Finding the perfect bedtime stories for toddlers can be difficult, but not with this list of inspiring bedtime stories your toddlers will love!
Do you have a good bedtime routine with your kids that involves reading a bedtime story each and every night? It’s pretty common to take a bath, get in pajamas, and read a book before bed. But do you ever feel like you’re reading the same stories over and over again?
Don’t get me wrong; repetition is excellent, especially for little kids and their learning. We don’t necessarily need to change up our routine, but maybe we do need to change up the book options we offer at night. Sometimes we need a little more excitement, am I right?
When we feel like our kids don’t want to go to bed and deprive us of more sleep, we want them to just go to sleep right now!
So let’s change things up a bit and give you some good books to help you look forward to those bedtime snuggles.
Here are 13 fantastic bedtime stories for toddlers that are sure to make bedtime a breeze!
At a Glance: 13 Bedtime Stories for Toddlers
- Goodnight, Gorilla
- Goodnight Moon
- Time for Bed
- Llama Llama Red Pajama
- Where the Wild Things Are
- Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site
- Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave
- Harold and the Purple Crayon
- The Going to Bed Book
- Seuss’s Sleep Book
- Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night?
- Bear Snores On
- Mother Goose’s Pajama Party
Tips for Bedtime Stories with Toddlers
Keep a Solid Routine
Don’t change things up on a toddler during bedtime! Always do things at the same time in the same order. So if you take a bath, get jammies on, get a warm cup of milk, read a book and then get tucked in, do it that way every single night. Start at the same time too. Kids thrive on routine and knowing what is coming next. Toddlers do not like unpredictable!
Always Read in the Same Place
Try not to switch things up too much. If you always read your book in the rocking chair with a blanket draped over your legs with your toddler on your lap, keep doing it! It’s very comforting for kids to have things stay the same.
Let Them Pick
I know it can be hard, but let your toddler choose the book they want to read. Again, with repetition, kids thrive in it. Lots of things are learned with repeated things in books. Toddlers can learn letters, letter sounds, rhymes, rhythm, and more when they see and hear the same things over and over again.
Make it Fun
Doing different voices and giving the story in the book life makes for an enjoyable time. Read it slowly, then fast, then in a quiet voice. Your toddler will be laughing hysterically and having a blast, I guarantee it!
The Best Bedtime Stories for Toddlers
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
 | Our Top Pick Goodnight, Gorilla
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Goodnight Moon
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Time for Bed
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Llama Llama Red Pajama
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Where the Wild Things Are
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Harold and the Purple Crayon
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | The Going to Bed Book
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Seuss’s Sleep Book
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night?
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Bear Snores On
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Mother Goose’s Pajama Party
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
1. Goodnight, Gorilla
A bedtime story that has the most fun storyline and perfect pictures! It’s time for the animals at the zoo to go to sleep. The zookeeper thinks he has everything ready as he heads to bed himself, but Gorilla has some other fun plans. Your kids will love being able to read this one to you after just the first few nights of reading it!
2. Goodnight Moon
If you’re looking to create lots of beautiful memories of reading, then this bedtime story is perfect! It’s a simple story of a little rabbit preparing to go to bed, but before he can start sleeping, he has to say goodnight to everything within his sight. This will quickly become a bedtime favorite.
3. Time for Bed
The perfect length for a storybook, Time for Bed captures all the animals going to bed with beautiful poetic words. There are lots of different animals to identify and this book is very relaxing. Something about it calms everyone down.
4. Llama Llama Red Pajama
Silly Llama has lots of nighttime drama with relatable experiences and fun rhyming. Llama definitely wants his Mama and wants to make it known. Of course, Mama comes to the rescue and lets Llama know that he is loved. We all need a little extra love before bed, right?
Anna Dewdney has many more bedtime stories for toddlers, check them out!
5. Where the Wild Things Are
This classic book is truly one that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults. There really is no place like home, and Max finds that out when he is sent to his room and let’s his imagination run wild! And it all begins with a forest in his bedroom. You surely won’t regret introducing this book to your toddler!
6. Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site
If you have a truck lover in your home, then Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site is perfect for your nightly bedtime routine. The pictures are so much fun and kids can learn the real names of the types of trucks they see!
7. Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave
Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave is really one of the most gorgeous picture books out there. The different affirmations that are presented are shown in beautiful colors, fonts, and hand lettering. This book has a beautiful message and teaches confidence, which is perfect to send your child off to dreamland.
8. Harold and the Purple Crayon
A whirlwind of imagination is where your child will end up when reading this book at bedtime! Harold goes on an adventure with his purple crayon where he draws out what is happening as he goes along through the story. Your kids will get a kick out of the silly witch and the castle and the stairs involved.
9. The Going to Bed Book
This classic bedtime story basically goes through a bedtime routine that every child goes through before bed each night. It’s so relatable for a toddler that is trying to piece things together. Perfect for winding down at the end of the day with taking a bath and getting all cleaned up with fresh pajamas and brushed teeth, your child will be wanting to read this one each and every night.
10. Seuss’s Sleep Book
You truly can’t go wrong with a Dr. Seuss book! This book is truly designed to put your child to sleep quickly by getting them to yawn. It’s absolutely brilliant and every mom and dad on the block will want to know your bedtime secret!
11. Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night?
A fun construction story that takes you through how dump trucks, giant cranes, snowplows and more go to bed at night. It’s a great way to teach children the names of big construction trucks and tractors while also entertaining them with interesting rhyming words and great pictures.
12. Bear Snores On
Why does Bear sleep so long? After all the animals find their way into Bear’s cave because of the cold, Bear still snores on and doesn’t wake. What are they to do? None of these guests have been invited in, but they decide to have a party. What is Bear going to do? The repetition in this book will have your toddler giggling up a storm.
13. Mother Goose’s Pajama Party
Mother Goose is having a pajama party and all of the famous characters from her rhymes are invited! This book has recognizable characters for toddlers from the fun nursery rhymes and songs parents sing. Everyone gathers together and gets tucked in nice and cozy with lots of flair!
And there you have it! Thirteen great bedtime stories for toddlers that parents alike love to read every night!