Bedtime Story Favorites!
I am so excited about this blog! This one is written by a very special guest - my sister! As a mom of four and avid book lover, she has read many many books to her kiddos over the years. Here she highlights all of her favorite bedtime books for ages 0 - 3+ years! Keep reading to find your new bedtime favorite :)
I LOVE reading to my kids! I started reading to my son as a newborn. We read picture books and sometimes I read aloud whatever novel I was reading at the moment. Seven years later and not a day goes by without snuggling on the couch and reading a book. There is tons of research out there proving the link between reading aloud to your child and your child’s language and reading development. Google it! It’s pretty amazing!
Days can get pretty busy - as anyone with multiple kids + jobs knows - so I’ve found the easiest time to read to your child is at bedtime. Plus, it’s a great way to sneak in extra snuggles.
Below are two lists of our favorites. The first is geared toward ages 0-3 that were my favorites to read to them before they started picking their own. Most of these rhyme because I like the flow of the words, but they are also easy to memorize and easily read on autopilot after a long day. The second list is for 3+ and includes books that are a bit longer and mostly prose (non-poetic) language. However feel free to read any of these at any time! My 5-year old still enjoys books from the 0-3 list.
Favorites for 0-3 Years
Honk Honk Beep Beep by Daniel Kirk - Follow the adventure of a little guy and his dad as they race to see the morning sun rise. This has a catchy rhythm and you can’t help but laugh at the jeep stuffed full of toys.
I Love You This Much by IglooBooks - An adorable panda bear explains how much he loves you in all sorts of adorable ways. I couldn’t resist the chance to tell my kids “I love you” multiple time through this story.
Counting Little Geckos by Charline Profiri - The illustrations in this book are colorful and entertaining. You and your little will love finding all the pretty geckos! Plus, you can sneak in some counting practice.
Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes - Follow an adorable kitten as she tries to get the mysterious bowl of milk out of the sky. All my babies have loved staring at the black and white illustrations in this one.
Peek-a-boo by Scholastic - We were given this one by our doctor’s office and it became an instant favorite! The lift-a-flap is so fun for little ones. This book is fairly sturdy so it will last a while with eager hands (I can’t say that is true of other lift-a-flap books we have).
Favorites for 3+ Years
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin - We read this one so much it fell apart! It’s hilarious!
The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle - Really any book by Eric Carle is great! This one is a particular favorite because of the cricket sounds on the last page.
Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French - Follow a wombat as she meets her new human neighbors and decide they make good pets. This book is sure to get some giggles before crawling in bed!
As an Oak Tree Grows by B. Brian Karas - This book takes you through the life of an oak tree. You and your child will enjoy seeing how the tree and its habitat changes through time. It’s also an intro to some American history, but you don’t have to tell your kids that.
Saturday at the Dinosaur Stomp by Carol Diggory Shields - The rhyme itself is enough to make this book fun, but the colorful illustrations of dancing dinosaurs takes it to the next level.
We love reading books in our family! It truly is such a fun and easy way to connect with your little one after a long, busy day. If you're not sure how to create a bedtime routine that works, you can read more here for a bedtime routine you can start tonight!