10 Great Bedtime Books to Read to your Preschooler
10 Great Bedtime Books to Read to your Child
Reading to your little one every single day is so important. It not only helps develop speech, but it sparks the imagination, develops early concepts of print, exposes sight words, emphasizes tone, and is a great bonding experience between a parents and their child. Many caregivers develop the routine of reading to their child before bed. Here are the top ten books that your child will love curling up with before dozing off!
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
This classic favorite not only has fun and unique illustrations, but repetitive phrases that your child can join in and read with you. The unmistakable characters and charm of this classic piece of literature make it a top choice for us! It also helps improve rhyme and memory!
Where the Wild Things Areby Maurice Sendak
Who isn’t intrigued by the thought of ruling your own island and being a king of monsters, or wild things in this instance? Your child will be able to relate to the main character, and their imagination will soar, thanks to the awesome illustrations in this Caldecott winner.
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
A classic favorite; your child will have this book memorized in no time. Whimsical images, short yet meaningful sentences, and repetitive phrases will make Goodnight Moon your child’s go-to story. Encourage them to fill in where you leave off, and say Goodnight to everything on the page.
I Love You Stinky Faceby Lisa McCourt and Syd Moore
A beyond silly story; this tale follows a little boy’s wild imagination, and a mom’s loving and unforgettable responses. Parents and kids will put their own spin on the story, creating voices, whispers, and laughing together at the zany pictures.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? By Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
This story is great before bed because it has short, repetitive phrases that help promote speech, enhance memory, and that build vocabulary; all with interested, textured illustrations.
There’s a Wocket in My Pocketby Dr. Seuss
A fun rhyming story; your child’s imagination will take off as they leave their home and take a tour of a unique household filled with friendly and sometimes pesky creatures.
Llama Llama Red Pajama Anna Dewdney
A fun and easy read aloud; your child may associate with how little Llama feels about being alone in his room; and also what it means to be patient and obedient when it comes to going to sleep.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? By Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
This silly story helps your child recognize right from wrong, and will encourages rhyme and helps them anticipate words that you leave out of a sentence. Each picture names a real dinosaur, and teaches your child a valuable lesson by the end.
The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
This short book is fun and engaging-so it’s perfect to read before bed. It discusses all the steps that your little one also needs to go through before they go to sleep-brushing teeth, putting on pajamas, and calming down in order to get ready to rest for the night.
Just Go to Bedby Mercer Mayer
Perfect for the little critter in your life, the main character in the book is very cranky; so your child can surely relate to the feelings and actions of the character. While dad has a comeback for every excuse and request, your little one will learn that bedtime is non-negotiable and that all kids fight it from time to time. But in the end, sleepiness prevails!
If you’re not reading to your child before bed, it’s never too late to start. Gather up these top ten favorites, and help your little one off to sleep by sharing classic, fun, educational, and engaging stories!
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