I love children’s books, and I’ve collected them since I took a children’s literature course way, way back in university (yes, I feel that old!). Some of these books I know from my childhood, others I discovered when I became a parent. Here are some of my favorites:
Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Ah, I remember this book from my childhood, and I am sure that many of you remember it from yours. This slightly oddball story with quiet pictures gets darker and darker as the book goes on and we say good night to all of the parts of the story. For more awake babies and toddlers, make a game of finding the mouse in each picture.
I Love You As Much by Laura Krauss Melmed
This is a sweet, soft, and lovely board book. Although I collect children’s books, I hadn’t encountered this one before I had my daughter. Each of the animal mothers loves its baby as much as the most important thing in its world. For example, the mother whale says to her child, “I love you as much as the endless blue sea.” This book tells your baby that she is so important, and it ends with a lovely picture of a mother putting her baby to sleep.
Mama, Mama and Papa, Papa by Jean Marzollo
While these are not solely bed time books, they are great snuggle books, and snuggles are good before bed time! Mama, Mama and Papa, Papa have strong rhymes and images of mother and father animals helping their babies. Whether they’re helping their babies learn to swim or nursing them, these parents are nurturing and loving, and these books are good for bed time cuddles.
Time for Bed by Mem Fox
“Time for bed, little mouse little mouse. Darkness is falling all over the house.” This book features a sweet and lilting rhymes that call on animals to go to sleep. I call my daughter little bird, so the metaphors work for me.
Sometimes I Like to Curl Up in a Ball Vicki Churchill and Charles Fuge
I’m not always fond of books in a series. However, this Little Wombat book is such a lovely read for story times groups or individual children, whether they’re babies or preschoolers. Little Wombat does a lot of activities throughout his day, but when night comes he is tired and ready to curl up with his mama.