notes that Selma delivers a beautiful message about parental care and consistency, both of which matter in our complicated, difficult world.”
FAQs
Are scary bedtime stories for kids a bad idea?
Dr. Christopher Allen says scary bedtime stories can be a bad idea, especially if they cause anxiety or disrupt a child’s ability to fall asleep. He cautions parents to remember that little imaginations are highly active, especially before sleep, and frightening stories may lead to nightmares or night wakings, disrupting the sleep they need for their growth and cognitive development.
Are bedtime stories good for children?
Bedtime stories can benefit your child in more ways than one. While they can help parents and kids create a comforting bedtime routine and help the little ones relax and improve their sleep quality, bedtime stories for kids can also strengthen the emotional bond between a parent and child, stimulate their imagination, and boost their language and literacy skills.
At what age should you start bedtime stories?
Parents can start reading bedtime stories for kids as early as infancy. Dr. Christopher Allen says that while babies don’t fully understand the words, they still benefit from hearing their parent’s voices, experiencing rhythm and tone, and being exposed to language. He adds that somewhere around six months, infants may start to engage more with books; by 12 months, they can look at pictures and even respond to stories with sounds or gestures.
The Last Word From Sleepopolis
Besides captivating our kids with adventurous tales and intriguing illustrations, bedtime stories are a wonderful time for bonding and boosting language and literacy skills. And it’s never too early to start — early exposure to books can develop into a lifelong love of reading.
Sources
- Finucane E, O’Brien A, Treweek S, et al. Does reading a book in bed make a difference to sleep in comparison to not reading a book in bed? The People’s Trial-an online, pragmatic, randomised trial. Trials. 2021;22(1):873. Published 2021 Dec 4. doi:10.1186/s13063-021-05831-3
- 10 things you might not know about “Goodnight Moon” and its creator. The New York Public Library. (n.d.). https://www.nypl.org/blog/2022/09/30/goodnight-moon-margaret-wise-brown
Allen, Christopher. Author Interview. September 5, 2024.
Nevares, Natalie. Author Interview. September 4, 2024.
Brown, Christine. Author Interview. September 3, 2024.
Gerken, Debbie. Author Interview. September 3, 2024.
Sheehan, Brittany. Author Interview. September 5, 2024.
Batchelder, Holly. Author Interview. September 4, 2024.
Jones, Jen. Author Interview. September 4, 2024.
Nott, Michelle. Author Interview. September 4, 2024.
Gross, Karen. Author Interview. September 4, 2024.
Gholami, Jessi. Author Interview. September 4, 2024.