Do you have a hard time getting your kids to calm down for bedtime? Or maybe you are looking for some helpful storybooks to read before they enter dreamland?

I don’t know about you, but by the end of the day when bedtime rolls around, I am always ready to tuck my kids into bed and have some much needed me-time. But unfortunately, my kids like many kids are not always in the mood to go to bed straight away.

That is why I have always made it part of our bedtime routine to read at least one storybook of their choice before putting them to bed. And here are my family’s favorite storybooks for winding down before bedtime.

(THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS HOWEVER, I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND ANYTHING THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE IN OR USE MYSELF. YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT MY DISCLOSURE POLICY HERE)

THE GOING TO BED BOOK

The Going to Bed Book is one of 8 classic board books that are written by Sandra Boynton. She is a wonderful children’s author and has many other books that have such a silly feeling about them. In fact, on the back of the Going to Bed Book it says:

“Serious silliness for all ages.”

In this story, there are a bunch of different animals that are aboard a ship. And at bedtime, they do some silly things such as going upstairs to exercise in the moonlight. They also take a bath and put on their pajamas for bedtime. And at the end of the book, it talks about how they are rocked to sleep from the movements of the ship floating through the waves.

Personally, I love this book. My kids love looking at all of the animals and everything they do leading up to bedtime. Even the exercising upstairs in the moonlight. I think it is a great book to read before putting kids to bed because it shows them preparing for bedtime by taking a bath and getting dressed in pajamas.

Another feature I love about this book is that it is a very sturdy board book. Or at least the one I have is. It has lasted years in my home with two rambunctious kids that are constantly pulling it back and forth and anxiously flipping pages.

And with the simple yet very beautiful illustrations, The Going to Bed Book is an absolute must-have for my family.

GOODNIGHT MOON

Goodnight Moon is one of those classic childhood books that I believe every parent knows. It is written by Margaret Wise Brown and was one of the first books we purchased for my daughter when she was a baby.

Although Goodnight Moon is an extremely simple book, I feel like many kids can relate to it. And it’s simplicity is comforting.

The story starts off in a “great green room” where a little bunny begins to say goodnight to all of his surroundings. “Goodnight room, goodnight moon.” The soft-spoken and innocent words slowly calm my kids as they look at the calming and gentle illustrations.

This book is the perfect bedtime story to end your day and say goodnight with.

MY FIRST MOTHER GOOSE

Everyone and I mean absolutely everyone has heard of Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes. If not, you have been living under a rock.

Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes contains an amazing collection of all of the best nursery rhymes that you grew up with as a kid. The copy that I have is beautifully illustrated by Tomie dePaola and is a very durable and sturdy board book that is still intact after being handled by both of my children.

It has all of the most well-known nursery rhymes such as, Humpty Dumpty, There Was an Old Woman who Lived in a Shoe, Georgie Porgie, Pussy Cat-Pussy Cat, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Little Boy Blue, Rub-a-Dub-Dub, and much more.

My children love reading this book and are often laughing along with the stories. It also brings back memories from my childhood every time I read it to them.

THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT

One of my daughter’s recent favorites is The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. She seems to love seeing everything Peter has to go through to get back home to his mama.

Although Peter disobeys his mother and goes into Mr. McGregor’s garden, I have always felt bad for the little rabbit. All he wanted was some vegetables. HAHA.

But personally, I believe it is a good book for my children to hear at bedtime because it teaches a valuable lesson about obeying your parents and how doing the wrong thing can get you into a lot of trouble.

I find it especially silly how Mrs. Rabbit says so casually, “Don’t go into Mr. McGregor’s garden because your father had an accident there and was put into a pie by Mrs. McGregor”.

And although this book is on the longer side as far as reading my kids seem to understand the moral of the story which I believe is the whole point.

MOO BAA LA LA LA 

Once again, I am talking about a Sandra Boynton book because she writes such cute stories that make my kids giggle.

Moo Baa La La La is a cute little board book that introduces different animals and the sounds they make or at least the ones they are supposed to. And what I mean by that is yes it tells you that the cows say Moo but then it says, “Three singing pigs say LA LA LA!”

But no worries, the book quickly corrects itself by saying, “no that isn’t right? The pigs say oink, all day and night.”

This book is absolutely adorable beyond belief and once again has some really goofy looking animals illustrated. Just as with The Going to Bed Book, Moo Baa La La La is also included in Sandra Boynton’s Collection of 8 Classic Boynton Board Books.

Do you read a bedtime story to your children every night before bed? What are your favorites? Tell me in the comments. I always love to hear from my readers!