The best bedtime stories for kids

Discover the perfect bedtime stories, poems and rhymes to help lull children of all ages to sleep and make your nighttime routine more enjoyable for your child (and you!)

For even more bedtime stories your little one will love, discover our best baby books here.

 

Bedtime stories for children aged 0 - 3 years

Bedtime Baby Cloth Book

For children aged 0-18 months

This soft touch-and-feel book is perfect for little hands just starting to reach out and explore. The engaging story is accompanied with adorable illustrations from Kay Vincent.

 

Bedtime Stories

For children aged 10 - 18 months
A delightful first storybook designed for older babies. Each spread has finger trails cut into the page, and textured illustrations for little hands to trace. With beautiful, warm illustrations to capture the imagination, and a gentle rhythmic, lullaby-text, this book about sleepy people and creatures is perfect for little ones preparing for bed. 

 

I'm Not Sleepy

For children aged 10-18 months

Designed to help children learn a bedtime routine and get to sleep independently, each page of this book comes with a helpful tip for parents and carers on encouraging toddlers to get to sleep.

 

Five More Minutes

For children aged 0-3 years

This relatable story from bestselling author-illustrator Marta Altes is as enjoyable a read for parents as it is for the little ones. Five More Minutes is a funny and relatable read about a father trying to get his young children to bed.

 

Say Goodnight to the Sleepy Animals

For children aged 0-3 years

This simple rhyming story of Cat saying goodnight to all her animal friends is a fun read for bedtime. Encourage your little one to join in with the animal noises!

 

Peace at Last

For children aged 0-3 years

This Jill Murphy classic is beloved by both children and parents alike. Full of beautiful illustrations accompanying a gentle story based on repetition, this book is perfect for soothing any child off to sleep.

 

Bedtime Rhymes

For children aged 0 - 3 years
From "Wee Willie Winkie", to "Rock-a-bye Baby", the sounds and rhythms of these gentle nursery rhymes are a great way to help children wind down the day and ready for sleep. 

 

Goodnight Moon

For children aged 0 - 3 years
Chosen as one of BookTrust and Supernanny Jo Frost's Best Bedtime Reads for Newborns.
This gentle bedtime story has lulled generations of children to sleep. Margaret Wise Brown's comforting, rhythmical text accompanied by the warmth of Clement Hurd's classic mid-century illustrations make Goodnight Moon a timeless picture book.

 

Mother Goose's Bedtime Rhymes

For children aged 0 - 3 years
From "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" to "Hush-a-bye Baby", these twelve classic nursery rhymes and traditional lullabies are beautifully illustrated by the award-winning Axel Scheffler, illustrator of The Gruffalo. With a read-along CD that slots neatly into the cover, Mother Goose's Bedtime Rhymes is the perfect bedtime book for families to share.

 

WOW! It's Night-time

Perfect for children aged 0 - 3 years
When it's time for us to go to bed, owls are just waking up and one curious little owl is ready to discover the wonders of night-time. But where are all the other owls? A perfect preschool introduction to the nocturnal world with something to count on every page.

 

Bedtime stories for children aged 3 - 5 years

Arlo the Lion Who Couldn't Sleep

For children aged 3-5 years

This beautifully illustrated bedtime story from Catherine Rayner has a gentle mindfulness message which is especially helpful for little ones who have trouble going to sleep. Arlo the lion is exhausted, but he just can’t fall asleep, no matter what he tries. But then he meets Owl, who can sleep all through the day. Can she teach Arlo some special tricks?

 

The Bedtime Bear

For children aged 3-5 years

Who can go to sleep without their favourite teddy bear? This fun bedtime adventure sees Bear journey back to his friend Tom in time for bedtime. With flaps to lift on every page, your child will be delighted by the story’s surprises.

 

Wake Up Do, Lydia Lou!

For children aged 3 - 5 years
A little ghost tries to give Lydia Lou a scare . . .  but he can't even wake her up. So he fetches his noisy animal friends to help! A gentle and playful bedtime read from Julia Donaldson, the author of The Gruffalo. Wake Up Do, Lydia Lou! is full of fun sounds which children will love to join in with time and time again.

 

The Midnight Library

For children aged 3 - 5 years
When we are fast asleep in bed, the Midnight Library springs to life. The little librarian and her three assistant owls help each and every night-time animal to find the perfect book. But with a noisy squirrel band, an upset wolf and a slow-reading tortoise to help, they could all be in for a very busy night. A beautiful, big-hearted book about the joy of reading and the importance of libraries.

 

Bedtime stories for children aged 5 - 9 years

Flying Rabbits, Singing Squirrels and Other Bedtime Stories

 For children aged 5-9 years

Your child is sure to love any one of these fourteen fantastically funny stories, starring squirrel choirs, flying rabbits and tiny people living in plant pots! This book is full of beautifully detailed drawings from the illustrator of The Gruffalo, Axel Scheffler.

 

Bedtime Stories For 5 Year Olds

For children aged 5 years and up
With stories from Berlie Doherty, Dick King-Smith, Joan G. Robinson, Adele Geras and many more, Bedtime Stories for 5 Year Olds is a rich and varied selection of heart-warming stories, perfect for snuggling up with at bedtime. Great for reading alone or reading aloud - and for dipping into time and time again.

 

A Poem for Every Night of the Year

For children aged 5 - 9 years
A Poem For Every Night of the Year is a magnificent collection of 366 poems compiled by Allie Esiri, one to share for every night of the year. Perfect for reading aloud and sharing with all the family, it contains a full spectrum of poetry from familiar favourites to exciting contemporary voices. 

 

Hilary McKay’s Fairy Tales

Perfect for children aged 5 - 9 years
Hilary Mckay's Fairy Tales features ten classic tales each with a unique twist. Was Rapunzel free after she escaped her tower? What was Rumpilstiltskin's real story? Perfect for reading at bedtime.