As we come to the close of this Labor Day weekend we come to the unofficial end of summer. Days get shorter, leaves start turning and we all reluctantly go back to a more scheduled and routine lifestyle. I’d like to hope that bedtime stories are a part of the routine during all seasons of the year but even my own bedtime reading routine suffers when it’s warm and light outside. So, as you’re transitioning back into those routines be sure to squeeze in a few minutes one on one with the littles in your life to talk about the good and the bad things that happened during their day and read together even if it’s just one page or poem before turning out the lights. This one habit will transform your relationship and their reading skills, I guarantee it.
And while you can absolutely read any book at all during this time, there are more than a few that are tailor made for sending the reader off to dreamland in style. Here are just a few of my favorites:
In a Blue Room by Jim Averbeck
A Different Pond by Phi Bao*
Bedtime for Bear by Bonny Becker
Something Extraordinary by Ben Clanton
The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles by Michelle Cuevas*
The Storm Whale by Benji Davies
Windows by Julia Denos*
Llama, Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
The Night Gardener by Terry Fan*
Time for Bed by Mem Fox
Hush Little Baby by Marla Frazee
Night Lights by Susan Gal
Goodnight Everyone by Chris Haughton
Kiss Goodnight by Amy Hest
Hush! A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho*
Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban
Forever or a Day by Sarah Jacoby*
One Minute Till Bedtime by Kenn Nesbitt*
Babushka’s Doll by Patricia Polacco*
Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Little Owl’s Night by Divya Srinivasan
The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson
The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
Have an older reader? Don’t underestimate the power of picture books, especially those above with an * by them which indicates a little more depth in the text and/or illustrations. Or read a few pages (or a whole chapter) from one of the favorites below. Keep this time separate from any school reading or skills practice for the child. Allow them to do the reading if they choose but bonus points if you do all the reading and just let them revel in the story. Discussion can occur if they take the lead, but again the goal is to simply enjoy the tale and the time together.
Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater
The Miniature World of Marvin and James by Elise Broach
The BFG by Roald Dahl
The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Clementine by Sarah Pennypacker
The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
I’d love to hear about your favorite bedtime reads and any tips for making it a habit. Share them in the comments below!
Happy Reading!