6 Bedtime Stories for Kids

Whether you’ve got a tiny baba or inquisitive toddler on your hands, bedtime can be challenging! Little ones often seem to spring to life just when you want them to settle down. That’s why it’s useful to have an evening routine in place, complete – of course – with special bedtime stories to enjoy together. These gorgeous titles are great for lulling kids to sleep and making bedtime memorable, for all the right reasons! Check out our selection below and add them to your list for your next library trip or book-shop visit. 
Brilliant Board Books

Sturdy board books make great bedtime stories for kids, as they’re easy for little hands to play with (and are less likely to rip under pressure!). As babies lift the colourful flaps in Sophy Henn’s Bedtime with Ted, they’ll discover Ted brushing his teeth, taking a bath, and eventually winding down to get some rest. In the beautifully illustrated Goodnight, Everyone by Chris Haughton, children are introduced to a host of woodland families on different sized pages, as they prepare to bed down for the night.

Interactive Fun

Little ones will love practicing the cute animal ‘sleepy actions’ in Mary Murphy’s Goodnight Like This. Coupled with a relaxing, rhythmic text, this book is sure to send sleepyheads off to the land of nod. 

Cute Characters

There’s plenty of quirky characters waiting to say goodnight, too. In Mo Willems’ hilarious Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late, kids are asked to keep an eye on a wayward pigeon who – you guessed it – doesn't want to go to bed. Max at Night by Ed Vere meanwhile is a charming tale that sees sleepy little Max prepare for bed, only to realise he can’t find the moon to say goodnight. 

Leabhar as Gaeilge

Do dhuine óg a bhfuil aithne agat air, is álainn an leabhar é Anseo Atá Muid: Notaí faoi Chónaí ar an Domhan le Oliver Jeffers. Bhainfeadh daoine fásta agus páistí taitneamh as é a le léamh le chéile – tá réamheolas séimh ann faoin domhan ina bhfuil cónaí orainn, agus an bealach a mbíonn muid ag maireachtáil ann.


What are your favourite children’s bedtime stories? Whether they’re classics from yesteryear, or titles from upcoming authors, we want to hear about them. Share with us online, using #ReadersWanted

And don’t forget - you can get lots more bedtime story recommendations in our brand-new Bedtime Reading Guide in association with Children’s Books Ireland. Or discover a world without travel restrictions and dive into these 5 adventure books for children.