Between announcing it's bedtime and your little ones falling asleep, every parent may find their evening routine, shall we say, a little unpredictable. Whether you're dealing with the 'witching hour', or an overstimulated toddler, here at Ladybird, we understand the challenges.
One easy addition to your evening routine is to share a bedtime or even a pre-bedtime story and we have collated some of the most soothing and sleep-inducing books to share. From books designed to countdown to sleep to learning how to get ready for bed with their favourite TV characters, we have a book for every little reader.
Explore the full list or click on the links below to suit your child's favourite format.
Board books
Do you know someone who would like their 'getting ready for bed' badge? Well, Duggee and the Squirrels are here to show us all the steps to get to sleep. From tidying up their toys and enjoying a bath to cleaning their teeth and counting sheep to help them drift off to sleep. With handy tabs for each step, you and your little one can easily follow along.
Recommended reading age: 1-5 years old
Struggling to get your little ones into the bath? Why not let Niko, a small bear who is learning how to get squeaky clean, show you how to do it? In this interactive board book, packed with sliders and flaps to push and pull, you can give Niko a thorough soaking with mishaps that will make you all giggle and make bath time fun.
Recommended reading age: 2-5 years old
If Niko did the trick and your little one is also enjoying their bath, then this water-proof book will continue the fun and keep them entertained while you can get on to the more serious business of washing their hair and getting them cleaned!
Featuring an octopus, shark and a shimmering mermaid, these bath-time friends will magically transform and change colour when the book is dipped in water. This magical, waterproof book can be wiped clean after use and left to dry for their next bathtime adventure.
Recommended reading age: 0-5 years old
It’s nearly bedtime but there is one very important person missing – Peppa Pig’s beloved Teddy! If she wants to find him before she must go to sleep, she’s going to need to start searching right away. Can you help Peppa find her teddy by lifting the flaps on every page?
Recommended reading age: 0-5 years old
Little Penguin has had a jam-packed day of fun, but when she yawns, she realises it’s time to settle down for the night. She needs to sing a goodnight song to the whale, blow a goodnight kiss to the seal pups and more! Help Little Penguin say goodnight to all her friends in this gentle board book from the new Say Goodnight, Little… series .
Recommended reading age: 0-3 years old
Young babies sleep a lot. But sometimes even they need a little help settling down in the evening. Baby Touch: Night-Night is an interactive touch-and-feel book that invites little ones to say ‘night-night’ to all the sleepy animals, plants and vehicles. As you read along looking through the peepholes and stroking the touch-and-feel patches, the colours fade from light to dark until it’s time to say ‘night-night’ to your baby.
Recommended reading age: 0-2 years old
Introduce mindfulness to your little one’s life with Starfish Stretches and Bedtime Breathing . Written in consultation with a mindfulness expert and child development psychologist, this tabbed board book features eight simple exercises children can follow. From morning stretches to bedtime breathing, this collection will help calm little bodies and minds making for a more restful night’s sleep.
Recommended reading age: 0-5 years old
Duggee has been teaching the Squirrels about all the different ways that animals sleep – bats sleep upside down and otters sleep holding hands. But all this talk of sleep is making the Squirrels tired. It’s time for a nap! Duggee gathers all the cushions and teddies for the Squirrels to sleep on and earn their Sleeping Badges!
Recommended reading age: 1-2 years old
It’s nearly bedtime and Little Koala is nowhere to be found! So, it’s up to little readers to search the Land of Nod and find the sleepy bear. Lift the flaps on each page to reveal who is hiding – is it Twinkle the Little Unicorn? Rumble the Little Dinosaur? It could even be Poppy the Little Fairy! This sweet and calming story will help settle children down for bed.
Recommended reading age: 2-5 years old
