Best bedtime books for toddlers
Bedtime battles every single night? You are not alone. A calm routine with one short story and a clear ending can help. These are books that are short enough for bedtime, warm in tone, and easy to read over and over. None of our own books is on this list, because none of them fits bedtime yet.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Our Amazon links go to Amazon UK (amazon.co.uk). This guide is run by Amor Picture Books (Nova Group), publisher of the Amor books. Our own books are marked Our book. How we choose.
How to use these books
- 1
Decide the number before you start
"Two books tonight. You pick one, I pick one." Agreeing first means less arguing at the end.
- 2
Let the book do the countdown
"Three more pages, then lights off." Counting pages is easier to accept than a clock.
- 3
Slow down the last book
Read the final book in a quieter, slower voice, and dim the light a little before you start.
- 4
Use the same closing line every night
"The book is sleeping now, and so are we." The same ending every night tells the body the day is done.
- 5
Keep a tomorrow pile
Books that did not fit tonight go on a pile by the bed. Nothing is lost, it just waits until tomorrow.
The list
1. Goodnight Moon
Margaret Wise Brown
- Age 1 - 3 years
- 32 pages
- Paperback
A bunny says goodnight to everything in the room. Quiet, short and a natural last book of the night.
Pick this one if you need a very quiet last book that says the day is over.
View on Amazon UK2. The Going to Bed Book
Sandra Boynton
- Age Baby - 2 years
- 14 pages
- Board book
Silly animals bathe, brush their teeth and head to bed. A short routine you can read over and over.
Pick this one if you want a book that walks through the routine with you: bath, teeth, bed.
View on Amazon UK3. Time for Bed
Mem Fox
- Age 2 - 4 years
- 27 pages
- Board book
Animal parents settle their little ones, in gentle rhymes that actually rhyme.
Pick this one if your child likes gentle rhymes and animal families.
View on Amazon UK4. Good Night, Gorilla
Peggy Rathmann
- Age 2 - 6 years
- 32 pages
- Board book
Almost no words: the zookeeper says goodnight while the animals sneak after him. Toddlers love spotting what happens.
Pick this one if you want a book with few words that your child can tell to you.
View on Amazon UK5. Guess How Much I Love You
Sam McBratney
- Age Baby - 3 years
- 24 pages
- Board book
Two hares compete to show how much they love each other, ending in sleep. Warm and calm, no scolding.
Pick this one if you want a warm, cuddly ending to the day.
View on Amazon UK6. Peace at Last
Jill Murphy
- Age 1 - 4 years
- 32 pages
Mr Bear cannot sleep because of all the noises. Funny for children and a little too familiar for tired parents.
Pick this one if your child loves funny noises and repeating lines.
View on Amazon UK7. Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?
Martin Waddell
- Age 1 - 5 years
- 32 pages
- Paperback
Little Bear is scared of the dark, and Big Bear patiently helps. Good for toddlers who stall or worry after lights out.
Pick this one if your child is scared of the dark after lights out.
View on Amazon UK8. Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site
Sherri Duskey Rinker
- Age 2 - 3 years
- 32 pages
- Hardcover
The trucks finish work and wind down to sleep. A clear ending for vehicle fans.
Pick this one if your child loves trucks and diggers.
View on Amazon UK9. Hush Little Polar Bear
Jeff Mack
- 40 pages
- Hardcover
A dreamy, gentle bedtime story about a polar bear cub.
Pick this one if you want a slow, dreamy story with very little action.
View on Amazon UK
Books with a "Publisher" link: age, pages and format come from the publisher's own page. Other ages come from the Amazon UK page for the edition linked. Pages and format refer to the edition linked. If we could not verify a detail, we leave it out. Details checked 26 Oct 2026.
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Questions parents ask
How many books should we read at bedtime?
Pick a number, for example one to three books, and keep to it. When it is done, say you can read more tomorrow.
My toddler wants the same book every night. Is that okay?
Yes. Many toddlers want the same book again and again, and the ritual itself can be comforting.
What if the bedtime routine takes too long?
Agree on the number of books before you start and count down the last pages. A bedtime routine chart can also show your child what comes next.
What if bedtime is a battle every single night?
Many parents go through this. A predictable routine, a countdown before bed and a calm last story can make the evening easier.
Why is there no Amor book on this list?
None of our own books is a bedtime story available on Amazon yet, so we did not include one.